A Study by the University confirms that 100% of students' absence is due to the bad weather conditions.
A recently published study by King Khalid University has revealed that the absence among students is because of the bad weather conditions. The study is entitled "climate phobia and rumors in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)". The study, which was presented by Dr.Sa'ed Sa'ed, an Assistant Professor at the Department of Information and Communication of the University, is an empirical one, on the use of applications like WhatsApp and BlackBerry. The study emphasized that 90% of students suffer from climate phobia. Moreover, it showed that 95% of students, who were involved in the study, were absent because they surrendered to the spreading rumor of bad weather conditions, and 80% of them did not attend their lectures because they were not sure about the news of weather, as 95% of them interacted and communicated via BlackBerry and WhatsApp.
The study was conducted on a sample made up of students and professors from King Khalid University, a random sample and an intentional sample. The two samples included 200 Professors, of which 60 of them were female professors, besides 500 students, from which 180 of them were female students. In the intentional sample, the researcher has focused on the students of the Media Department, the Arabic language department, and the computer science department. Throughout the study, the researcher relied on a tool to combine historical approach and the descriptive approach, in addition, he used the e-questionnaire tool for gathering information.
The results of the study revealed that the professors' interaction via BlackBerry and WhatsApp (50%) is lesser than the students', and 70% of them did not trust the credibility of what was broadcast via BlackBerry, while 30% believed the transmitted messages and so on. The professor's fear of climate ratio did not exceed 45%, while 50% were victims to rumors, another 50% were absent from work, and yet another 50% of them checked the credibility of broadcast weather news.
Furthermore, the study showed that due to modern technology, the weather conditions have become a hostage to rumor that serves a certain party which seeks to achieve a certain goal by leaking fake news in order to disrupt the public life, whether at work, or at study. Thus showing why the study of rumor in climate science and its impact on communities is very essential.
Results also showed that the use of social media in the society has increased remarkably. As a result, it affected lifestyle of both individuals and communities. However, the negative use of social networks has intensively increased too, through spreading untrue rumors, which of course disrupt people's interests, as well as public life, through broadcasting images and video clips of past events, with the intention of convincing people that they are currently happening.
The study recommended being conscious while receiving information, and called on people to investigate it carefully, by contacting related bodies and institutions of various social networks. The study also recommended providing special newsletter during events or major issues through different ways such as SMS, radio, and television. Furthermore, educating students about the risks of social networks is very important, and this can be done through holding seminars and workshops on the issue.
