Conestoga College: Research Proposal on Social Media in Accounting

This research proposal examines the impact of social media on the learning outcomes of accounting students at Conestoga College. The study, based on a survey of 72 respondents, investigates the students' utilization of social media platforms, particularly Instagram, and its influence on their learning experiences. The research identifies opportunities to integrate social media for educational purposes, such as maximizing content visibility and enhancing communication between students and the college. It also addresses potential issues, including biased responses and security concerns. Secondary research supports the findings, highlighting the importance of social media integration for improved communication and student engagement. The report analyzes the survey results, discusses opportunities and issues, and provides recommendations for leveraging social media to enhance the learning experience of accounting students.

Running head: RESEARCH PROPOSAL
RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

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1. Analysis of the survey
The research that was undertaken depended on 72 responses from the respondents. It has
helped in understanding the impact of the utilization of social media platforms on the learning
outcomes of the accounting students. The responses that were collected during the survey will be
helping the authorities in understanding the preferences of the respondents relating to the
utilization of social media platforms for implementing the same in Conestoga College. The
questionnaire that was created by the researcher aimed at understanding the different
opportunities and issues of devising an information system through the utilization of diverse
social media platforms.
During the survey, 65.28 % of the respondents agreed that they utilize Instagram
multiple times a day. It has helped the researchers in understanding the exact platform through
which the information might be transmitted to the accountancy students. The integration of
information through the utilization of a social media platform that is widely used will be helping
the developers in maximizing the visibility of the content to the target audience. On the other
hand, 79.17 % of the respondents agreed to the fact that they utilize Instagram for connecting to
their friends and connections in the Conestoga College. The collected responses will be helping
the developers in identifying the social media platforms through which the students are mostly
connected with one another. The identification of different connections of the students will be
helping the developers in utilizing the social media platform in order to connect to the students
and thereby effectively spread information through the same. The assessment of the number of
times the respondents visit Conestoga College social media platform will be helping the
developers in creating a social media integration program in order to enhance the learning

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outcomes of the accounting students. It has been found during the survey that 18.6% of the
respondents prefer to utilize Instagram over the other social media platforms for connecting to
the friends. It will be helping the developers in designing a development program through
Instagram in order to enhance the learning practices. During the survey it has been found that
most of the students in Conestoga College 52.78 % agreed to the fact that the learning modules,
which was shared through the utilization of the social media platforms was helpful in relation to
the studies. It will be helping the developers in bringing forth modifications in the social media
platform for enhancing the experience of the users. 58.33 % of the respondents stated that the
information that was shared by the Conestoga College was valid to the subject area, which
helped them in maintaining the efficacy of the social media interactions.
1.1 Opportunities
The survey will be helping the developers in bringing forth modifications in the most
visited social media platform (Instagram) to maximize the visibility and access over the contents
that are forwarded. The developers might take steps to introduce different educational videos and
contents in Instagram in order to maximize the visibility of the contents to the students. On the
other hand, the developers might take steps to promote other social media platforms to the
students in order to enhance the educational programs that are planned by the Conestoga
College. The social media integration will be helping the developers in maximizing the visibility
of the educational contents that are shared by the Conestoga College. On the other hand, the
social media integration will be helping the College authorities in undertaking suitable
communication with the students in order to identify their area of interests and the issues that are
faced by the same. The identification of the issues that are faced by the students will be helping

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the Board in bringing forth modifications in the module in order to suit the capabilities and
interests of the students.
1.2 Issues
The issues that might be faced by the researchers while undertaking the survey is based
on the biased responses of the students. The biased responses of the students might affect the
study through different interpretation of contexts and the recommended actions. On the other
hand, the limitations of the financial resources might affect the development activities that might
be undertaken in order to maximize the visibility. The developers might also encounter issues
relating to security of the information that is being transmitted through the social media
platforms.
2. Secondary research
Neiger et al., (2012) stated that social media integration helps in enhancing the
communicability of the organization with the stakeholders. Gray et al., (2013) also noted that
most of the universities have undertaken steps to integrate with the social media platforms in
order to reach out to most of the students for \assisting the same through supportive lectures. On
the other hand, Picazo-Vela, Gutiérrez-Martínez and Luna-Reyes, L. F. (2012) stated that the
social media integration that is undertaken by the educational institutions helps the same in
building suitable relations with the students. The aspect of suitable relations with the students
helps the educational organizations in designing the module as per the preferences and interests
of the students. Cohen, James and Mihailidis (2013) stated that the social media platforms act
as a powerful tool of communication in order to make the students and their parents aware of the

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course details and the fees. Transmission of complete information on the different courses helps
the students in undertaking decisions for their future growth (Stromquist & Monkman, 2014).
Chen and Bryer, (2012) stated that the social media platforms enables the educational
organizations in transmitting information on the different job drives that are undertaken by the
business enterprises. The establishment of sound communication through social media platforms
will be helping the educational organizations in maintaining their efficacy of operations.
Dabbagh and Kitsantas (2012) stated that the enhanced communicability in the educational
institutions will be helping the lecturers in understanding the issues that are faced by the
students and thereby design steps in order to mitigate the issues for a better learning outcome.
Baruah (2012) stated that the enhanced communicability of organizations helps in enhancing the
processes that are undertaken by the same through the better understanding of the needs of the
stakeholders. Therefore, the research aimed at portraying the importance of the social media
integrations in order to enhance the communication between the educational institutions and the
students.

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References
Baruah, T. D. (2012). Effectiveness of Social Media as a tool of communication and its potential
for technology enabled connections: A micro-level study. International Journal of
Scientific and Research Publications, 2(5), 1-10.
Chen, B., & Bryer, T. (2012). Investigating instructional strategies for using social media in
formal and informal learning. The International Review of Research in Open and
Distributed Learning, 13(1), 87-104.
Cohen, M. A., James, N., & Mihailidis, P. (2013). Exploring curation as a core competency in
digital and media literacy education.
Dabbagh, N., & Kitsantas, A. (2012). Personal Learning Environments, social media, and self-
regulated learning: A natural formula for connecting formal and informal learning. The
Internet and higher education, 15(1), 3-8.
Gray, R., Vitak, J., Easton, E. W., & Ellison, N. B. (2013). Examining social adjustment to
college in the age of social media: Factors influencing successful transitions and
persistence. Computers & Education, 67, 193-207.
Neiger, B. L., Thackeray, R., Van Wagenen, S. A., Hanson, C. L., West, J. H., Barnes, M. D., &
Fagen, M. C. (2012). Use of social media in health promotion: purposes, key
performance indicators, and evaluation metrics. Health promotion practice, 13(2), 159-
164.

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Picazo-Vela, S., Gutiérrez-Martínez, I., & Luna-Reyes, L. F. (2012). Understanding risks,
benefits, and strategic alternatives of social media applications in the public
sector. Government information quarterly, 29(4), 504-511.
Stromquist, N. P., & Monkman, K. (Eds.). (2014). Globalization and education: Integration and
contestation across cultures. R&L Education.