1) The document reports on a 2013 survey of social researchers on their use of social media for both personal and professional purposes. 2) It found that most respondents were female, between the ages of 25-44, working in the UK, and used social media tools for both personal and work purposes. 3) The majority of researchers surveyed used social media as part of their social research alongside other methods, and cited reasons like accessing populations and gathering insights as reasons for its effectiveness and future use in their work.

1. SRA Social Media in
Social Research 2013
survey
Dr Simon Haslam
FMR Research/University of Strathclyde
24 June 2013

2. Profile of respondents
• 66% female and 34% male
• 3% 16-24, 59% 25-44, 33% 45-64, 5% 65+
• 96% UK principle work location

3. Use of social media tools
– for personal use

4. Use of social media tools –
for work/professional use

5. Social media in social
research

6. 96% alongside other
research methods
(89% in previous years)

7. Why used

8. Effectiveness of social
media in social research

9. Challenges

10. Social media in social
research – future use

11. Why will use in future?

12. social researchers

13. social media – yes (personal)
social researchers

14. social media – yes (personal)
social researchers
social media – yes (work)

15. social media – yes (personal)
social researchers
social media – yes (work)
social media – yes (social research)

16. social media – yes (personal)
social researchers
social media – yes (work)
social media – yes (social research)