Social Media's Influence on Youth: Research Report Analysis

This report investigates the effects of social media usage on youth, examining its impact on their lifestyle and behavior. The research explores the advantages and disadvantages of social media, focusing on challenges like cyberbullying, obesity, and addiction, as well as the impact on academic performance. The study employs a descriptive research method, utilizing questionnaires and focus group discussions to gather primary data from a sample of 50 students. Data analysis involves descriptive statistics, including correlation, mean, and median. Ethical considerations such as informed consent and confidentiality are addressed. The report outlines a detailed research procedure, including setting objectives, data collection, analysis, and recommendations. References to relevant literature are provided to support the findings. The report aims to analyze the reliability of information shared on social media, understand the positive and negative impacts, and provide recommendations based on the research findings.

Effects of social media usage on youth Student Name:
Student Number:
Course:
Research Question – (i.e. researchable question)
The report aims to analyse the effects of social
media on lifestyle and behaviour of youth
The research questions can be divided into few
objectives:
• To analyse the reliability of the information
shared on social media
• To understand the advantages and
disadvantages of using social sites on youth
• To study the positive and negative impact of
social media on personal and professional life of
youth
Operational Definitions
• Social Networking site: A digitalised common
platform or a page where an individual shares
ideas, interest, pictures and information with
their friends via virtual network (Lenhart, 2010).
• Student: an individual who is studying or
learning a course in college, university and
school.
• Profile: It is a general page created by an
individual user by adding their personal and
professional information. The information can
be shown to public to an extent or kept private.
• Friend or follower: Persons who can see the
shared information and pictures.
Research focus
With an advent of digitalization, the world has
become small village. Each and every individual can
connect with each other on one touch of smart phone.
It has become beneficial for business to connect with
their respective global clients and partners. In the same
way, students are getting chance to study abroad
courses and connect with world class scholars to guide
through their career. We all know that every coin has
two sides. With an advantage of faster communication,
it has a few disadvantages also.
It is evident that youth are spending maximum
hours on the internet and social sites which is later on
affecting their academics. Furthermore, it invites
inevitable challenges in their regular lifestyle such as
cyber bullying, obesity, introvert behaviour and
addiction of the social media. The report aims to
analyse several factors which enables researcher to
analyse the impact of social media on youth
(Strasburger, 2010). It apparently explained the altering
behaviour of kids and youth due to usage of social
media extensively. Because of social media, kids are
spending less time in outdoor games which affects
their personality and confidence level, interacting
amongst the kids have becoming lesser now a days.
Method
• Research Methodology: The research will explore the area of social networking sites and its usage
amongst teenagers. The descriptive research method will help the researcher to carry out accurate
results. As a part of primary data collection, survey questionnaire will be prepared and as a part of
secondary data collection, several journals and previous researches will be reviewed (kumar, 2014).
• Sample: 50 students of the university will be considered as a part of the sample for survey.
• Convenience sampling: Students will be selected as per the convenience. As per the discussion, more
students will be available in college campus after the lectures and in food court. Students will be
selected on random basis to fill the questionnaire.
• Questionnaire and FGD: The questionnaire will be prepared based on previous research paper and our
objectives. It will have list of questions (open ended and close ended) which help us to get all relevant
information. It is even possible to organise focus group discussion to discuss the given questions. Here
30 min can be given to each group to discuss their views and come up with most creative ideas and
results.
Strengths and Limitations of method and procedure
• The report is based on primary questionnaire and discussion; hence the opinions will be true and not
manipulated. The information will be analysed and represented in the form of statistics which can used for
future research. 50 samples may not represent the entire population of the province.
• The procedure to conduct the research is lengthy but accurate to get the accurate information. The results
will fulfil each objectives of the report. Most of the researcher recommends this procedure to conduct
academic research to have unbiased and accurate results (N, 2015).
Ethical considerations
• Consent form will be signed by the participants before filling up the questionnaire. The promise will be given
to maintain confidentiality of the personal information, if given in the questionnaire. We would ensure that
participants will share honest and unbiased view while filling up the questionnaire or discussing in the group.
It will be mentioned on top of the questionnaire form that the information will be strictly used for academic
purpose, kept confidential and for this particular research (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2012).
References:
kumar, R. (2014) Research Methodology, [Online], Available: http://www.sociology.kpi.ua/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Ranjit_Kumar-Research_Methodology_A_Step-by-Step_G.pdf [24 May 2019].
Lenhart, A..P.K..S.A..&.Z.K. (2010) 'Social Media & Mobile Internet Use among Teens and Young Adults. ', Millennials. Pew Internet & American Life Project.
N, K. (2015) 'The Impact of Social Networking Sites on the Youth', Mass Communicat Journalism, vol. 5, no. 12, June.
Nishadha (2019) Ultimate Flowchart Tutorial, 30 April, [Online], Available: https://creately.com/blog/diagrams/flowchart-guide-flowchart-tutorial/ [24 May 2019].
Saunders, M., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2012) 'Ethical consideration', in Saunders, M., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. Research Methods for Business Students, 6 th edition, Pearson Education Limited., Available: https://research-methodology.net/research-methodology/ethical-considerations/
Procedure
Now when we talk about procedure part, the research is a process of
about collecting primary and secondary information and analyses it
accordingly. Firstly we have set the objectives of the research, 3
objectives were set with one research question. To fulfil the objectives, it
is important to have all the required data. Taking a survey and designing
a questionnaire was thought to do as a part of primary data collection.
Questionnaire will be designed based on secondary data review. Survey
will include both open and close ended questions. Survey will be
conducted amongst the group of students. It is even possible to organize
focus group discussion to discuss the given questions. Here 30 min can
be given to each group to discuss their views and come up with most
creative ideas and results. We would give 30 min to each student to fill
out the questionnaire and then join for the discussion. Information will
be noted down and taken in form for further analysis. Data will be
entered in excel sheet for better representation and understanding.
With the help of descriptive analysis the entire range of data will be
analysed based on correlation, mean and median. Collecting information
directly from the students gives us accurate and perfect information.
Overall we can conclude that, the research procedure and map describes
the step by step process to be followed while conducting the research.
The project will start setting an objective than based on the secondary
and primary data collection, information will be gathered & analysed.
Based on the results and statistical analysis, relevant recommendations
will be given. Overall, the flowchart will be followed (Nishadha, 2019).