Facebook Addiction in Emerging Adults

This assignment examines the relationship between gender, behaviors, intimacy development, and the level of Facebook addiction among emerging adults. It analyzes relevant research articles that investigate how these factors influence Facebook usage and potential addiction. The included references provide a foundation for understanding the complex interplay between social media, personal relationships, and psychological well-being in this age group.

Running head: RESEARCH METHODS
Research Methods
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Abstract
With the growing popularity of social media network, which is mainly due to the influence of
Facebook, the younger generation are highly addicted to its usages. It is one of the effective
media that is used by the present generation to communicate with different types of people
within their community and also share thoughts. This increasing popularity of Facebook has been
a major source for initiating romantic relationship among the current generations.
The aim of the current research in this context is to identify the underlying reason for people
using Facebook as a platform for initiating romantic relationship with opposite gender. The
primary method of Data Collection will be used in this research work for understanding the
viewpoints of the younger generations, who are willing to initiate romantic relationship with the
help of Facebook platform. The result of this research work will help the society to gain
awareness for avoiding misuse of Facebook or any other social media platforms for initiating
fake relationship and thereby compromising personal security.

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Background..................................................................................................................................2
Rationale......................................................................................................................................2
Research questions.......................................................................................................................3
Research Objectives.....................................................................................................................3
Literature Review............................................................................................................................4
Social Networking websites.........................................................................................................4
Role of social networking sites in relationship development......................................................5
Misuse associated with the use of Facebook in developing relationship.....................................7
Gaps in the existing literature......................................................................................................9
Research Methodology:.................................................................................................................10
Introduction:...............................................................................................................................10
Research Paradigm:....................................................................................................................10
Research Approach:...................................................................................................................11
Data Collection Method:............................................................................................................11
Sampling Technique:.................................................................................................................12
Data Analysis Method:...............................................................................................................12
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................12

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Ethical issues.................................................................................................................................13
Reference.......................................................................................................................................14

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Introduction
Background
The popularity of the digital and internet technology had made it possible for the public
to get more accustomed with the social media networks. The commutation process for people all
across the globe has been highly enhanced due to huge popularity of the social media websites.
As per the report of Zurbriggen et al. (2016), there are currently more than 1 billion users of
Facebook, all around the globe. Nearly 70% of all the users belong to the age category of
adolescents and that of the young adults, which is the age category of 12-24 years. The
improvement in the digital technology and the ease of use of social media networks have been
the cause of dramatic spike in the total number of users of Facebook. According to the report of
Rueda et al. (2015), the college and adolescent individuals all across the globe spend on average
1-2 hours time every day on Facebook.
Rationale
In spite of the fact that they are huge growth of social media users especially that of
Facebook, there has been very little research done up on the potential implications of romantic
relationships. The popularity of the social networking site has made it easier for young adults to
make and enhance the relationship. The huge publicity of the social networking websites have
made it easier for young adults to describe the status of relationship. With the help of Facebook,
it is possible to easily communicate in the form of verbal and nonverbal mode to reach out to
their respective partners. The previous research for related to social media websites has claimed
that rising popularity of this websites does have a significant impact on all types of relationship
between young adults and adolescents. Nevertheless, there has not been several research done in

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the past that has focused upon the matters related to practical impact and the ways these intimate
relationships are being carried out by young couple all across the globe.
Hence, in this context of the current research is to highlight up in the ways that are being
adopted by young adults in order to enact intimacy in their relationship. Property Data Collection
process will be followed in order to understand the present scenario about young couples and the
way they carry out their relationship with the help of Facebook. It is also important to mention
that due to the unique nature of the social context that is associated with that of the use of
Facebook, it is important to assess its role in escalating all types of romantic relationship. It is
also important to assess traditional model related to relationship in order to understand the
impact of Facebook in the modern era of building of romantic relationship. Hence, it will be
possible to conduct research upon the impact of technology on human behaviour of relationship.
Research questions
 What are the ways that are used by young couples to enhance and enact intimacy in their
relationship using the platform of Facebook?
 What is the impact of the relationship between young couples that are initiated and
enhanced with the help of Facebook?
Research Objectives
 To evaluate the ways that is used by the young couples to enhance and enact intimacy in
their relationship using the platform of Facebook.

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 To evaluate the ways impact of the relationship between young couples that are initiated
and enhanced with the help of Facebook.
Literature Review
Social Networking websites
The applicability of social networking sites is a major part of the Internet service, where
it is possible for the user to create their own profile providing personal details about their identity
and may also provide detailed description about the lifestyle. As per mentioned by Yeo and Chu
(2017), one of the main purposes of the social networking sites used to connect with other
unknown person, with whom they can expect to have healthy level of friendship by having some
common area of interest. The tracing of first-degree connections is one of the important aspects
of collective use of social networking sites.
Fox et al. (2013), have added in this context that one of the main advantages of social
networking interaction compared to that of other digital interaction is due to the anonymous
nature that is predominantly used to share various stories of their lifestyle with the help of
pictures, videos, and other stories. Facebook is currently believed to be the most popular social
networking sites, which is mainly due to the fact that besides direct communication it is also
possible to share various aspects of daily life with high level of efficiencies like pictures and
videos. This is also possible due to the fact that Facebook regularly changes its user interface in
order to provide better experience today users, where they can share important stories their

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individual timeline profile. There is special section within the Facebook profile of a user, what
they can provide detailed description about their personal life and past history. For example, one
can provide details regarding the school, college and other education qualifications along with
currently existing professional experience. The can also share their thoughts about political,
social and religious experience. There is also a special section within the Facebook profile,
where individual can provide details about their relationship status in the form of marriage or
engaged. It is also possible to acknowledge someone's post or stories that are being shared on
Facebook in the form of clicking the option of Like button. Currently Facebook has updated that
option, where it is possible to provide emotional feedback to someone's post. There is also the
option of tagging some individual in a story or picture that are being shared in their newsfeed,
through which it is possible to dedicate some post or provide special mention to someone, who is
within their friendliest (Freeman and Brinkley 2014).
Individuals can share their opinion about other's post in the form of making comment and
showing emotional expression. The messaging service that is provided by Facebook is also
essential to communicate with people all across the community.
Role of social networking sites in relationship development
As per the research work of Miller et al. (2016), individual express themselves by
constructing effective identity, in the form of friendship development while creating individual
profile on social media networks like Facebook. Fox et al. (2013), have mentioned the
importance of Facebook and other social networking sites on our offline life, where most people
focus upon developing romantic relationship especially for the age group of young adults. In the
context of high rate of popularity of Facebook, it is imperative that high level of examination is

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required for developing the meaning of relationship that is initiated through the use of this
popular social networking website. The research work of Reed et al. (2015), have shown that
individuals may be developing new norms and expectation about developing special form of
relationship that is generally reflected in their behaviour of communicating with another
individual.
It is important to mention in this context that the way people in enact and elaborate
themselves in front of strangers Especially to that of opposite gender of same age, most of them
have the potential of developing and interpersonal relationship. The research work of Miller et al.
(2016), have concluded that development of relationship with the help of Computer-mediated
technology such as SMS or email and text-based chat can be one of the effective ways to develop
private relationships among the age group of adolescents and young adults.
According to Fox et al. (2013), it can be said that the social information processing
theory, where detail interpersonal information can be used as a tool to develop intimate
relationship with individual of opposite gender. This interaction can be developed with the help
of computer-mediated communication process, which is sometimes more effective than physical
face to face interaction, especially among the young adults. With the popularity of social
networking websites, individual person has changed the way they represent to some other
stranger of opposite gender. Use of personal history and attractive photographs in a form of
profile picture a few of the effective tools that are used by individuals in initiating the process of
intimate relationship. Once a person has the ability to access other’s Facebook profile, it is
possible for them to get detailed information. This can help them to decide upon their choice of
choosing their respective partner at initial stage. This is mainly possible due to the effective
mapping structures that are used by Facebook, where individual information are provided in a

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systemic manner. Other individual can examine this chugging information, which is in contrast
in assumption making, which is one of the common way to develop relationship in traditional
ways. Social penetration theory can be also applied effectively due to the user-friendly nature of
Facebook. With high level of introduction that is possible through the help of Facebook,
especially in the form of chatting and sharing important stories of each other's personal life, it is
possible to develop high level of trust and intimacy that is usually unfolded slowly. Billedo et al.
(2015), have mentioned about the fact that effective design of Facebook can also help to provide
high level of depth information about an individual. This is believed to be one of the effective
ways to encourage high deep level of conversation among two unknown individuals. Hence it is
possible for two individuals to understand and know each other at high interpersonal level
without even initiating actual physical communication. Moreover, the high amount of time that is
spent by young adults with social networking sites increases their opportunity of disclosing
themselves to opposite partners.
Misuse associated with the use of Facebook in developing relationship
According to Fox et al. (2013), one of the major reason for high rate of the popularity of
Facebook is due to the fact that it has been designed in a special way, where people can decide
upon their personal settings about the accessibility of information that they provide. Hence it is
possible for an individual to have the choice of providing details about themselves only to few of
the other uses of their choice. This is believed to be one of the effective ways, where privacy
level is enhanced for all Facebook users. This is mostly essential in the context of the fact that
there are many fake and unethical individual, who can misuse other's personal data in the name
of developing initiate interpersonal relationship.

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In this context, Mod (2010), have argued about the fact related to the actual level of
implication of Facebook. With the growing popularity of Facebook, there has been an increasing
tendency among several individuals to provide fake and false information about themselves in
order to extract individual of opposite gender to develop high level of interpersonal relationship.
Fox et al. (2014), have added in this context that in spite of high level of security that is being
provided by Facebook authority, it is quite challenging for a user to identify fake information
that are being provided in some user's profile. The process of creeping is associated in this
context, where it is possible for an individual to visit other's profile that can help them to get
their detailed personal information without their consent. This is highly sensitive due to the fact
that individual can unethical get information and thereby gets the opportunity to misuse the same
in the public. For example, there are cases, where individual had downloaded some pictures and
misused the same that can hamper personal reputation in the public forum and also can be highly
embarrassing for the respective individual.
Kimpton et al. (2016), have mentioned that authorities are on Facebook are constantly
updating their security settings, that is inch to prevent the misuse of personal level of
information. There are also special sections in Facebook, where it is possible for an individual to
get valuable advice about identifying false and fake profile and also improve their level of
security of personal stories and information, which they are sharing in the public forum.
Individuals need to be more cautious during the time they are expecting initial development of
intimate relationship through the mode of personal chatting.

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Gaps in the existing literature
The current literature that is obtained from past research work has highlighted it up on the
ways through which, individual especially the young adults can develop high level of
interpersonal relationship with opposite genders. Nevertheless, the major gap that exists in the
literature is due to the fact that it has not focused on the ways that can be implemented by the
Facebook users in order to avoid development of false relationship and identifying fake
individuals. Hence it is essential for future research work to develop ways that can help to
provide valuable suggestions to the young adults, while they are expecting to develop initiate
relationship through the help of Facebook communication.

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Research Methodology:
Introduction:
The research methodology of any research project plays an important role as it helps in
offering an insight into the research strategy and research approach undertaken, in order to
complete a particular research project. This specific chapter of the research will help in giving an
in-depth knowledge regarding the research methods to be adopted, in order to complete the
research and to ensure the reliability and authenticity of the findings and conclusion. Often in
absence of proper research method, the conclusion can be fallacious and misleading. Hence, it is
important to ensure the proper selection of the research methodology, so that the most accurate
conclusion can be deduced.
Research Paradigm:
The research philosophy or paradigm is defined as the set of beliefs and ideas underlying
the approach undertaken in a particular research project. There are three distinct kinds of
research paradigms- positivism, realism, and Interpretivism. This particular research will employ
the use of Interpretivism, as it will help in analyzing the present scenario, critically reflect and
evaluate the way Facebook impacts relationship formation of young adults, and develop a deep
understanding of the user psychology while engaging in relationships over virtual platforms.
Positivism or Realism will not be used here, simply because the research project intends to
develop an understanding of the research problem, rather than merely testing the validity of the
hypothesis. Hence, an open investigation of the psychology of the users engaged in virtual
relationship over Facebook will be needed, for which it is important to interpret their attitudes
and opinions. Hence, Interpretivism has been chosen (Mackey and Gass 2015). The aim of the

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research is not merely to generalize and test the validity of the hypothesis, but rather to interpret,
understand the patterns of human behavior.
Research Approach:
There are two main ways in which the research problem can be approached- inductive
research approach and deductive research approach. While the Deductive approach is a kind of
approach which intends to test the validity of assumptions in hand, the
inductive approach interprets the research problem through careful investigation, and lead to the
emergence of new theories and generalizations (Taylor et al. 2015). The present research will
employ the use of inductive research, as the aim of the research problem is to critically evaluate
the way adult people engage in intimate relationships over Facebook. In absence of adequate past
research, the research will help in developing new theories and models of behaviors, and provide
unique insight into the human psyche, while forming relationships with virtual platforms. Hence,
human behavior will be studied and carefully investigated, rather than merely discovering a
causal relationship between the two variables of the hypothesis.
Data Collection Method:
As far as data collection method is concerned, he qualitative research method will be
chosen, whereby the non-statistical data will only be collected. This method has been chosen as
it will help in understanding and interpreting the behavior and attitudes of the Facebook users,
while they engage in any form of emotional relationship on Facebook. Numerical data has no
significance here. The focus group interview will be organized, on 50 respondents, who will be
provided with open-ended questionnaire, and whose responses will be recorded and attitudes will
be observed, for arriving at the conclusion (Flick 2015). In absence of sufficient past research,

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the research will be completely reliant on the use of primary data, that is first-hand data as
collected from the 100 chosen respondents, through the focus interview session.
Sampling Technique:
In order to select the respondents needed for the focus group interview, the stratified
sampling technique will be chosen (Panneerselvam 2014). Accordingly, the sample population
will be chosen only if the respondents satisfy certain criteria, which are stated as follows:
 The respondents belong to the age group of 18 to 35 years.
 The respondents are active users of Facebook.
 The respondents have at least two unknown people on his friendliest.
Data Analysis Method:
In order to analyse the qualitative data, the transcript of the interview session of the interviewees
will be kept and will be later critically analyzed. The thematic analysis will be done on the
responses of the respondents, and common patterns and meanings will be discovered to arrive at
the conclusion.
Conclusion
From the expected findings of the above research work, it is possible to develop the facts
related to that of the use of Facebook as a source of developing intimate level of interpersonal
relationship among young adults. The findings can also highlight upon the practical effect of
relationship among couples that are initiated through the mode of Facebook communication.
Due to the popularity of social media networks and huge amount of time that is spent by
young adults in the use of these websites, there is a significant chance of developing intimate

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relationship. The above research work and focus upon the ways that can be implemented by
Facebook authorities and users in order to prevent the misuse of the social networking platform
while developing long-term relationships among individuals.
Ethical issues
The major ethical concerns that are associated with this research are due to the fact that
the researchers need to collect data through personal interview. Hence, there is a chance of
violating individual level of comfort among the interview participants. In order to maintain ethics
within the research work, it is essential to ensure that interview participant are not forced to
provide personal information that is needed for conducting the research.
Budget
The total budget is estimated to be $AU 15,000
Personnel Subtotal: $AU 5,000
Subtotal Equipment: $AU 2000
Subtotal Material and Supplies: $AU 1,000
Subtotal Travel $AU 1,000
Subtotal Publication $AU 1,000
Subtotal Other Direct Costs $AU: 1000
Subtotal Focus Groups $AU: 2000

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Subtotal Indirect Costs $AU: 4000
Research Limitations
The major limitations of this research are shortage of time and money, which will not
allow the researcher to collect wide range of data that would have been appropriate for the
current investigation. There is also the case of ethical concerns, which has not allowed the
researchers to collect the wide range of data that are needed for the research.

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Reference
Billedo, C.J., Kerkhof, P. and Finkenauer, C., 2015. The use of social networking sites for
relationship maintenance in long-distance and geographically close romantic relationships.
Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 18(3), pp.152-157.
Flick, U., 2015. Introducing research methodology: A beginner's guide to doing a research
project. Sage.
Fox, J., Osborn, J.L. and Warber, K.M., 2014. Relational dialectics and social networking sites:
The role of Facebook in romantic relationship escalation, maintenance, conflict, and dissolution.
Computers in Human Behavior, 35, pp.527-534.
Fox, J., Warber, K.M. and Makstaller, D.C., 2013. The role of Facebook in romantic relationship
development: An exploration of Knapp’s relational stage model. Journal of Social and Personal
Relationships, 30(6), pp.771-794.
Freeman, L.K. and Brinkley, J., 2014. Length Matters: Message Metrics that Result in Higher
Levels of Perceived Partner Responsiveness and Changes in Intimacy as Friends Communicate
through Social Network Sites. The Journal of Social Media in Society, 3(1).
Kimpton, M., Campbell, M., Weigin, E.L., Orel, A., Wozencroft, K. and Whiteford, C., 2016.
The relation of gender, behavior, and intimacy development on level of Facebook addiction in
emerging adults. International Journal of Cyber Behavior, Psychology and Learning (IJCBPL),
6(2), pp.56-67.
Mackey, A. and Gass, S.M., 2015. Second language research: Methodology and design.
Routledge.

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Miller, J.H., Danielson, C., Parcell, E.S., Nicolini, K. and Boucher, T., 2016. Blurred Lines:
Privacy management, family relationships, and Facebook. Iowa Journal of Communication,
48(1), pp.4-22.
Mod, G.B.B., 2010. Reading romance: The impact Facebook rituals can have on a romantic
relationship. Journal of comparative research in anthropology and sociology, 1(2), p.61.
Panneerselvam, R., 2014. Research methodology. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd..
Reed, L.A., Tolman, R.M. and Safyer, P., 2015. Too close for comfort: Attachment insecurity
and electronic intrusion in college students’ dating relationships. Computers in Human Behavior,
50, pp.431-438.
Rueda, H.A., Lindsay, M. and Williams, L.R., 2015. “She Posted It on Facebook” Mexican
American Adolescents’ Experiences With Technology and Romantic Relationship Conflict.
Journal of Adolescent Research, 30(4), pp.419-445.
Taylor, S.J., Bogdan, R. and DeVault, M., 2015. Introduction to qualitative research methods: A
guidebook and resource. John Wiley & Sons.
Yeo, T.E.D. and Chu, T.H., 2017. Sharing “Sex Secrets” on Facebook: A Content Analysis of
Youth Peer Communication and Advice Exchange on Social Media about Sexual Health and
Intimate Relations. Journal of Health Communication, pp.1-10.
Zurbriggen, E.L., Ben Hagai, E. and Leon, G., 2016. Negotiating privacy and intimacy on social
media: Review and recommendations. Translational Issues in Psychological Science, 2(3),
p.248.

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Appendix
Following are the questions for conducting survey:
1) Since how long have you been using Facebook?
a. 1 year
b. More than 1 year
c. 1-5 years
d. More than 5 years
2) How much hours in a day do you spend in Facebook?
a. 30 minutes
b. 30 minutes to an hour
c. More than an Hour
d. More than 2 hours
3) What is your main purpose for using Facebook?
a. Chatting with friends
b. Checking newsfeed
c. Checking other’s post
d. Initiating intimate Relationship with strangers
4) From where do you access Facebook?
a. Mobile application
b. Internet website

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5) Which is the most popular thing that you like about Facebook?
a. The convenience of chatting with other people
b. The high level of security that is offered
c. The user friendly interface
d. The ease of access in spite of no Internet bandwidth