The journal I have chosen is Social Networks, which is an international journal of structural analysis with an impact
factor of 3.381. (http://www.journals.elsevier.com/social-networks/).
The journal contains papers that study
social network and covers topics such as biology, psychology, communication
studies etc. for presenting studies on social network. It also contains
articles on how our behaviour is influenced by social networks.
I think it's relevant because it contains
papers on many different topics related to media use.
I have chosen the paper “The
Benefits of Facebook Friends: Social Capital and College Students”. The
paper is written by
Nicole B. Ellison, Charles Steinfield and Cliff Lampe. It was published in the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication (Volume
12, Issue 4, July 2007). The journal has an impact factor of 1,778.
This paper examines whether there is any relationship
between Facebook use and establishment and provision of social capital. The
essay examines both how the new contacts you get through the platform affects
social capital, and it also explores if keeping in touch with old friends on
Facebook can increases the social capital.
The background information used in the
study consists of previous research and literature on the subject of social
capital and the Internet influence of social capital.
The study was conducted on 286 students and
consisted of a questionnaire sent out online. The questions concerned their
Facebook use, their contact with others on Facebook, as well as questions about
their self-esteem, life situation and satisfaction. The students respond to the
questions with a scale of 1-5, and the data were shown in diagrams.
The study shows that there are significant
links between Facebook use and social capital. Above all, Facebooks
facilitating making new friends have a big impact on the social capital.
Although self-esteem can be positively affected by Facebook use.
Briefly explain to a
first year student what theory is, and what theory is not.
A theory is an attempt to understand why
and how something is. Theories constructed by logical reasoning and from the
theories you can get the information that helps you answer the questions “why”
and “how” something or someone works or behaves in a particular way.
Describe the major
theory or theories that are used in your selected paper.
The major theory used in my selected paper is analysis theory. The results from the study are based on answers from participants.
Based on previous research and literature on the subject the writers got 7
hypotheses, which helped them analyse the results.
Since the results are just based on this
questionnaire, may no concrete conclusions be deducted, instead the study just
present an analysis of the results based on the literature and the previous
research. The study is well done, but in order to give the require answers it
needs more research. The errors can be many in this kind of exam.
As the Internet and Facebook are two
relative new phenomenon’s, a theory like the analysis theory is to prefer.
Which are the
benefits and limitations of using the selected theory or theories?
The advantage of this type of theory is
that you can analyse the results from many different viewpoints. The
disadvantage is that you can only answer the question "what is", not
“how” and “why” the result looked like it did.
Hej Ingrid.
SvaraRaderaYou've chosen an interesting topic and I find what you've described about it comprehensible.
I have questions on some parts. You write "Although self-esteem can be positively affected by Facebook use." Was this a conclusion from the paper?
What is it based on and was there no evidence of the opposite? Because I just read an article called "Facebook Use Bad For Self-Esteem No Matter Why You Log On" in the University Herald.
It is based on a research from the University of Michigan and was published in the journal PLOS One (Impact factor 3.73). So I doubt if this could be a correct conclusion? I know that other studies have come to the same conclusion.
Regarding what you write about the theories selected in the paper you've read, you say that "As the Internet and Facebook are two relative new phenomenon’s, a theory like the analysis theory is to prefer. "
I can agree that at least Facebook is a quite new phenomenon and we all know that information technology develops at a rapid pace. But why would the analysis theory be preferred? Doesn't that depend on what
you are looking for? I don't think it depends on how old or new a phenomenon is, somebody correct me if I'm wrong?