Digital Engagement, Political and Civic Participation

Objective: This paper examines the digital engagement, political and civic participation among Malaysian youth in marginalized communities.  It also studies the relationship between digital engagement and two participation constructs. The framework of the study was based on mobilization theories, wh...

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Main Authors: Jamali Samsuddin, Hamisah Hasan, Lai Che Ching
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: CSRC Publishing 2016-06-01
Series:Journal of Business and Social Review in Emerging Economies
Online Access:http://publishing.globalcsrc.org/ojs/index.php/jbsee/article/view/16
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author Jamali Samsuddin
Hamisah Hasan
Lai Che Ching
author_facet Jamali Samsuddin
Hamisah Hasan
Lai Che Ching
author_sort Jamali Samsuddin
collection DOAJ
description Objective: This paper examines the digital engagement, political and civic participation among Malaysian youth in marginalized communities.  It also studies the relationship between digital engagement and two participation constructs. The framework of the study was based on mobilization theories, which suggested that previously unavailable technologies such as the Internet could mobilize members of underprivileged or underrepresented groups who lack socioeconomic resources. Methodology: The data were obtained through a self-administered survey completed by 4,107 youths, aged from 15 to 25 years old, living in marginalized communities in six regions, namely Central, Eastern, Northern, Southern, Sabah, and Sarawak. Descriptive and factor analyses were used to analyze the data. Pearson correlation was also run to test the hypothesis that digital engagement is positively related to political and civic participation. Results: The study found that while youths were digitally engaged, their engagement was still characterized by basic use of the Internet, such as communicating with friends. The study also found that their civic and political participation is low. However, the research found that digital engagement had a significant and positive impact on the youths' political and civic participation. Implication: This research provides empirical data on the level of digital engagement, political and civic participation among Malaysian youths. The study expands on current literatures by examining the effects of Internet on youth participation. This paper offers insights to policy makers on implementing strategies and programs that promote participation among youth in marginalized communities. Its practical implication also includes contributing towards the development of specific policy and good practices on media to encourage youth participation in Malaysia.
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spelling doaj.art-9303f8c4328b414a8d91b4a3b76761362022-12-22T01:24:37ZengCSRC PublishingJournal of Business and Social Review in Emerging Economies2519-089X2519-03262016-06-0121314010.26710/jbsee.v2i1.1616Digital Engagement, Political and Civic ParticipationJamali Samsuddin0Hamisah Hasan1Lai Che Ching2PhD Candidate, Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication, Universiti Putra MalaysiaSenior Lecturer, Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication, Universiti Putra MalaysiaPhD Candidate, Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication, Universiti Putra MalaysiaObjective: This paper examines the digital engagement, political and civic participation among Malaysian youth in marginalized communities.  It also studies the relationship between digital engagement and two participation constructs. The framework of the study was based on mobilization theories, which suggested that previously unavailable technologies such as the Internet could mobilize members of underprivileged or underrepresented groups who lack socioeconomic resources. Methodology: The data were obtained through a self-administered survey completed by 4,107 youths, aged from 15 to 25 years old, living in marginalized communities in six regions, namely Central, Eastern, Northern, Southern, Sabah, and Sarawak. Descriptive and factor analyses were used to analyze the data. Pearson correlation was also run to test the hypothesis that digital engagement is positively related to political and civic participation. Results: The study found that while youths were digitally engaged, their engagement was still characterized by basic use of the Internet, such as communicating with friends. The study also found that their civic and political participation is low. However, the research found that digital engagement had a significant and positive impact on the youths' political and civic participation. Implication: This research provides empirical data on the level of digital engagement, political and civic participation among Malaysian youths. The study expands on current literatures by examining the effects of Internet on youth participation. This paper offers insights to policy makers on implementing strategies and programs that promote participation among youth in marginalized communities. Its practical implication also includes contributing towards the development of specific policy and good practices on media to encourage youth participation in Malaysia.http://publishing.globalcsrc.org/ojs/index.php/jbsee/article/view/16
spellingShingle Jamali Samsuddin
Hamisah Hasan
Lai Che Ching
Digital Engagement, Political and Civic Participation
Journal of Business and Social Review in Emerging Economies
title Digital Engagement, Political and Civic Participation
title_full Digital Engagement, Political and Civic Participation
title_fullStr Digital Engagement, Political and Civic Participation
title_full_unstemmed Digital Engagement, Political and Civic Participation
title_short Digital Engagement, Political and Civic Participation
title_sort digital engagement political and civic participation
url http://publishing.globalcsrc.org/ojs/index.php/jbsee/article/view/16
work_keys_str_mv AT jamalisamsuddin digitalengagementpoliticalandcivicparticipation
AT hamisahhasan digitalengagementpoliticalandcivicparticipation
AT laicheching digitalengagementpoliticalandcivicparticipation