Significance of the Internet to the Public Sphere - Research Proposal Example

The Internet is totally different as compared to the structure as well as the advantages and limitations of the old mass media communication (i.e. television, print, and radio media) (Gerhards and Schafer, 2009). As compared to the use of various old media tools, West (2013, p. 155) argued that the use of the Internet is more powerful in terms of allowing people to organize “social action and protest”. Aside from converting the public sphere as a communication medium that is self-governing, the use of the Internet can also increase the public participation with regards to social, environmental, economic, health, and political issues (West, 2013; Dahlgren, 2005).

The main purpose of this study is to explore and analyse the significance of the Internet within the concept of public sphere. On top of identifying the main actors in internet communication, the differences between online and offline internet communication will be compared and contrast. Based on participatory theory, the advantages of internet within the concept of public sphere will be tackled in details. In line with this, a list of theoretical arguments made by West (2013), Mrva-Montoya (2012), Khan et al. (2011), and Gerhards and Schafer (2009) with regards to the significance of the Internet within the modern public sphere will be analysed followed by closely examining the impact of using the Internet on users’ behaviour and on different world views (i.e. religious context, political point-of-views, interventions made by the members of the mass media, and the general public) (Kang et al., 2013; Khan et al., 2011; Gonzales and Hancock, 2011; Hernandez, Jimenez and Martin, 2011; Zhou, 2011; Hampton, Livio and Goulet, 2010; Zhang et al., 2010; Binder, Howes and Sutchliffe, 2009; Debatin et al., 2009).

In general, the public sphere is considered important because it serves as medium where

people observe and communicate a wide-range of social issues as well as political and economic concerns (Gerhards and Schafer, 2009). To allow people to gain better understanding about the importance of public sphere, Jürgen Habermas established the normative bourgeois theory behind the development of public sphere (Gerhards and Schafer, 2009; Ubayasiri, 2006). In relation to the theory of Habermas on communication actions, research questions such as to what extent does the use of the Internet have widened the channel of public communication distribution? How does the use of the Internet differ from the use of traditional mass media? Does the use of the Internet contribute to the development of a better public sphere? In the process of discussing the point-of-views of Habermas with regards to public sphere, critics made by other authors with regards to the limitations of Habermas’ theory will be considered in the main discussion (Rasmussen, 2013; Douai and Nofal, 2012).

In search for related literature, databases of EBSCO Host Connection, CSA Illuminav, and the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) will be utilized to locate journal articles that are closely related to the significance of the Internet on the concept of public sphere. To ensure that more recent information will be presented in this study, part of the inclusion criteria includes all journal articles that has discussed the relationship between the Internet and the public sphere published between 2009 to 2013 will be included in the formation of a descriptive literature review. Furthermore, only journal articles that were written in English language will be included in this study.

To address the main purpose of this study, key terms such as “internet public sphere”, “social media public sphere”, “web 2.0 public sphere”, “Habermas internet public sphere”, “theory internet public sphere”, “advantages internet public sphere”, “participatory theory internet public sphere”, and “traditional mass media internet public sphere” will be encoded in the databases of EBSCO Host Connection, CSA Illuminav, and SSCI. As part of the preliminary search of journal articles, related journals were initially screened based on the research title and abstract. Basically, the research title could give the researcher a rough idea on what the research study is all about whereas the abstract could give the researcher a better insight about the main purpose of the study, the research method used in the primary or secondary research, research findings, and the study conclusion.

Based on the pre-selected journal articles, the following headings and sub-headings will be used in presenting the literature review:

• Introduction
• General Information about Public Sphere
• Herbamas Theory in Public Sphere
• Differences between the Use of the Internet and Traditional Mass Media
• Significance of the Internet within the Context of Public Sphere
  • Main Actors in Online Public Sphere
  • Advantages of Internet within the Concept of Public Sphere

5.3Impact of Internet on Users’ Attitude and Behaviour

• Discussion
• Conclusion

As compared to other existing studies, the proposed research is quite comprehensive in the sense that it does not only limit the topic discussion on the existing theories related public sphere but also tackles the significance of the Internet not only on users’ attitude and behaviour but also a wide-range of world views. As such, this study will purposely provide the readers with general information about the public sphere. It will also discuss different theories in public sphere as suggested by Jürgen Habermas. After discussing the differences between the use of the Internet and the traditional mass media, the significance of the Internet within the context of public sphere will be tackled in details. In line with this, the gathered literature review will purposely identify the main actors in online public sphere as well as identify the advantages of the Internet within the concept of public sphere (i.e. impact of Internet on users’ behaviour and different world views). In the process of analyzing the arguments made by different authors with regards to the significance of the Internet within the modern public sphere and Habermas’ theory on communication action, it is easier to come up with a fair judgment and better understanding with regards to the impact of Internet in public sphere. Based on the research findings, study conclusion and future study recommendation will be included in the final report.