Research

Proposal
Research Skills
Daniela
Popescu

The research proposal CONTENTS

Introduction
2. Background to the
research
3. The research questions
4. Hypotheses
5. The objectives of the
research
6. Literature Review
7. Methodology
8. Ethical issues
9. Research Planning
10. Managing Time-scaling.
1.

Introduction
Strong development of Web 2.0 has
led to important changes in human
life, including relationships and social
interactions.
We always hear about the fact that
the use of social networks negatively
affect society and the education of
the young generation.

Introduction
On the other hand, the advantages and
the good things of social networks are
not negligible, as they also contribute to
the development of the individual.
There have been few studies and
research conducted on these facts, so
we cannot yet have a clear and realistic
conclusions about the influence of using
social networks.

Background
1.19 billion Users

500 million
Users
200 million
Users

Millions of people-are members of one or more social

networks. Apart from specialized networks that
attract users with the same interests, other networks
like Facebook, Twitter etc. have users with different
ages, gender, occupations and concerns.
They create profiles, share photos and thoughts with
friends and watching people worldwide, known or
unknown.

The aim of research study

Investigate the factors that motivate

individuals to use social networking
and resulting effects
on the individual and family.

Research questions
RS1: Using online social networks
affects individual mentality and
principles?
RS2: Using social NETWORKS
affects relationships in real life,
especially family relationships?

Hypotheses
H1: In most cases, relationships and
activities in online environments are based
on real-life relationships and activities,
contributing to the maintenance of the latter.
H2: In the most common situations in which
activity on social networks are not taken to
the extreme, there are many more
advantages than disadvantages.

Objectives
O1: To find out if people are using social
networks to interact with other people and to
make new friends, or to maintain pre-existing
relationships in real life.
O2: To find out whether social networks users
feel comfortable to share their real thoughts with
other better online than in the offline
environment. Then, if there are changes in the
relationships in real life?

Objectives
O3: To find out whether social network users feel
tempted to create a personality different from the
real one, only to meet the expectations of others.
O4: To find out whether social network users
improved their communication skills, after using
SNSs.
O5: To find out whether users of social networks
relate to their online friends also in real life.

Literature Review
Dr. Philippa Collin said in The benefit
of Social Networking Services that the
rise of social networking has led to the
necessity
of
new
patters
of
communication and social connection
between
young
people.
She
also
emphasized the need to develop an
intergenerational communication not to
risk the emergence of a society
structured by a digital divide between
young generation, their parents and
elders.

Danah M. Boyd concluded in Social

Network sites that the activities deployed in
the online environment mirror, support and
modify real-life activities.
Another study Online Social Networkings
Effect on Adolescent Social Development
conducted by Mary Wilks concluded that
online social networking may have more
positive
than
negative
influence
on
adolescents.

Methodology
The subjects are 500 young people, full
time Amira College students between the
ages of 12 and 18. They will be provided
with a Likert scale survey.
Respondents will be asked to rate their
answer on a scale from 1 to 5: Strongly
disagree, Disagree, Neither agree nor
disagree, Agree, Strongly agree.
After collecting the data a qualitative
analysis will be done.

Ethical Issues
Participants and their parents will be
informed about the purpose and methods
used
A consent form has to be signed by
parents
The information provided by participants
will be used only for the purpose of
research
Answers will be provided in anonymity.

Managing Timelines
In this research is used Gantt chart
to outline the steps for research
completion and not to miss any due
date.

GANTT CHART

Power Point Presentations available at:

Research Proposal
http://www.slideshare.net/DanaPopescu/research-proposal-32845073

Survey

http://www.slideshare.net/DanaPopescu/survey-32847934

References
1.Boyd, D. M. & Ellison, N. B. (2007). Social network sites.Journal
of Computer-Mediated Communication, 13(1), article 11.
Retrieved from
http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol13/issue1/boyd.ellison.html (accessed
Jan. 17, 2014, 14.48 hrs)
2.Collin, P., Rahilly, K., Richardson, I. & Third, A (2011) The Benefit
of Social Networking Services. Cooperative Research Centre for
Young People, Technology and Wellbeing. Melbourne.
3.Mary Wilks, "Online Social Networkings Effect on Adolescent
Social Development,"
www.eckerd.edu (accessed Jan. 15, 2014, 09.30 hrs)