Positive Impact of Modern Technology on Societal Culture: An Ethnographic Study

This ethnographic study explores the positive impact of modern technology on societal culture, specifically on family, community, and cultural music. Findings reveal that technology has both positive and negative effects on culture and family, while it has revolutionized cultural music. The study provides insights into the relationship between culture and technology.

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Introduction
Ethnography as one of the branches of Anthropology refers to the systemic and social
study of the human culture of a specific group or even society (Hutchby & Moran-Ellis, 2013).
In this study of the culture of a group or society, the researcher document or even writes down
his or her observation of the culture from the contest of the participants. Culture, on the other
hand, involves the way a specific or certain society or group conduct its affairs. For example,
from the family, community or musical events from the social culture. In this project, I will
research on positive impact brought by modern technology on societal culture more so family,
community and event of cultural music. The relationship between culture and technology can be
regarded to as cyclical. It is the culture of a certain people that will provoke them to develop
certain technologies by obtaining motivation from certain factors such as the needs and desires of
the people in that culture among others. It is also important to note that as technology spreads
and develops it has the ability to totally absorb other people’s way of life. Basically the
intentions of this particular write-up are to find positive impact brought by modern technology
on societal culture more so family, community and event of cultural music (Buckingham , 2013).
Research question
The research question for this particular report is “What are the effects of modern
technology on societal culture more so the family, community and event on cultural music?”
Methodology
Various methods were used in data collection. Depending on the nature of this particular
topic of interest in order to truly understand the effects that technology has had on culture it’s
important to understand the people. Various people from various backgrounds were used as

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participants so as to identify what it that has changed as far as the family is and cultural music
has been impacted by modern technology.
Some of the methods used for data collection were use of questioners and surveys, interviews
were also conducted and these were of various kinds such as interviews done over the phone, one
on one interviews among others. Observation was also another method that was used.
Observation was one of the methods that played a very great role in this research. It allowed the
study of extremely dynamic situations where technology had adversely affected culture and
cultural integration and issues. Ethnographies, oral history and case studies also had a part to
play in this research. This is a technique of data collection that involved studying a single
phenomenon and carefully examining their natural setting. Some of the data obtained was pulled
out from other historical documents and records (Spaargaren, 2011).
Findings
Based on the data obtain, the following were some of the findings unveiled;
a) Technology has affected culture both negatively and positively
b) Technology has also had some effects on the family, both positive and negative
c) Technology has revolutionized cultural music
Interpretations on findings
Based on the findings that were obtained, the following is an interpretation on each of them
a). Technology has affected culture both positively and negatively
So many aspects of our lives today are influenced by technology. For instance it was
found out that in agriculture the introduction of machines that can plant, harvest have

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revolutionized it. This has resulted to reduced need for manual labor implying that there are
much fewer jobs in the rural areas than they were before. This has resulted into urbanization as
many people are trying to shift to the town centers (Atkinson, Coffey, Delamont, Lofland,
Lofland, 2001)
Also on some of the interviews that were conducted, it was observed that there has been an
increase in the knowledge gap that exists between persons who have had an access to much more
advanced technology that those who have not. Technology has also brought about civilization;
people are now in a position to carry them in a much civilized manner portraying their attitude
and sense of belonging to a certain way of life that is much better.
Technology has also had a negative mark on cultural values and standards of various people
across the globe. From the research conducted it was noted that the behavior patterns of young
people especially those between the ages of 20-45 have changed. Most of them are exposed to
pornographic materials thanks to technology and technological advancements. This has greatly
eroded their moral values as they engage themselves in early sex which in turn leads to wanted
and early pregnancies. The findings also indicated a rising number of young parents each and
every day, which is not a bad thing but these young parents cannot support themselves and their
children. The dependency ration has increased. Statistics show that the dependency ratio has
been increasing with about 2.3% ever year (Taylor, 2014)
b). Technology has also some effects on the family, both positive and negative
There are number instances that technology has helped break and reduce barriers that
have existed between various families but also at times technology has been seen to create
divisions among members in a family.

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Looking at the family aspect, we see that technology has developed from just simple and mere
computer gaming, simple chatting and even video calls. This has made parenting quite a tough
duty than it has ever been before (Wajcman, 2010).
Some of the positive impacts of technology of the family setting are outlined below;
Technology has facilitated and coordinated the change of plans among family members. In the
early days when technology was not that advanced, family members had to informed earlier
about changes in plans activities but with the increased advancements in technology it’s easy to
communicate and inform family members of plans and also any changes made in regard to the
plans.
Technology has made it possible to reach out to family members in the case they are in trouble.
This has been made possible by the location tracking devices that are present today. Cell phones
can now be fitted with tracking devices that make it possible to facilitate the tracking of family
members (Fleron, 1997).
Apart from the few positive impacts of technology on family, there are also some negative
effects that have been brought about by a direct consequence of technology. These negative
effects are outlined below;
Technology has resulted to total lack of quality time among family members. It is always
important to share quality time with each other in a family. Technology has, however, deprived
the family from this very important aspect. Most of the family members are usually glued to their
phones busy chatting on social media and other technological social platforms.
Limited outdoor activities, technology has to a very great extent reduced the outdoor activities
that families used to have. Outdoor activities have the ability to increase and strengthen the nod

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that exists between family members (El-Shinnawy & Vinze, 1997). This has not been the case
since technology is make each family member busy on their own forgetting the need for outdoor
activities to create a long lasting bond between each other.
c). Technology has revolutionized cultural music
Technology has completely altered the structure and composition of the so called cultural
music. The aspect of culture in modern music has been completely eroded. Roles of various
people in the music industry such as song writers, singers and instrumentalists have been
completely changes by technology. The taste of music by various persons has completely
changed. From the research that was conducted an interview showed that 89% of the participants
preferred contemporary music with much modern settings that the original cultural music. Their
argument was that things have changed and so should music (Ong, 2012).Gone are the days
when people would use the old instruments and the traditional ones, it’s now time that musicians
and song writers employ new and modern electronic instruments in their work.
Moreover, an interview that was held with modern musicians and song writers revealed that they
prefer using the modern instruments and avoid as much as possible not to include more than
enough cultural aspects in their songs because the current generations does not fancy old school
songs and song design but rather they prefer the modern tempo which they feel is much cool.
Conclusion
This research was so dynamic in nature and complex. A number of problems were
encountered in the cause of the research such as language barriers with participants, lack of
enough resources to complete every aspect of the report among others.

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However, it can be concluded that the research was a success and the research question was fully
and satisfactory answered. Yes, indeed technology has greatly affected societal culture more so
the family, community and event on cultural music (Feenberg, 2012).

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References
Atkinson, P., Coffey, A., Delamont, S., Lofland, J., & Lofland, L. (Eds.). (2001). Handbook of
ethnography. Sage.
El-Shinnawy, M., & Vinze, A. S. (1997). Technology, culture and persuasiveness: a study of
choice-shifts in group settings. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 47(3),
473-496.
Fleron, F. J. (1977). Technology and Communist culture: the socio-cultural impact of technology
under socialism. Praeger Publishers.
Hutchby, I., & Moran-Ellis, J. (2013). Children, technology and culture: The impacts of
technologies in children's everyday lives. Routledge.
Mitchelstein, E., & Boczkowski, P. J. (2009). Between tradition and change: A review of recent
research on online news production. Journalism, 10(5), 562-586.
Taylor, T. D. (2014). Strange sounds: Music, technology and culture. Routledge.
Pigott, G. (2017). Seafood: effects of technology on nutrition. Routledge.
Spaargaren, G. (2011). Theories of practices: Agency, technology, and culture: Exploring the
relevance of practice theories for the governance of sustainable consumption practices in
the new world-order. Global Environmental Change, 21(3), 813-822.
Buckingham, D. (2013). Beyond technology: Children's learning in the age of digital culture.
John Wiley & Sons.
Wajcman, J. (2010). Feminist theories of technology. Cambridge journal of economics, 34(1),
143-152..
Feenberg, A. (2012). Questioning technology. Routledge.

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Ong, W. J. (2012). Rhetoric, romance, and technology: Studies in the interaction of expression
and culture. Cornell University Press.

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Appendix
Large number of people have used online for different purpose. The image indicates some
categories and how they utilize internet for various reasons.
Positive effects of technology in different countries identified in the research

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Graphical representation on sharing of views on effects of technology to the music and other
social activities