Kinnally, Lacayo, Mcclung and Sapolsky (2008)
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Source Details
| Kinnally, Lacayo, McClung and Sapolsky (2008) | |
| Title: | Getting up on the download: college students' motivations for acquiring music via the web |
| Author(s): | Kinnally, W., Lacayo, A., McClung, S. R., Sapolsky, B. |
| Year: | 2008 |
| Citation: | Kinnally, W., Lacayo, A., McClung, S., & Sapolsky, B. (2008). Getting up on the download: college students' motivations for acquiring music via the web. New Media & Society, 10(6), 893-913. |
| Link(s): | Definitive , Open Access |
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| About the Data | |
| Data Description: | Field survey data from questionnaires completed by 565 of 630 entry-level communication class students (63% female) from a broad range of majors, at a large state university and a community college in south-east USA, 2003-04. Respondents received course credit or extra credit for their participation. |
| Data Type: | Primary data |
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| Cross Country Study?: | No |
| Comparative Study?: | No |
| Literature review?: | No |
| Government or policy study?: | No |
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Abstract
The objective of this study is to understand the gratifications behind music downloading among college students, and examine how the gratifications along with music interest are associated with a variety of downloading-related activities. The results suggest that the process of downloading music files is an entertaining and convenient way to acquire music. The downloading motives were not linked significantly to filesharing (uploading as well as downloading music). However, entertainment/pass time, convenience/economic utility and information-seeking factors and experience were predictors of building a library of music on one’s computer. Males reported having more songs stored in their computers than females and were more likely to burn compilation compact discs (CDs) with the music files they downloaded. Affinity for music was not associated significantly with any of the downloading activities examined, but was positively associated with CD purchasing.
Main Results of the Study
Five factors have been identified that are significant to college students’ motives for downloading music from the web:# Entertainment / pass time# Convenience / economic utility# Information seeking# Storage utility# Social interaction.For these respondents, there is significant positive correlation between music affinity (the level of importance that a person places on music) and downloading motives for:* Entertainment / pass time* Information seeking* Social interaction.Entertainment / pass time, convenience / economic utility and information-seeking factors, together with downloading experience, are predictors of building a library of music on one’s computer.Downloading motives are not linked significantly to filesharing (uploading as well as downloading music).Males were more likely to:# Have more downloaded music stored on their computer# Burn compilation compact discs (CDs) from download music files.Affinity for music was not associated significantly with any of the downloading activities examined, but was positively associated with CD purchasing.
Policy Implications as Stated By Author
There is an apparent need to distinguish between the characteristics and motivations of those who strictly download music and those who participate in a filesharing network (downloading and uploading).
Coverage of Study
Datasets
| Sample size: | 565 |
| Level of aggregation: | University students |
| Period of material under study: | None |
