Impact of Media on Relationships - Research Paper Example

? Lit Review and Methodology Impact of Media on Relationships The impacts of media of media on the peoples’ behaviors and attitude with respect to various societal issues has been of increasing interest for most researchers, program planners and policy makers (Biagi, 2011). The societies’ dependence on media is presented as one of the theoretical alternatives in which the audience-media relationship is assumed in determining the various impacts on the society. There are two major theories that have tried to shade light on the impact of the media content and its next influence on the behavior patterns of the society or audience. One of the theories has proposed that media play a significant role in providing behavioral roles (Nabi & Oliver, 2009). Most people engage in types of behaviors that they watch or admire in movies. Another important theory called emotional release (Berger, 2007). Aristotle used this theory to argue for the role of drama in preventing warfare. In the recent past, the same theory is used basically to prove the violence that is sometimes displayed in the media. Therefore, the people in this theory were assumed to understand the impacts of violence by witnessing or seeing it being enacted and would seldom take part in such behaviors (Berger, 2007). The fact that media has a role to play in most of the societal issues is also supported by authors. Nabi & Oliver (2009) asserts that audience dependency on media is considerably high in societies where media serve most of the central information functions and in periods of pervasive civil strife or rapid social changes. In the recent few years, the growth of new media platforms including YouTube, twitter, and Facebook has enabled youths, adults and the society in general to take more significant steps to reach and be reached almost anywhere and everywhere at any given time (Nabi & Oliver, 2009). Although this is seen to have various advantages, its effect on personal relationships is still not clear. The perception about the new media is that it threatens the long-established ethics and models of traditional relationships. Nevertheless, other studies have established that it may give ample opportunities of growth for personal relationships through various ways (Duhe?, 2007). Social media play a significant role in most of the relationships in our societies. However, according to Duhe? (2007), some of the roles are not always positive. Research carried by Haythornthwaite (2011) on the strong, weak and latent ties and the impact of new media, indicated that media may have negative impacts on personal relationships. Most of the relationships keep up through some of the latest social media forums including twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and blog comments are more casual and the participants tended to know less about one another (Haythornthwaite, 2011). Other literatures have also raised concerns over the impact of the new social Media (Biagi, 2011). Nesbitt-Larking (2007), for instance, enumerates the dangers associated with making the meaning of conversations clear electronically. He further asserts that Media platforms are used to make confrontations easier and more relationships impacted as a result (Nesbitt-Larking, 2007). Perse (2001) also argues that because electronic media’s transmission of emotions is considerably poor compared to physical interactions, people tend to use it as perfect tool to send some of their difficult messages that would otherwise not been conveyed on a face-to-face basis. Although the society may enjoy some of the relationships by use of the new social sites like Facebook and twitter, the difference that exists between these social platforms and the interaction that involve physical presence of people is clearly very vast (Sparks, 2010). Sparks (2010) also argues that although the social media, regarded to have the power to connect the users to some of the people whom they would otherwise not touch, the problem comes when the society find themselves substituting electronic relationships for the traditional physical ones. Similarly, there are also risks where electronic relationships are mistaken for physical ones. Straubhaar, LaRose, & Davenport (2011) points out the negative impacts of media on relationships in the socity. They show that social networking platforms can lead to cheating and jealousy among relationships. According to them, while these social media may show excellent opportunities for reunion of friends, they allow people to make some of the information much public within their circles of friends and further make the lists of their friends gain public and more open for public scrutiny (Straubhaar et al., 2011). Zafirovski (2011) also points out the effect of comparing oneself to others as one of the down sides of the impacts of media on relationships. He asserts that with the in rush of much information about the lifestyles of other prominent people in the society; many people tend to feel that they can never compete in the so-called ‘prominent’ people in the society (Zafirovski, 2011). They also tend to feel the pressure to prove certain persona because of the belief that they are watched. However, the media exposure does not affect everybody in the society in the same way. Many societies with rampant relationships related violence or which have some factors that do not favor good relationships may be at higher risks for the negative impacts of media on relationships (Zafirovski, 2011). In fact, other studies have also indicated that social media have limited impacts on the existing relationships, but enhance them. According to Straubhaar et al (2011), most of the researches show further that a positive relationship exists between the internet based networking and maintaining of our social relationships. Social networking plays a vital role in helping people to stay in touch with their families and friends, and usually extend their networks (Straubhaar et al, 2011). Other literatures have also show that the increase in number of social media tools exposes people to more ideas and resources than in the traditional relationships. As such, Moore (2004) believes that it is easy to crowd source relationship related information to solve some of the complicated issues in a relationship. More studies also indicate that more opinions on a particular issue may make the results better. In addition, with the informal nature of most of the social media, it is very easier to approach some of the people that one may wish to meet; extending one’s sphere of influence to include the people you would know better is also possible (Duhe?, 2007). Although most of the literatures points out to the various negative and positive impacts of media on social relationships and interaction in the society, a few have provided succinct correlation (Biagi, 2011). Recent comprehensive review of the factors that contribute to breakages of relationships concluded that indeed little empirical research carried out on the impacts of a society that is saturated by models and issues of unstable relationships (Haythornthwaite, 2011). One of the significant concerns revolves around the extent to which media exposes the society to high levels of unstable relationship issues and considerably low levels of successful and stable relationships. Therefore, more research is necessary to discuss the hypothesis that media’s content has harmful effects on people’s attitude and behaviors with respect to personal relationships. Therefore, this research offers a significant correlation that will enable the society to understand the impacts of media on personal and social relationships. Due to differential use of media in the modern societies, research that provides a connection or relation between some of the things that may seem unconnected will have positive impact in the understanding of connections and the impacts of media on relationships. Methodology Surveys mainly through interviews are conducted on youth colleges and a few adults with families around the country to determine impact of media in their personal and social relationships. Interviews will also be carried by the use of appropriate questionnaires containing structured questions for the interview. Due to cultural diversity and communication differences that are expected among the research participants, interviewees and survey respondents, the study will combine both the qualitative and quantitative approaches to counteract these challenges. Generally, quantitative methods will help in maintaining the gathered data reliability (Sridhar, 2011). On the other hand, qualitative methods will offer more in-depth information about the impacts of different forms of media on relationships. To enhance better understanding, in depth expert interviews will further be carried to help in the structured interview questions confirmation. According to Sridhar (2011), research methodologies may sometimes compromise between options and choices may often depend on the resources availability. As such, the interview pattern will primarily depend on the availability, willingness, and dedication of the interview partners. Further, deductive approach will be used in evaluating more impacts of other forms of media on social relationships. In order to get a wider perspective on the effect of various forms of media on relationships, various literature works on impacts of media on the society are analyzed and through a deductive approach some of the results are applied to this study. In addition case studies on some of the new media tools will be done. The deductive approach will also be significant in building the audience knowledge and experiences with respects to different impacts of media in the society (Spens, 2006). Data obtained will be analyzed by use of standard input systems such as use of excel and their analysis will be through mathematical or statistical analyses. This make sure quick and effective evaluation and analyses of the impacts of the media on social lives, trends and patterns in the media industry that may have significant impacts on relationships and other social dimensions, as well as other kind of useful data interpretations that may be significant in this research. In order to cover many families, the surveys will involve random and purposive sampling on the adult interviewees. Data collection will be on the basis of surveys administered through closed ended questions approaches such as face to face interviews, questionnaires and telephone interviews. More face to face interviews are favored in this study to allow for follow ups in cases of ambiguous answers (Spens, 2006). Telephone interviews will also use just to make sure that larger numbers of populations are reachable. However, this study is likely to face some limitations with respect to the methodologies used. The questionnaires for instance, may receive low response. According to Sridhar (2011), questionnaires may sometimes be prone to lower response rates depending on the type of questionnaire. Confidence of the results can thus be interfered with. Additionally, probing of the response from the interviewees may not be easy because the questionnaires will mainly be structured, and characterized by little flexibility with respect to the format. Since relationship issues are sensitive , collection of data and the interview process will be done with consideration of highest ethical standards, to make sure that the respondents autonomy are respected (Spens, 2006). Therefore, the respondents’ confidentiality will be respected and different legal requirements with regards to data collected will be adhered to. In addition, the concept of objectivity and subjectivity will be applied in the course of this study to ensure that personal biases and opinions do not influence the outcome of the study (Spens, 2006). This will offer accurate and fair results or findings. References Biagi, S. (2011). Media impact : an introduction to mass media. Boston : Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Berger, A. A. (2007). Media and society : A critical perspective. Lanham : Rowman & Littlefield,. Duhe?, S. C. (2007). New media and public relations. New York: Lang publishers. Haythornthwaite, C. (2011). Strong, weak and latent ties and the impact of new media. The Information Society, 18(5), 385-401. Moore, S. (2004). The doubling of place: Electronic media, time space arrangements and social relationships. Media space place scale and culture in a media age, 5(1), 21-36. Nabi, R. L., & Oliver, M. B. (2009). The SAGE handbook of media processes and effects. Los Angeles : SAGE. Nesbitt-Larking, P. W. (2007). Politics, society, and the media. Peterborough: Broadview Press. Perse, E. M. (2001). Media effects and society. Mahwah: Erlbaum Associates. Sparks, G. G. (2010). Media effects research : A basic overivew. Boston: Wadsworth,. Spens, MK 2006, A content analysis of research approaches in logistics research. International Journal Of Physical Distribution And Logistics Management, 36 (5), 374-390. Sridhar, MS 2011, Research Methodology: sampling and sampling strategy or plan. Retrieved October 12, 2011 from http://www.scribd.com/doc/2034905/Research-Methodology-Part-5-Sampling-Sampling-Strategy-or-Plan Straubhaar, J. D., LaRose, R., & Davenport, L. (2011). Media now : Understanding media, culture, and technology. Boston: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning. Zafirovski, M. (2011). The Enlightenment and its effects on modern society. New York : Springer Publishers. Read More