World Journal of Engineering Research and Technology

Maria Danesa S. Rabia*

ABSTRACT

Mobile phones are the perfect way to stay connected with others. These devices provide the users with a sense of security. This study aimed to determine how and why market vendors use the mobile phone and its effects on their livelihood. A combination of qualitative and quantitative research approaches was used in the study. A case study design using the thematic analysis was used to identify the plight of the market vendor in using the mobiles phone in their livelihood a case of the Calape, Bohol. Data were gathered through in-depth interview. All the participants identified owned a mobile phone. Their ages ranged from 18-66 with most of the respondents in the middle age bracket (22-45). Participants have been vendors for four months to a maximum of 40 years. More than half had been in the business for 1 to 10 years. With regard to the type of business, 15 vendors were from the vegetables and root crops section, five from ready-to-wear clothes and dry goods, and 8 from the meat section. Twelve respondents each belong to sections; rice and corn, dressed chicken, dried fish and fish, cafeteria and sari-sari store. For the whole motivation scale, results suggest that generally participants are really motivated to use the mobile phone for all but one of the respondents had high motivation. As for the four subscales, results revealed that respondents had high motivation on each: sociability, reassurance, instrumentality and communication facilitation. The uses of mobile phones reflected from respondents? responses could be grouped into four themes. These are using the mobile phone for business functions, for communication with family and friends, emergency purposes and lastly, for other functions such as games, calculator and alarm clock. In terms of empowerment, respondents underscored the fact that the mobile phone allowed them to have greater participation in their organization?s activities. Through the mobile phone, vendors describe being able to learn about family emergencies such as accident or death. Lastly, they value the mobile phone because it lets them ask for more information and call for help in case of emergencies.

[Full Text Article] [Download Certificate]