This study explores students assessment of how science and technology influences dress sense. It is a presentation made by MAUD Shall during the 1ST ICAST Conference by the Kumasi Polytechnic in Ghana

1. RESEARCH TOPIC
THE INFLUENCE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ON DRESS SENSE AND FASHION TASTE AMONGST
POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS IN GHANA
AUTHORS: Maud, S., Appiah, .S.C.Y; Mortty T. (2014).

2. PRESENTATION OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION
AIM AND OBJECTIVES
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
 LITERATURE REVIEW
RESULTS
DISCUSSIONS
CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE STUDY/GAPS IN
LITERATURE
CONCUSION
SELECTED REFERENCES

3. INTRODUCTION
 Dressing is very essential
component of human life. It is
influenced by cultural, social and
economic conditions (Powel and
Gilbert, 2009).
 The dress sense of students are
sometimes terrible (Omair 2009)
and are “now getting out of
control” (Gbadegbe and Mawuli
2003 & Azuah, 2011)
 Growth in Scientific and
technological advancements is
permeating almost every facet of
life
 The Influence of science and
technology on dressing and fashion
taste is a continuing debate among
scholars.(Omede, 2011)
AIM AND OBJECTIVE
Aim: To find out the influence of science
and technology on students’ dress
sense
Objectives:
 To establish as to whether science and
technology has influence on students’
dress sense;
 To further examine the impact of
western influence on the beauty
concept of students.

4. OUTLINE OF LITERATURE REVIEW
DRESS SENSE BEHAVIOUR OF
STUDENTS
 Dress sense is a critical issue for
females than for males (Fayokun et
al.,2009).
 Female students’ dress sense over the
years has influenced people to marvel
as to whether students are in schools
for academics or rather a commune of
harlots (Omair, 2009; Azuah, 2011;
Olori, 2003)
 The indecency should not be blamed
on only the females but also the males
(Davidson, 2013).
RELEVANCE OF DRESSING
 It gives a sense of identity (Twig et
al.,2009)
 Forms vital component of human
existence (Rafaeli & Pratt,1993;).
Pratt and Rafaeli, 1997; Powell and
Gilbert, 2009)
FACTORS INFLUNCING DRESS SENSE
 Cultural, social and economic conditions
(Powell and Gilbert, 2009)
 Science and Technology (Edem, 2009;
Egwin,2010; Nenad, 2013)
 Misconception (Lynn,2004)
 Influence from celebrities and media
(Omede, 2011; Nenad,2013)

5. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
 Research design: Cross sectional non-experimental survey
 Research approach: Triangulation approach adopted (Quan +
Qual
 Population: The population constituted all students of the
Kumasi polytechnic.
 Sample size: 102 polytechnic students between the ages of 15-
29 years
 Sampling technique: Multi-stage cluster sampling technique.

6. RESULTS
 There is a relationship between the influence of science and
technology and dress sense (53.7% approval vs.46.7% disapproval),
however this was not statistically significance [x2=0.212, p≤.005].
 Weak negative correlation between the future influence of science
and technology on dress sense and how better students dress will be
than now [r=–.2, n=102, p<.05].
 84.3% of respondents hold the view that western culture has
influence on the beauty concept of students [x2=.505, p≤.05] .
 91% of the respondents agreed that there was an established system
of body covering among the youths during the early traditional days
but the significant changes from indigenous to contemporary
clothing and dress is influenced by science and technology and other
factors.

7. DISCUSSIONS
 The magnitude of impact of the
negative effects of science and
technology on dress sense and
beauty concept of students is
1.19% which somehow
contradicts Egwim (2010)
finding that science and
technology fuels extensively
the negative influence on the
dress sense (beauty concept) of
students;
 science and technology will
have impact on loss of culture
of students in the future as
expressed by some respondents
supporting Edem (2009)
findings. The idea is however
not strongly accepted by the
students (only 20.6% agree).

8. DISCUSSIONS CONT’D
 Respondents indicated that
science and technology has
brought wide varieties of dress
combinations. Similar finding
was reported by Nenad (2013).
 Some respondents (32.4%)
revealed that science and
technology would cause
negative dress senses in the
future. This goes had in hand
with Egwin (2010) finding.

9. CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE STUDY/GAPS IN LITERATURE
Gap in literature
 Available literatures strongly indicate that science and technology has
direct influence on dress sense; notwithstanding, this study unveils that
though science and technology has a relationship with dress sense it is not
statically significant[x2=0.212, p≤.005].
Contribution to Knowledge
 A novel finding from the study is that the future influence of science and
technology on dress sense is even uncertain. This study contributes to the
knowledge base of dress sense.
Further studies on dress sense
 The study has increased the cup of knowledge and information on dress
sense in Ghana.
 Future research is recommended to be made with a large sample on the
determinants of dress sense among tertiary students.
 Limitation of the study: Social desirability bias, Difficulty in making
Generalisation for all students.

10. CONCLUSION
This topic is of great importance for, personality definition,
cultural identity, national representation as it has a
significant impact on family, nation building and has
consequences for redefining the social fiber and morality
grade of the country.

11. REFERENCES CONT’D
Egwim, C. (2010). Indecent dressing among youths. Retrieved April 10,
2014 http://www.es/networld.com/webpages/features
Fayokun, K. O., Adedeji, S. O., & Oyebade, S. A. (2009). Moral Crisis in
Higher Institutions and the Dress Code Phenomenon. Online Submission,
6(2), 58-66
Gbadegbe, R.S. and Mawuli, Q. (2013) The Impact of Indecent Dressing
on the Academic Performance of Students in Tertiary Institutions, a Case
Study of Ho Polytechnic In Ghana. Journal of Education and
Practice.Vol.4, No.18,

12. SELECTED REFERENCES
Azuah, S. (2011): Factors Influencing Takoradi Polytechnic Students’
Choice of clothing. Unpublished Thesis, Takoradi Polythecnic, Takoradi,
Ghana.
Davidson, T. (2013) "Sun News : Women need 'dress code' to prevent sex
assaults: Islamic street preacher." Canada's Home for Hard News and
StraightTalk.<http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/canada/archives/201
2/07/20120716- 084302.html>.
Edem, B.D (2009). Clothing and Fashion in Ghanaian Culture: A case study
Among the Akans; An unpublished dissertation submitted to the School
of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and
Technology in partial fulfillment for the award of PhD in African Art and
Culture

13. REFERENCES CONT’D
Lynn, H. G. (2004): Fashioning modernity; changing meanings of clothing
in colonial Korea. Journal of International and Area Studies, 11, 75-93
Nenad, J. (2013). Influence of Media on Teenagers; StudyMode.com.
Retrieved 05, 2013, from http://www.studymode.com/essays/Influence-
Of-Media-On-Teenagers-1724487.html
Omede, J. (2011). Indecent Dressing on Campuses of Higher Institutions of
Learning in Nigeria: Implications for Counseling. Journal of Emerging
Trends in Educational Research and Policy Studies (JETERAPS)
2(4):228-233.
Twig, J., Powell, Jason L., and Tony, G. (2009). Aging identity a dialogue
with postmodernism. Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers. Print