Theme 3: Research and theory

The research journal that I chose is Journal of Communication of the International Communication Association. It is published by Wiley-Blackwell and its impact factor was 2.011 for the year 2012. Its focus is on the field of communication studies. The journal publishes articles on communication research, practice, policy and theory as well as human and mediated communication.

The article that I chose to discuss is “The Benefits of Facebook “Friends:” Social Capital and College Students’ Use of Online Social Network Sites” (Ellison et al.: 2007). The article has been cited 3030 times (Google Scholar, 2013). It was published in the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, which has an impact factor of 1.778.

This paper examined the relationship between Facebook usage and the formation and maintenance of social capital. Social capital is defined as “the resources accumulated through the relationships with people” and it is considered to be beneficial for members of societies (Ellison et al., 2007: 1145). This theory builds on theories about social capital in online and offline relationships and how it is affected by internet usage. The authors note that the social capital implications of Social Network Sites (SNS), such as Facebook, were unknown because there was little empirical research (Ibid: 1144).

286 undergraduate students of Michigan State University replied to the online survey system in April 2006. The researchers measured the intensity of Facebook usage, the student’s self-esteem and satisfaction about his/her college life. Plus, measures on the three types of social capital were used. Regression analysis was used to explore the hypotheses about Facebook usage and various forms of social capital.

The results of the research suggest a strong association between Facebook usage among college students and the three dimensions of social capital: bridging of social capital (refers to weak ties, loose connections between individuals), as well as bonding (individuals in close relationships) and maintained social capital (refers to the ability to maintain valuable connections in life when moving away from a community). Although no causal direction could be found, according to the results students use Facebook primarily to maintain existing offline relationships or to keep in touch with temporary acquaintances. Furthermore, it was suggested that those with low self-esteem and satisfaction from life can gain in social capital by using Facebook more intensively.

The empirical results of this research contrast with evidence of the time about potential for privacy abuses and with the concerns expressed in previous literature about the removal from offline world. The findings demonstrate strong connection between Facebook usage and indicators of social capital, which could be beneficial e.g. in getting information about jobs. 

One limitation of this research is related to the fact that only one community was examined, so the results cannot be generalized. Additionally, causality cannot be established since the researchers used one time survey (Ibid: 1164). Finally, it is noted that future research should use multiple methodologies (Ibid).

Briefly explain what theory is, and what theory is not.

Theory is a statement that answers to the question ‘why’ and ‘how’ something occurs. According to Sutton and North (1995) theory could be defined as a storytelling, as an explanation with clear and reasonable arguments, with an emphasis in the nature of causal relationships among phenomena. For Gregor (2006) the four central goals of theory are: analysis, explanation, prediction and prescription. 

 

References on previous works, data and empirical evidence, lists of variables or constructs, diagrams and figures and hypotheses are not constitute theory (Sutton and North, Ibid). Even though they support it, they do not constitute theory.

Describe the major theory or theories that are used in your selected paper.

The major theory used in my selected paper is analysis theory. Considering the time it was published, the theory was new and provided interesting insights on something that was poorly examined or imperfectly understood. It described the association between Facebook usage and indicators of social capital and it analyzed the relationship among them (Ibid: 619). The relationships specified were associative, not explicitly causal (Ibid: 623). The theory simply said “what is”; and since the authors underline that generalizations cannot be made and that causality cannot be established, the main type of theory used in this paper is the analysis (Ibid: 623).

Benefits and limitations of the analysis theory.

The benefits of using this theory type is that it provides an analysis of something that was poorly examined beforehand. As Ellison et al. (Ibid:1144) state, the social capital implications of SNSs, such as Facebook, were unknown.

On the other hand, this type of theory does not extend beyond analysis and description. It simply says what it is; it does not say how, why, when, where, what will be, how to do something (Gregor, Ibid). As I discussed above, in this theory generalizations cannot be made; causality cannot be established (Ibid). 

REFERENCE LIST:

Ellison, N. B., Steinfield, C. and Lampe, C. (2007), The Benefits of Facebook “Friends:” Social Capital and College Students’ Use of Online Social Network Sites. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 12: 1143–1168. doi: 10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00367.x

Gregor, S. (2006). The Nature of Theory in Information Systems. MIS Quarterly, 30(3), 611-642.

Google Scholar (2013). Google Scholar. [online] Available at: < http://scholar.google.se/scholar?hl=en&q=The+Benefits+of+Facebook+%E2%80%9CFriends%3A%E2%80%9D+Social+Capital+and+College+Students%E2%80%99+Use+of+Online+Social+Network+Sites&btnG=&as_sdt=1%2C5&as_sdtp= > [Accessed 21 November 2013].

Sutton, R. I. & Staw, B. M. (1995). What Theory is Not. Administrative Science Quarterly, 40(3), 371-384.