The Effects of Social Media on College Students written by Wang, Chen and Liang - Article Example

57028 Research for Communication Professionals Assessment 1: Research Paradigmatic Analysis Introduction One prominent characteristic of human beings is that they are social beings. The art of groups of people, individuals, and communities in a society coming together or forming a network to exchange information is as old as man himself. In fact, human beings have continuously sought to cohabit in social environments. In the 21st century, the advent and widespread use of the technology provoked formations of social networks across the globe. In the recent years, there has been emergence and tremendous use of Social Networking Sites (SNS) for various purposes. The SNS development has been linked to the widespread use of the Internet as the chief means of communication on various platforms. The other reason is linked to the fact that most people are increasingly growing their awareness about SNS. The goal of this essay is to carry out an analysis of two articles about the use of the social media to the socio-economic and political development of the society. The first article is titled “The Effects of Social Media on College Students” written by Wang, Chen and Liang (2011). This article is a dissertation submitted the University of Wales. In the article, Wang, Chen, and Liang (2013) take an investigative approach into the role of social media in the life of college students. The article defines and discusses the various forms of social media platforms and explores how each impact on the achievement of college students in the Wales University. The second article, “Relationship between Social Media & Academic Performance in Distance Education”, Gupta, Singh, and Marwaha (2013) seek to bring to the fore the ways in which social media influences long distance learning. The article begins by acknowledging that long distance education has undergone various changes, with divergent forms of long distance education being invented. Some advancement has seen the education over long distances become more collaborative, interactive, flexible, and analytical. However, the article goes deeper to find the link between the use of social media and the effectiveness of long distance education. The first article takes an explorative and descriptive mode, which identify with the anti-positivism paradigmatic approach, justified by the manner in which the authors to the article seek to understand then subsequently interpret the phenomenon of how social media might impact on the performance of college students, and make meaning out of this interaction, as opposed to the positivism approach which seeks to achieve prediction, control and measurement of the correlation between interactive entities. Its intention therefore is to advance knowledge about the influence of the social media on the performance of college students. The second article, however, is a descriptive article. Both articles thus share one common feature in the sense that they are all descriptive in nature. Both articles were chosen because they are easy to analyse. The methods used in them are varied and diverse thus giving more points for article analysis. In addition to this, article 1 and article 2 are communication related. Article one investigates the influence of social media in determining the performance of college students and article 2 explores the impact of the social media on the effectiveness of long distance education. Both of them relate to one of the instruments of communication in the current world: the social media. The two articles are scholarly articles. This is substantiated by a number of factors. The articles duly the dates of publication and institutions that the authors are affiliated to. In addition to this, the information given is supported by credible sources of knowledge and well referenced just like any other scholarly article. Question In article one, the researcher intends to find answers to the questions pertaining to the role of the social media on performance of college students. The researcher too intends to find answers to why the college students in the University of Wales have a preference for given social media networks at the expense of any other channel in similar circumstances. In the second article, the questions raised pertain to the role of the SNS in relation to long distance learning. In article one, the authors assume that the social media has an impact on college student’s performance, while in article two lies on the assumption that SNS contributes to the effectiveness of long distance education. In both cases, there is a link between the social media and the other component in the hypothesis. Paradigms In the first article, an exploration and description of the contents leads to an anti-positivist paradigmatic approach is used. This is partly dictated by the research questions the study seeks to answer, such as identification of the most popular social media tool used by students and the time spent on such media. The author first defines the context within which college students use social media networks. In the analysis with a view to unearthing the impact of the social media on the life of the college students. The sample technique applied is appropriate for this study as it captures the ideal representative of the target population. The research paradigm in this context captures all the social media platforms and then gives an in-depth description of the social media platforms used and what propels the college students to use the identified social media applications. This is unlike Singh, Gupta, and Marwaha(2013) who take a positivism paradigm. The authors undertake an objective study approach with emphasis given to survey and quantitative data analysis. The scientific methods of data collection and analysis are among the tools that the author of the latter article applies to interpret the performance of college students in relation to the use of the social media. These authors go deeper into analysing the contextual use of SNS, within India, and how it contributes to long distance education. Thus they undertake an interpretation of the actions, decisions, and choices of the students. Methodology Wang, Chen, and Liang (2011) take the descriptive and exploratory research methodology to conduct the research. This particular methodology is imperative in this research since it helps the researcher to explain patterns of behaviour of college students. They highlight various applications of social media networks and narrow their scope to college students. Unlike article one, Singh, Gupta, and Marwaha (2013) adopt the quantitative approach to the research. This methodology is in line with the objectives of the research and context within which the research is to be conducted. The quantitative methodology used in this case helps survey the wider Indian long distance education context and thus draws conclusions on the influence and of the use of the social media. Methods In article one; the authors apply number of methods. The first one is a case study. Wang, Chen, and Liang (2011)seek to find out how the social media influences performance of college students. The case study is carefully selected and expounded. The use of case study gives the research an edge since the social media is assumed to play a key role in influencing the studies of college students. Case study methods of research highly identify with the anti-positivism paradigm of research. It is in this regard that the article qualifies for qualitative methodology consideration. In order to lay a foundation into the study the researcher uses both primary sources and secondary sources to similar accounts of SNS to college students. The primary sources in this regard entail first-hand information from the students. In collection of data, statistical methods are applied to analyse data on usage of the Facebook, YouTube, and Tweeter at the time of the uprising. This statistical methods used at this stage are imperative as they help generate statistical figures necessary for giving generalisations and recommendations. In addition to this, the raw data collected is presented using statistical methods like use of pie charts to give comparisons on how the different social media influenced the educational performance of college students in Wales. Statistical methods are used too in the second article in collection of data, its recording, and interpretation. Singh, Gupta, and Marwaha(2013) apply desk research in data collection. However, the positivism paradigm is characterised by the survey that was carried out by the Management Technology Institute. A questionnaire was equally applied in data collection. The information collected is analysed and recorded using statistical methods. The independent variable test was carried out using the chi square test, with graphical methods applied in representation of findings. These methods enable the research save time since they help break down huge trunks of incomprehensible information to an organised set of statistical data. Further to this, the various long distance education institutions are used to collect information regarding the use of SNE. In the desk research, Singh, Gupta and Marwahause peer reviewed journals as secondary sources of information. The peer reviewed journals are inescapable tool since they help the researcher generate more research for interpretive research. A series of interviews are conducted with education consultants on how they use the social media to offer their services. This is the similar approach taken by the researcher in the first article. Interviews, however long they take, are crucial in that they have helped both researchers collect as much information on the topic as possible. The objectives of the two research articles have been met since the researchers have both used appropriate methods. Most significantly, the articles utilize the survey method, which makes them both have a quantitative touch of methodology, with sampling effectively applied in the selection of the target population for the research studies. Conclusion The two articles researches different pieces of information. This justifies the use of differing approaches in data collection, recording analysis, and interpretation. While Wang, Chen, and Liang (2011) use qualitative research methodology, Singh, Gupta and Marwaha(2013) apply a mixed model where quantitative methodology plays a significant role. However, regardless of the different approaches and pieces of information sought, the two articles research on a similar topic-the impact of the social media. For instance, the first article investigates how social media impact on college students, the second one looks at how social media impacts on long distance education in India. In my opinion, for one to able to conduct a similar article analysis they must first understand the research topics of the articles, methodology, aims and objectives, their approaches as well as questions/hypothesis. In addition, I learnt that the ability to comprehend the articles and give valid evaluation of them is equally important. Word court：1728 References Singh B., Gupta, C. P. In addition, Marwaha T. 2013.Relationship Between Social Media & Academic Performance in Distance Education,Universal Journal of Educational Research 1(3): 185-190. Wang, Qingya, Chen, Wei, & Liang, Yu. 2011. The Effects of Social Media on College Students. ScholarsArchive@JWU. Retrieved from: http://scholarsarchive.jwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1004&context=mba_student on 26th March 2015 Read More

rst article takes an explorative and descriptive mode, which identify with the anti-positivism paradigmatic approach, justified by the manner in which the authors to the article seek to understand then subsequently interpret the phenomenon of how social media might impact on the performance of college students, and make meaning out of this interaction, as opposed to the positivism approach which seeks to achieve prediction, control and measurement of the correlation between interactive entities.

Its intention therefore is to advance knowledge about the influence of the social media on the performance of college students. The second article, however, is a descriptive article. Both articles thus share one common feature in the sense that they are all descriptive in nature. Both articles were chosen because they are easy to analyse. The methods used in them are varied and diverse thus giving more points for article analysis. In addition to this, article 1 and article 2 are communication related.

Article one investigates the influence of social media in determining the performance of college students and article 2 explores the impact of the social media on the effectiveness of long distance education. Both of them relate to one of the instruments of communication in the current world: the social media. The two articles are scholarly articles. This is substantiated by a number of factors. The articles duly the dates of publication and institutions that the authors are affiliated to. In addition to this, the information given is supported by credible sources of knowledge and well referenced just like any other scholarly article.

Question In article one, the researcher intends to find answers to the questions pertaining to the role of the social media on performance of college students. The researcher too intends to find answers to why the college students in the University of Wales have a preference for given social media networks at the expense of any other channel in similar circumstances. In the second article, the questions raised pertain to the role of the SNS in relation to long distance learning. In article one, the authors assume that the social media has an impact on college student’s performance, while in article two lies on the assumption that SNS contributes to the effectiveness of long distance education.

In both cases, there is a link between the social media and the other component in the hypothesis. Paradigms In the first article, an exploration and description of the contents leads to an anti-positivist paradigmatic approach is used. This is partly dictated by the research questions the study seeks to answer, such as identification of the most popular social media tool used by students and the time spent on such media. The author first defines the context within which college students use social media networks.

In the analysis with a view to unearthing the impact of the social media on the life of the college students. The sample technique applied is appropriate for this study as it captures the ideal representative of the target population. The research paradigm in this context captures all the social media platforms and then gives an in-depth description of the social media platforms used and what propels the college students to use the identified social media applications. This is unlike Singh, Gupta, and Marwaha(2013) who take a positivism paradigm.

The authors undertake an objective study approach with emphasis given to survey and quantitative data analysis. The scientific methods of data collection and analysis are among the tools that the author of the latter article applies to interpret the performance of college students in relation to the use of the social media. These authors go deeper into analysing the contextual use of SNS, within India, and how it contributes to long distance education. Thus they undertake an interpretation of the actions, decisions, and choices of the students.

Methodology Wang, Chen, and Liang (2011) take the descriptive and exploratory research methodology to conduct the research.

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