This research proposal aims to investigate the factors motivating individuals to use social networks and the effects on individuals and families. The researcher plans to survey 500 college students aged 12-18 on their social media usage and whether it affects their relationships and personality. A literature review found that social media can both positively and negatively impact adolescents' social development. The proposal outlines research questions, hypotheses, objectives, methodology, ethics considerations, timeline, and references.

1. Research Proposal
Daniela Popescu
Research Skills

2. The research proposal CONTENTS
1. 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.
11. References

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.
1.19 billion Users
200 million Users
500 million Users
Background

6. The aim of research study
Investigate the factors that motivate
individuals to use social networking
and resulting effects
on the individual and family.

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

8. 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.

9. 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?

10. 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
SNS’s.
O5: To find out whether users of social networks
relate to their online “friends” also in real life.

11. 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.

12. 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 Networking’s
Effect on Adolescent Social Development”
conducted by Mary Wilks concluded that online
social networking may have more positive than
negative influence on adolescents.

13. 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.

14. 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.

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

16. GANTT CHART

17. Power Point Presentations available at:
http://www.slideshare.net/DanaPopescu/research-proposal-32845073
Research Proposal
Survey
http://www.slideshare.net/DanaPopescu/survey-32847934

18. 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 Networking’s Effect on Adolescent
Social Development,"
www.eckerd.edu (accessed Jan. 15, 2014, 09.30 hrs)