Whats The Best Computing Device

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

This project is about the survey, which employed with investigation to explore the students’ most preferable use of computing devices at university and other places, which comprises the platform they use for work and in their leisure time. The survey gave information that how often the student uses their devices in their daily routine to support for learning processes, engagement in learning activities and devices they use for entertainment at the comfort. For quantitative data, approaches students randomly for collecting data, as the targeted participants were from Staffordshire university, focused on graduate and postgraduate students in the Stoke campus of Staffordshire University library so that it can interact with them easily. The survey designed in a manner so that the participant can easily answer the basic questions such as gender, age, and data related to the topic in the handout. It also includes which course the student is currently pursuing, platforms or devices they are using four kinds of purposes, how often they use their devices for different type of work. That made the computing devices into four major classifications namely desktops, laptops, tablets and mobiles, so that students can easily provide the relevant data for each. Questions related to operating systems they are using in different platforms and the criteria they look for when buying a new device were also included. The core objective of the project is to find out the most favored computing devices at different instances.

Findings highlight the most common platform amongst the student in the learning process and in their leisure time is a laptop. Although the results are convincing with desktops in education, laptops at home , mobiles at leisure times and tablets as a new evolving device. They also suggest that increased motivation due to mobile devices leads to increased demand in the quality and quantity of student work.

Keywords: Computing devices, students, desktop, laptop, mobile, tablets, places, survey, design, operating system

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES AND CHARTS

CHART9.1………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 9

CHART9.2…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 10

CHART 9.3……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..11

CHART 9.4……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..12

CHART 9.5……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….13

2. Introduction

This report is the outcome of the conversation and conduction of a survey regarding the most preferable computing devices used by students of Staffordshire at university and other places, which comprises the platform they use for work and in their leisure time.

The survey will produce the information about the various platforms the student prefers to use for the academic work and for other kinds uses. A questionnaire has been prepared in the group and a survey was conducted at the university, covering all diversity of students. It includes basic information regarding the participant along with their personal views and experience on the devices they are currently using. It allows to know which platform the students are using the most as per the ease of access and about how often the student uses their devices in their daily life to support their learning process, engaged in learning activities and devices they use for entertainment.

The outcome of the survey shows that the most common platform amongst the student in the learning process and in their leisure time is a laptop. Although the results are convincing with desktops in education, laptops at home and mobiles at leisure times and tablets as a new evolving device. They also suggest that increased motivation due to mobile device users leads to increases in the quality and quantity of student work.

3. Background

The core objective behind conducting the survey is to get awareness of the most preferred computing devices used by Staffordshire students of Stoke and Stafford campuses. The survey helps to know the influence of the various computing devices on the student and while they are doing work and for other entertainment purpose. A questionnaire has been prepared in the group and a survey was conducted at the university, covering all diversity of students, along with their views about the paper have been also been considered.

The inputs are analyzed through SPSS software and displayed in tables and graphs. The information that will come out of the result can be used not only to improve the quality of the services provided by the university, but also to the computing devices manufacturing companies.

4. Aim & Objectives

4.1 Aim of the survey

The aim of the survey is to determine the most preferable computing devices used by Staffordshire university students at university and other places on the basis of their work.

4.2 Objectives of the survey

To identify types of computing devices the students prefer using at university.

To identify types of computing devices the students prefer using at home and in leisure time.

To identify different operating system they use for their respective computing devices.

To identify inevitable criteria they look when buy a new device.

To identify new computing devices the students would prefer to buy next.

5. Ethical statement

For a standard research proposal one should consider a great value of ethics right from its scratch. The following are some ethical rules which are maintained in the survey.

The anonymity of the participant is strictly maintained.

The views of each participant and their suggestions also can be considered but completely kept confidential.

The time required for the survey has to be addressed to the students before they turn into participants.

Questions presumed to be impolite should undergo necessary changes which may not be impolite anymore such as asking the age of the participants can be changed to age category or can include a prefer not to say option.

The survey should not be stopped and moved to the next stage without considering the destined population. This may lead to false judgments and may spoil the integrity of the research.

Participants have full right to withdraw them at any instance of the survey.

A professional standard has to be maintained while conducting the survey filled with politeness and respect.

All references and quotes used for this survey have to be cited so that the work taken is not a replication.

6. Literature Review

By studying and investigating suitable reports, the methodology and design decisions , the survey can be checked for quality.

The students’ educational interest is greatly increased with the usage of computing devices in the classrooms rather than not using it. It also helps in quick researching and raising quality questions to the concerned tutors to get a better understanding of the topics.

(William, Edward & Karyn, 2012)

6.1 Student Computing Survey: Graduate Results

The survey has been conducted for graduate students under different departments.

It discusses about the percentage of different devices owned by the university students

It says all students has a computing device and 83% have laptops with them.

(acomp.stanford.edu, 2011)

6.2 What's the Best Computing Device for the Modern Student?

This paper tells about the newly available and technologically advanced devices for students

Out of those devices E readers, tablets and iPods are the primary topic of discussion.

It also says that even though many devices arise, no device satisfies all the requirements for a student's education life.

It helps in the survey of this kind is essential for our university.

A random survey technique has been used to get the input from the students.

It used quantitative analysis approach in getting the results.

(Matthew, 2010)

7. Research program

A face-to-face survey method seems more suitable for this quantitative research, as it is focused only with university students and also in gaining accurate judgment. The survey aims at finding out the preference of each device under different circumstances what are the factors do they consider before buying one and what operating system do they seek for their devices as well. Abide by the ethical statements a questionnaire has been prepared and conducted which includes some the followings

1. Gender -This question may sound rude but it is very crucial for enhancement of the research.

2. Age Group -It is an optional question given to the choice of the participant. It gives the research a better understanding of the experience gained by each user.

3. What computing devices do you have at present? -Asking this question gives a broad spectrum to know the contemporary devices being used.

4. Which device do you use prefer at University? -There are many desktop laboratory devices provided by the university, but one can also bring their preferred devices with their interest.

5. Which device do you prefer at Home? -Same as the last question except the fact that one prefers different device at different environments.

6. Which device do you prefer at your leisure time? -Again like the previous questions but under different circumstances to find out the variations that are likely to occur.

7. Which operating system do you use in your device? - Basically Operating system plays a predominant role in preferring a device.

8. Planning Survey

The goal of the survey is to determine students are surveyed and what is asked:

Target Population: Staffordshire University students, it's useful to successfully reach the target.

Interviewing Method: Individual survey, carried out via face-to-face interviews

Questionnaire Design: Keep It Short and Simple (KISS)

Question Types: Multiple Choice

Sampling Method: Random Sampling, each student has an equal chance of participation

Using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) for statistical analysis of the survey.

Thirteen questions were asked, ranging from general data about the participant (age, gender, status) and most used (devices at different occasions). Carried out at both Stafford and Stoke Campus. A Target sample of 40-50 participants across both campuses; 40 sheets were obtained in total.

9. Analysis

The results of the survey throw judgments at different perspective of which this graph shows that Postgraduate students own laptops and mobiles more often than other students.

Chart 9.1: Bar chart showing the frequency of people who use different computing devices

This chart shows that usage of Desktop computers has gradually decreased with the arrival of new portable technologically advanced computing devices. However on the contrary not all students prefer the newly evolved devices (here tablets). The students feel laptops are better to use when compared with other devices.

Chart 9.2: Bar chart showing the students preferred computing device at university

The estimated students evidently prefer Desktop computers for their university studies. This is because the University has different Laboratories for different departments and maintains computers with high standards focused specially for education. Moreover it also provides valuable softwares at cost for the benefits of the students. It also provides online library access with student details and links to many eBooks and journals which are totally free of cost. With all these features students can gain maximum knowledge at one’s interest.

Chart 9.3: Bar chart showing the students preferred computing device at home

The scenario at home is different though. Chart 9.2 shows that students prefer laptops as their primary computing device over others. This is of no surprise because of its portability and space since many students do not have huge rooms to live in. In case of international students, laptops are the most preferred device as most of them are living in a shared rented house. Even though there are other portable devices like mobiles or tablets, they are not preferred for one reason or the other.

Chart 9.4: Bar chart showing the student's preferred computing device at Leisure Time

In case of leisure time mobile stands out at its best with its much easy portability and features. This is because recent conversation with participants gives an insight that many students enjoy music and mobile games during their travel to the campus and they are more inclined to do the same in other leisure times too. Also communication consumes a large space of the leisure time in making calls and to be connected with the closed ones.

Chart 9.5: Bar chart showing the factors preferred in purchasing computing devices

This chart infers many judgements , the notable ones are the devices are picked primarily based on the performance which tops the chart with 25%. This question was planned initially as a single mode option but many participants did not feel satisfied with just selecting one option. Taking their views into consideration a combination of options are favored as well.

10. Critical evaluation

The core objective of the project is to find out the most favored computing devices at different instances. Although the results are convincing with desktops in education, laptops at home , mobiles at leisure time and tablets as a new evolving device, there are many other factors that are not considered. Questions like reasons behind the preference of each device, the purpose of each device, disadvantages in each device may be asked for further improvement of the research.

11. Finding and results

11.1 Preference at University:

The desktops were preferred 55% of the students at university. The desktops were already connected and configured for various university applications allowing the user for easy access, but this means the user has to sync the necessary files manually between the University desktop and personal laptop. The laptops were preferred by 13% of students. Though the laptop need to be configured manually, the laptop users prefer the way they like and not to use the default configurations in desktops by the university. Also it makes them to have all the files University and personal to be available in one device. Mobile & tablets also used at a rate of 4% and 1% for convenience.

11.2 Preference at Home:

At home the preference of desktop is 4% whereas the Laptop is 13%. The basic reason for higher usage of a laptop at home is design size, and portability. The desktop user reasons that they have been used to desktops for a long time.

11.3 Preference at Leisure Time:

Leisure time the mobiles were used at 19%. The reason being the compactness and the user can take it around anywhere they like. Although Tablets offer similar features like mobiles, it was used at 4% due to incompatibility with some applications and expensive, expensive being the main reason.

11.4 What invokes device selection?

Even though most of the computing devices offer common features, the user preference is mainly based on the device performance with 25% of students.

15% students consider both Price & brands.

12.5% students consider both Price & performance.

10% students consider both performance & Design.

The same as it is commonly the recognized brands will be costly, still 7.5% of the students compromise cost for brands.

11.5 Preference based on Operating System:

Choosing a computing device was also found to rely on operating system. Selecting an operating system normally depends upon how user friendly the operating system is. When likely the results shows a varied difference in output and is found to differ from one chosen computing platform to another.

Considering Laptop: Windows tops the list in the laptop sector based on its friendly nature and windows has been one of the widely used operating system available in the market and its cost effective compared to other operating systems.

Considering Mobile: The result of the survey shows that a clear change in domination when it comes down to a different computing device that is mobile. It shows clearly that android tops the list in the mobile category. The reason for android being best in its category is because it’s an open source which in general makes application building much easier

12. Conclusion

The statistic from the survey reveals that there is no quiet consistent output for consideration. Considering the preferred computing device when it comes to university , Desktop steals it without doubt but considering the other two options that is usage of computing device in leisure time and usage of computing device at home Desktop completely loses it ground, the reason basically its design. When it comes down to Laptop it peaks out as one of the best computing device that is being used at home and that is mainly because of its compactness and versatility .Laptop fades out when it comes down to being preferred device in university , the reason may be due to the maintenance and repair cost. When it comes to usage in leisure time the laptop loses against mobile for the very reason that peaked out against desktop for usage at home.

Each computing device has its own set of benefits and drawbacks and that's for sure isn’t the game changer. The Criteria that lays the ground rules are the "Surroundings" at which the computing device are being used. It shows that a different computing device peaks out everytime when the surrounding changes that is the university, home and at leisure.

13. Recommendations

Inclusion of staffs in the survey, their views and opinions will be a best enhancement for this paper. Asking participants about their discomforts in each device and reasons behind it may also move the paper to the next level. Also finding the best outcome of each device under different scenarios like gaming, education, social networking would be considered as a better enhancements.