WEEK NINE: Tute Task

I found five journal sources (as it was very hard to find any decent books/ hard text sources) relating to my 'topic'/question regarding facebook and social networking. At the moment I am not sure what the actual construction on my question will be, this research has helped me gain an few ideas. I have also put in an abstract of each of the journals to give you an idea of what the articles are all about. I have then added in a response, which is my reflection on the source.

ABSTRACT: This study investigates the use of online social networking web sites by undergraduate students as it relates to their sense of community on college campuses. Using a case study method, an audit trail was created to study how undergraduates perceived online social networking web sites like Facebook.com as it relates to their sense of shared values and norms of behavior, extended relationships of caring, and sense of obligation to the greater good of that community. Six undergraduate students were interviewed on three separate occasions to develop deep understanding of how the participants viewed themselves, their campus community, and the relationship of Facebook.com to their own sense of community. The case studies were analyzed using a framework drawn from the research literature related to communitarianism, computer-mediated communication, and face-to-face communication.

Response: The key argument of this source regards the community feel that facebook provides. This source is very simular to other sources I have found as they are all interested in comparing computer communication vs. face-to-face communication. This source has been useful in my research as it has helped me develop further questions to research, such as: Is facebook (social networking) replacing face-to-face communication? This source has also been helpful as it analyses students in a campus environment.

"But Are We Really Friends?": Online Social Networking and Community in Undergraduate Students (2008) Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations

ABTRACT: Online social networking sites seem particularly well-suited to forming the loose connections between diverse social networks, or weak ties, associated with bridging social capital, but is using one site the same as using another? This study explores the user and usage characteristics of two popular social networking websites, Myspace and Facebook, and then investigates the relationship between online social networking and bridging social capital using survey data from 929 university students and faculty members. Myspace users tend to have less education and be more racially diverse, have lower incomes, and focus more on forming new social ties online. Conversely, Facebook users tend to be better educated, have higher income, and focus more on maintaining relationships with their existing offline ties. A positive association exists between the degree of online social networking and bridging capital, although there was no meaningful difference in bridging capital between those who used Myspace only and those who used Facebook only. However, the results indicate that the use of Myspace in conjunction with Facebook significantly increases bridging capital and moderates the effect of race, income, and degree of usage. Together, this evidence suggests that online social networking is a useful tool for enlarging and maintaining a diverse social network, but that the examination of online social networking in the aggregate may hide distinctions among sites. Different sites are used in different ways, and thus using more than one site might provide the greatest benefit in terms of increased bridging capital.

Response: This source is mainly focusing on the concept of social capital and bridging social ties and how social networking sites such as facebook and myspace contribute to that. This source is slightly different to other sources as it uses facebook and myspace to research further the concept of social networking in terms of social capital. The source also has some interesting facts about facebook: such as the users are educated, with a higher income and look to maintain offline relationships! Interesting. This source has been useful as it outlines as facebook increases social capital as it promotes and maintains social networking.

Adkins, Angela M.
Myspace, Facebook, and the Strength of Internet Ties: Online Social Networking and Bridging Social Capital( 2009)

ABSTRACT: A survey with 172 students was conducted at a large southern research university to examine how unwillingness-to-communicate in interpersonal communication influences gratifications sought and gratifications obtained from Facebook use. The study investigated the relationship between two dimensions of unwillingness-to-communicate (approach-avoidance and reward) and different motives of Facebook use. In addition, it examined the relationship between unwillingness-to-communicate and the behavioral and attitudinal outcomes of Facebook use (e.g., the number of hours spent on Facebook, duration of use, the number of Facebook friends, satisfaction with Facebook). Results of multiple regression analysis revealed that respondents who felt anxiety and fears in their face-to-face communication used Facebook to pass time and feel less lonely more than other respondents, but they had fewer Facebook friends. Overall, this paper finds evidence that people who are involved in online relationships are those who are willing to communicate in real life, rather than the opposite. Such results seem to justify the rich-get-richer hypothesis, which states that the internet primarily benefits extraverted individuals. Our results are in contrast to findings that socially anxious individuals are more likely to form relationships online.

Response: This was a very interesting source! As it is unlike any of the others. This source is mainly focusing on the negative repercussions on social networking especially facebook. The source also analysis's such things as how many hours are spent on facebook and the concept of online 'friends' and how this contributes to lack of offline communication skills. It has come to the conclusion that the internet benefits certain individuals and socially anxious individuals are more likely to form online relationships as to avoid real life confrontation. Very interesting!


Sheldon, PavicaThe Relationship Between Unwillingness-to-Communicate and Students' Facebook Use.
(2008)

ABSTRACT: This paper examines the online social networks, and the negative implications that have surfaced as a result of misunderstanding the purpose of the website. Using the concepts of identity, community, and disclosure, three real-life Facebook situations are described, discussed, and analyzed. The film, The Net is incorporated as a foundational template in discussing the similarities and warnings about the potential risks of online social networks. In addition, this paper examines how Facebook is redefining the areas of communication, identity and community.

Response: This source is very similar to other sources I have found as it focuses on the negative implications of social networking. This source however focuses on three main points: communication, identify and community. It also examines how facebook is redefining the concept of communication. This source has helped my argument as it has given my three points to focus on when researching social networking, this could be very helpful to my essay.


Henderson, Janie D. Welcome to Facebook: Changing The Boundaries of Identity, Community And Disclosure (2008)

ABSTRACT; With the creation of Facebook in 2004, colleges and universities across the United States have been playing catch-up with students. This new technology carries much weight as a new medium for students to build social connections and grow as members of their institutions. However, this new technology also brings negative implications such as lowered GPAs with greater use.Research was conducted at four major institutions across the country exploring how residence hall students use online communities and the impact it has on their physical world experience on campus. Most students use Facebook as a tool for staying connected to friends from high school, but there is a small population of students who are using it as a tool to make social connections they could not find in person.This study explores the impacts Facebook has had on a college campus. University administrators are urged to use this data to take a proactive approach to using these technologies to enhance the overall campus experience.

Response: This source has an interesting perspective on facebook. This study was conducted in America and it seems that the author is concerned that facebook may be taking over the college experience! The source outlines that facebook is a useful tool when keeping in touch with old friends but facebook may also be taking over from making new friends in real life. The source is focusing on combating the take over of facebook on campus. It has been useful to me as it outlines the importance of facebook to students and how universities are taking this into account.

Vanden Boogart, Matthew Robert Uncovering the social impacts of Facebook on a college campus (2006)