Impact of Digital Media on Research in Law, Political Science, Fine and Applied Arts, Music, and Communication

Abstract

Background: Although researchers admit that digital media platforms have had a significant impact on different aspects of life, limited studies have compared how digital media platforms have impacted research in different areas.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the impact of digital media on research in communication, fine and applied arts, music, political science, and law.

Methodology: The researchers used a descriptive survey for the study. The sample size was 250 participants from the five disciplines examined. The questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection, and data were analysed using descriptive statistics like mean and standard deviation. Inferential statistics like multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) were also used, and the results were presented in tables.

Results: The researchers found that digital media platforms have affected researchers in the five disciplines examined. Digital media has affected research, including research idea generation, sampling, literature review, data collection and analysis. Comparatively, digital media have affected data collection in communication and sampling more, affected data analysis in political science more when compared with other disciplines and affected literature review in law more than the other disciplines examined.

Conclusion: Digital media platforms have significantly affected research in communication, music, fine and applied arts, political science and law.

Unique contribution: This study has suggested a model for understanding the impact of digital media in research. This empirical evidence could guide future debates on the role of digital media in research in the five disciplines and other disciplines, generally.

Key Recommendation: Further studies should explore the impact of digital media in research in other disciplines and evaluate the contributing role of the level of education in participants' responses.