The impact of cyberspace on political and social activism among female undergraduate students at Islamic Azad University, Shiraz Branch

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Political Science – Political Sociology, Fars Science and Research Campus, Islamic Azad University, , Iran Department of Political Science – Political Sociology, Shi.C., Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran

2 Department of Sociology, Shi.C., Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran

3 Department of Political Science, Shi.C., Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract
The present study aims to investigate the impact of cyberspace on the political and social activism of female undergraduate students at Islamic Azad University, Shiraz Branch. The method of this study is descriptive-correlational. The research population is female undergraduate students at Islamic Azad University, Shiraz Branch in 2024-2025. In order to determine the sample size, due to the specific size of the population, the Cochran sample size determination formula was used, which determined the sample size to be 375, and the questionnaires were distributed among the statistical sample in a simple random manner. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire, and its reliability was confirmed by Cronbach's alpha (0.892). After ensuring the acceptability of the normality of the dependent variable, univariate regression, multivariate regression, and one-way analysis of variance were used to test the research hypotheses using SPSS software. The results confirmed the role of cyberspace usage and its dimensions in the socio-political activism of female students of Islamic Azad University, Shiraz Branch. There was also evidence confirming the role of cyberspace membership, attitude towards content in this space, level of participation in cyberspace, and years of presence in cyberspace in the socio-political activism of female students of Islamic Azad University, Shiraz Branch. The three factors of field of study, place of residence and economic well-being did not affect the socio-political activism of the target population.

Keywords