Analyzing Social Media Research Trends

This assignment delves into a comparative analysis of several research papers exploring the impact and applications of social media. It requires students to examine different research designs, identify key findings, discuss study limitations, and propose future research directions within the field of social media studies.

Running head: SOCIAL MEDIA
Social Media
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

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Contents
Assessment 1: Structured Abstract..................................................................................................2
1. Brief summary of the theory and progression in the field...........................................................2
2. Discussion of Common themes...................................................................................................3
3. Discussion of Different themes...................................................................................................4
4. Discussion of Study limitations & how limitations differ across the research designs...............4
5. Discussion of future research directions (commonalities & difference).....................................5
Reference List..................................................................................................................................6

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Assessment 1: Structured Abstract
This structured abstract will review the social media in various fields through the
research studies conducted by Lu et al., Tucker, Gasper et al. and Alotaibi et al.
1. Brief summary of the theory and progression in the field
According to Lu et al (2013), social media is used in the organization at an incredible
pace. The mangers of the organization are using the social media to improve the performance of
the organization. Social media has helped in changing the business. Social media has used
distinct technologies and thus it has improved the organizational performance. Some scholars
have regarded social media as an important branch of online social network. Social media has
also helped the organization in blogging platforms. It has helped the company to move direct
from tech savvy to user friendly. It has also been described that how a new technology in an
organization is helpful for the development of business. The company must also be able to bear
the cost of using the new technology. They can use various kinds of social software instead of
social media for improving the profitability of the organization.
Tucker (2016) opined that social media it is easier to maximize the interest of the
students through collaborative use of digital technologies. The decentralized and interactive
environment of social media has helped in maximizing the interest of the students. Social media
has helped in reducing the classroom anxiety of the students through web browsing. Tweeting
has helped to spread the information and create communication among the people. The students
can communicate in small groups and conduct various types of surveys in this era of
globalization with the help of social media.

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Gasper et al. (2016) has helped the people in stressful situations. Social media has helped
in understanding the emotions and sentiments of the people. It has become easier for the people
to communicate and develop their communication channel. Social media includes various
sources of online information which are used by the consumers. It has been found that social
media is serving as a communication mechanism between the business organization and the
consumers. The consumers can also educate themselves through social media. They can also
spend their past time to get relieve from boredom. The individuals can adapt and cope to various
unfolding events and thus find out new ways of perceiving things in stressful situations.
According to Alotaibi (2017), it has been found that social media communication is
helping the patients with brain aneurysms and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Social media is helping
the doctors to deal with these patients. It is helping the physicians to understand the emotional
and mental state of those patients. Social media has also helped in sharing and providing
information and also expanded the communication network.
2. Discussion of Common themes
Lu et al (2013) found out that social media can also be viewed from an affordance
approach. It has been found out that people using the same technology and adopting the same
social practice may have greater utility because it has made the communication process much
easier and transparent. E-mail has helped the organization and it has made the communication
process much easier. However, survey shows that social media has benefited the organization
and made it affordable to communicate with the consumers.

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Tucker (2016) predicted that communication scholars have made inroads in the analysis
of the message. There are three important communication techniques i.e. community, action and
information. These three procedures are vital for the organization to expand their business.
Gasper et al. (2016) has highlighted the expansion of the networking channel. Social
media has helped in entertainment and enjoyment. It has also used as a stress reliever. Social
media has helped in improving the communication network.
Alotaibi (2017) opined that social media is used by people of different classes and age
groups. It has made communication easier between the various groups of people.
3. Discussion of Different themes
It is difficult to highlight the differences between the themes because all the four papers
concentrate on different ideas. Lu et al (2013) suggested that social media has helped in
improving the profitability of the business because people are more aware and conscious of the
products. However according to Tucker (2016) it is vital to improve the communication network
and reduce the anxiety in the student when they use various digital media. Gasper et al. (2016)
suggested that social media has helped the people in many ways. It has helped in the facilitation
of the convenience and the communication utility. Alotaibi (2017) has suggested that the use of
social media has helped the physicians in the treatment of patients with neurological disorders.
4. Discussion of Study limitations & how limitations differ across the research designs
Lu et al (2013) identified that there is lack of research because the entire paper is based
on a general perspective. There is no specific approach which is used in the study. The entire

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paper is written in a generalized form. Tucker (2016) has made wider use of statistical tools
which is difficult to understand without having proper knowledge of statistics.
Gasper et al. (2016) has made use of gratification approach to show why people preferred
to use social media. It has failed to give a proper justification of the use of social media and also
a comparison with the other approaches.
Alotaibi (2017) has made an analytical approach of the use of social media by the people.
But it has failed to make a comparison between the different nations which would give a clear
and vivid image. It has only highlighted the two neurological diseases. The subject matter has
become much narrower.
5. Discussion of future research directions (commonalities & difference)
Lu et al (2013) suggest that it is important to carry out further studies to analyze the use
of social media in the organization. An individual must have proper knowledge before using the
social media. If the individual do not have sufficient knowledge, it will not help in expanding the
communication network. Tucker (2016) has suggested carrying out further research in the
analyzing the reasons of anxiety in the students when they are using digital technologies. Gasper
et al. (2016) have shown significance of social media in stressful situation of an individual.
Alotaibi (2017) has suggested carrying out qualitative research in a wider approach.

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Reference List
Alotaibi, N.M., Samuel, N., Wang, J., Ahuja, C.S., Guha, D., Ibrahim, G.M., Schweizer, T.A.,
Saposnik, G. and Macdonald, R.L., 2017. The use of social media communications in brain
aneurysms and subarachnoid hemorrhage: a mixed-method analysis. World neurosurgery, 98,
pp.456-462.
Gaspar, R., Pedro, C., Panagiotopoulos, P. and Seibt, B., 2016. Beyond positive or negative:
Qualitative sentiment analysis of social media reactions to unexpected stressful
events. Computers in Human Behavior, 56, pp.179-191.
Lu, B., Guo, X., Luo, N. and Chen, G., 2015. Corporate Blogging and Job Performance: Effects
of Work-related and Nonwork-related Participation. Journal of Management Information
Systems, 32(4), pp.285-314.
Tucker, F.T., 2016. Sociological media: maximizing student interest in quantitative methods via
collaborative use of digital media. Problems of Education in the 21st Century, 73.