Independent Research Project Plan
RESEARCH QUESTION “What is the impact of social networking websites on social and communication skills in adolescence? ” BRIEF EXPLAINATION OF KEY WORDS Impact – the positive and/or negative implications on an individual. (Oppapers. com) Social Networking – an online community of people with a common interest who use a website or other technologies to communicate with each other and share information, resources, etc.
(Dictionary. om) Communication – the exchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing or signs. (Dictionary. com) Adolescence – the period between the ages of 13-18; it is commonly known as the ‘teen’ years. (Dictionary.
com) HYPOTHESIS “Social networking websites have lead to a negative impact and loss of social and communication skills in the adolescence of today’s generation compared to those of the previous generation”. EXPLAINATION OF CHOSEN TOPICI have chosen to do my independent research project on the impact that social networking websites have on social and communication skills in adolescence. I have chosen this topic as social networking websites play a major role in my personal daily life. For my friends and I, they are my major source of communication between friends, family and workplace. I personally feel that social networking has played a key role in the development of today’s society and has had a significant impact on the advancement of the way we communicate.One of the main outcomes I hope to achieve in my project is a comparison of the differences between the way older generations communicate and how my generation does so that I can successfully prove my hypothesis that “social networking websites have lead to a negative impact and loss of social and communication skills in the adolescence of today’s generation compared to those of the previous generation”.
DATA COLLECTION AND RESOURCES My project will involve collecting, reviewing and utilizing a range of both primary and secondary data which will be presented in the form of qualitative and quantitative data.My primary data will consist of surveys carried out through an internet website called Surveymonkey. com and will be given to friends, family, work colleges and others of both genders between the age groups of 13-18 and 40-50. I have chosen these age groups as I am able to conduct a comparison but the two groups and there is a major age gap in between and social networking had not been created during the adolescent period of the 40-50 year age group. From the data collected from each age group, I will use a sample of 10 people in the each group of both genders.
