Social Media and Community Development - Essay Example

? Research proposal on Social media and community development Research proposal 1 Introduction The utilization of social media and social networking has turned out to be a noteworthy force in social interactions, political organization and economic development. In the recent past, the growth of social media as vehicle for political action, marketing tool, democracy promotion, as well as for public relations has attracted interest from politicians, business people and scholars alike. Social media entail the use of several technological tools and methods for sharing and discussing information. Social media offer a way to distribute and transmit information to a broad audience where users have a chance to make and distribute content (Groshek and Han 2011; Castells 2008). Social networking is the utilization of technological tools to connect and interact with others. Social networking may also refer to the act of engagement where groups of people with similar interests are related and create relationships through a shared community of interest (Faraz and Jan 2012). Examples of social media are blogs, podcasting, and micro-blogs like twitter, online forums and social networks. The use of social media has exponentially grown over time and people spend more time on the internet. Timimi (2012) notes that the time spent on social media sites amounts to 20% of the total time spent online. In community development, one may utilize social media to facilitate social networking. Apparently, one can use social networks to form partnerships and build relationships. Community development is the intervention that offers communities more opportunities to take control over issues that affect their lives. Community development does not essentially mean that all the problems facing a community will be solved; rather, it helps in building confidence on how to handle such problems as successfully as possible. Social networking is where people interact with each other through social media. Social media provides a platform for social networking. 1.2 Objectives of the Study Most users of social sites such as Twitter and Facebook claim to have a massive following and hundreds of friends. However, very few that one can clearly identify physically (Faraz and Jan, 2012). Whereas social networks have made it possible for people to meet and interact online, social networking has had a restricted role in enhancing face to face connections in communities. Nonetheless, social media and social networks are beginning to have a bigger role in developing community and generating co-operation and social action (Fraser, 2010). Several revolutions that took place in North Africa in 2011 in Egypt and Tunisia are clear manifestations of the effects of social media. Hundreds of youths and civilians joined hands and exchanged information using the online platform to bring revolution (ParisTech Review, 2011). Social media therefore, present a great opportunity for communities to intervene in situations that affect their lives. 1.2.1 General objective of the study The objective of this study is to examine the role of social media in bringing about community development. 1.2.2 Specific objectives of the study To assess perceptions of social media users in regard to community development To determine the relationship between social media and community development 1.3 Research Questions 1.3.1 General research questions 1. What are the benefits of social media in the community? 2. In what ways do social media result in development? 3. What ways can be employed to engage the community in social networking? 1.3.2 Specific research question Do social media actually result in community development? 1.4 Research Gap It is apparent that there is a potential overlap involving positive and negative impacts of social media in the society (Ferguson 2005). Many studies have concentrated on deliberations of the negative impact of social media on society. Nevertheless, although some studies have been carried out on the positive impact of social media on society, very few of them elucidated the impact of social media on community development. In another dimension, researchers may be not be able to interact with social media users in order to get some insights of their perception of the impact of social media in community development. 1.5 Conception Framework The relationship between social media and community development In order to assess the variable of community development, the concept of existence of social media is paramount. Existence of social media should be the subject matter that can only help determine community development when community is engaged with clear proposed community development programs. Independent Variables Dependent Variable 2 Literature review Social media enable interactions where people create, share and exchange information through networks and other virtual communities. Web 2.0 technologies are the foundation of the modern social media that help to engender content among users through internet applications. Web 2.0 refers to a multitude of web applications that give interactive information through the internet and cellular phones using texts, audios, images and videos. The development of web 2.0 has improved the content and quality of social media thus allowing greater connectivity and social networking (Schurgin, et al 2010). Social media can empower communities who have the skills and abilities to use for their development and wellbeing. 2.1 Benefits of Social Media in Enhancing Development Social media is readily accessible, thus citizens and community members can develop active representation and diverse decision making. Technology is growing at a rapid pace, and thus aspects of technological innovations such as social media have become accessible by vast number of people around the globe. New technologies, such as real time information sharing are cost effective enable community members to interact and respond swiftly to communications (Jan 2009). It is also possible to communicate with members of various communities through social media, which adds to diversity of knowledge, information and decision making. Social media has diverse opportunities such as finding target market for ones products, and communities have more information than was ever possible in the past. Practitioners or managers for community development may actively participate in learning and comprehension of community problems, issues and impacts as they have already have information. Social media promote the leadership capabilities of community members through networking and power sharing. A community member who observes an issue affecting the community and raising it on social media for conversation enhances his/her leadership capacity. Information resulting in decisions may be broadly distributed, and greater responsibility and transparency may result to increases in trust between community members (Huber, 2009). Transparency and accountability are made possible through the recent technologies that allow for online voting. As such, community members are able to know the particular details of several initiatives, as well as being able to control their outcome through direct involvement or information distribution to other community members by means of social networking. To illustrate, members of a community can employ social media to know the progress of a community project like upgrading of slums or construction of new sewer lines. Social media helps in distributing information and discourses on wide ranging strategies geared towards the long term sustainability and community wellbeing (Pernisco 2010). The community welfare may, therefore, be debated with regards to intermediate and long term decisions with ownership and accountability widely shared (Putnam, 1993). 2.2 How Social Media Results In Community Development Through the various methods available such as Facebook and Twitter, members of the community are able to air their views. For instance, they may express those views or their dissatisfaction with a certain service provider. For instance, Civic Voice in Britain has mobilized communities to keep Britain tidy. Followers of the Keep Britain Tidy group are asked to take pictures of litter in their area and post them on Twitter and Facebook to attract debate that results into action (Niven, 2011). On seeing the community concerns, the service provider such as the local authority then takes the necessary actions to eliminate or reduce the suffering of the community. In Kenya for instance, a certain chief uses his Facebook page to get information from the community on different issues affecting residents such as insecurity. He then follows up the matter and ensures that peace is restored and that community no longer live in fear of bandits. The social media offers an excellent platform for the Kenyan chief to reduce insecurity in his area. This way, the lives of the community members are socially developed (Sitole, 2012). In addition, members express their opinions through social media on what they would like the elected leaders do on their behalf. This allows community members to develop their political and democratic rights. Such forums also help in empowering community members as their wishes are acted upon immediately. This is unlike in traditional media where people would rarely express his/her views on dissatisfaction (Duhe, 2007). The reason is that accessing traditional channels of expressing information such as radio or newspaper was quite costly. In the early days, community members took a longer time to express their opinions because media coverage was not readily available. The social media have allowed community members to enhance their social lives in the comfort of their homes because it is readily available. Social media also result in economic development of a community as members are able to display and promote their products and services. When an entrepreneur in the community posts on some of his/her products on social media, the entrepreneur creates an opportunity to let his/her followers know about the products. Interested people will then go ahead and enquire for the product online where delivery is done at their doorstep. This helps to economically develop the community members as both the consumer and the trader benefit (Evans, 2010). The consumer enjoys increased sales and profits while the seller enjoys the comfort and consumption of the product (Huber, 2009). As Cacilda and La Pastina 2007 noted, social media allow members of a community to be aware of the developments that are happening in the community. Members are called upon to support the project from initiation to completion. This would not otherwise be possible without social media, where the community has a resource, yet members do not utilize it for their day to day development as they are unaware of its existence. 2.3 How to Engage the Community in Social Media Networking Although social media is popular among members of a community, not all members may be sentient to the benefits derived from social media (Schiller 2003). Others may not understand the benefits and thus hardly participate. However, it is essential for every member of the community to participate in issues affecting his/her community in this information age. One way to ensure that the community engages in social media is to have a social media manager Norman for the community (Norman, 2012). The manager will be responsible for creating the community’s home page on social media such as Facebook, where members can post matters touching their lives, and their opinions on wide ranging issues on their community. The manager will also be responsible for ensuring order in the social media page by deciding on what issues will be discussed. The topics have to be balanced and all inclusive in order to ensure maximum participation of every member of the community. For instance, an aspect like drug use mostly affects the youths, but it has indirect consequences on all members of a community in one way or the other (Lytle, 2013). Thus, a topic like drug use among community members will attract the participation of community members. To illustrate, a drug menace like alcoholism affecting members of a community may be discussed on the social media, whereby community members can offer their views and recommend suggestions on how to end the menace. This enhances the community wellbeing. 2.4 Challenges in Using Social Media in Community Development One of the challenges that may hinder the use of social media in community development is the cost of technological devices such as the mobile phone. Cellular phones that have an internet facility may not be affordable to all the members of a community, thus limiting the effectiveness of the use of social media for community development (Sussman 2003). In addition, social media and social networking call for a skilled person as some applications may be too complex in nature for some members. This is a hindrance towards accessing social media. Other members of a community may find it intricate and uncomfortable to engage in virtual relationships as part of their community life (Tomlinson 2003). For instance, marginalized communities may feel alienated by the virtual technologies. Some communities are behind others in terms of technological development and may not afford mobile phones that are internet enabled. As such, they may feel left out when the internet becomes an aspect of social development. 3 Methodology 3.1 Research Design The study at hand will be carried out using, cross-sectional survey design. This design will be utilized in data collection on a given sample of participants who will be selected to represent social media users and other community development program leaders. During the data collection process, the study will utilize stratified random sampling. In an attempt to gather empirical evidence for the purpose of gaining insights about the applicability of social media in facilitating community development, it is paramount for the study to obtain firsthand information, which will be gathered using questionnaire and interviews. After data collection, editing, coding of similar themes, classification and tabulation of the data will be essential for efficient analysis. Graphs and tables will be used to present the data gathered. In essence, SPSS package and Microsoft excel will be utilised in analysing data. 3.2 Data Collection Instruments In the bid to gather empirical evidence evidenced in light with gaining insights in regard to the applicability of the social media in facilitating community development, it is imperative for the study to consider gathering first-hand information through utilization of questionnaire and interviews. 3.2.1 Questionnaire The current study will make use of questionnaires as the primary instrument of the data collection. The questionnaire will comprise of two parts. The first one will be composed of closed ended questions. This will be composed of demographic information and other statistical information. The second part of the questionnaire will be open ended questions. This part will seek to establish whether the participants will have a proof that social media can contribute to community development. Questionnaires will be distributed through direct interaction with respondents. 3.2.2 Interview This is the second tool to be used in the study. Interview as a primary instrument of data collection involves the researcher asking questions to the respondents, with expectations that he will get feedback that would help in finding solutions to the problem under investigation. In this study, the researcher will form both structured and semi structured interview guides. One of the greatest advantages of using interview as a primary tool in data collection is that it gives the interviewee an opportunity to follow up on interesting responses, thus giving an in-depth oversight of the phenomena at hand (Gregory 2003). Nevertheless, the researcher will have some predetermined questions, but will be modified in accordance to the perception of what seems most appropriate. 3.3 Reliability and Validity In every research, it is indispensable to consider how the instruments intended to be used in the research can be reliable in carrying out the study (Cozby and Bates 2012). The researcher will estimate the reliability of the instrument through testing and retesting. Nevertheless, this can only be achieved through piloting the instruments to be used in the study. In line with ascertaining the validity of the instruments, the researcher will seek some assistance from the supervisor in the bid to assess the relevance of the content of the instruments to be used. 3.4 Sampling Method Since this study will target specific individuals who use social media, and community development program leaders, it will use purposive sampling. This method intends to select a sample of respondents who meet some certain qualifications in order to be relevant to the study (Cozby and Bates 2012). These individuals must meet some predetermined criterion. This means that the researcher will have considerations such as looking for persons active in the use of social media. This method permits and stipulates that the researcher can single out a particular group of people and ask them questions relevant to the researcher. In addition, videotaping will also be used in order to get raw emotions out of the participants since this will enable the researcher to grasp some of the information that could have been missed during the selection time interview. This is essential when evaluating suitable respondents. In essence, the researcher may not be able to note some additional information during the selection time, which might be gathered through the use of body language like gestures. This is made possible by reviewing the video recorded during evaluation time. This sampling method enables the researcher to point out an audience that share common set of stressors. 3.5 Sample Size The researcher will randomly sample a total of 20 different social media users and 2 managers of community development programs. The 20 selected respondents will give different accounts on their opinion in regard to how they use social media and their perception on its applicability in facilitating community development. 3.6 Data Analysis In the effort to analyze the data effectively, it is indispensable to edit, code similar themes, and then classify the data. This process is crucial in aiding the detection of errors and omissions and also reducing data into homogeneous groups that are useful in getting meaningful relationships. This is crucial in ensuring that similar responses are put together in order to evaluate the findings depending on percentage of responses. Descriptive and inferential analysis will be essential for the measurement and determination of the relationship that exists among the variables. This method of data analysis will be beneficial in that it will permit the measurement of the degree to which social media can aid community development. 3.7 Ethical Considerations In any research, the researcher should practice the highest level of ethical protocol and consideration during the process of data collection (Cozby and Bates 2012). In the current study, the researcher will try to avoid the use of irrelevant or embarrassing questions to the participants. This will aim at avoid causing physical and psychological abuse. Additionally, the researcher will be cautious not to disclose any information related to confidentiality and anonymity of the participants. Besides, participants will be assured of their anonymity and confidentiality before the carrying out the study. It is also imperative to seek permission from the relevant authority before commencement of the study (Bryman and Bell 2003). This will be applicable when approaching respondents from the community development programs leader. Limitations of the study It is apparent that conducting a research on issues revolving around social media would be a challenging undertaking. This is because a lot of people would not be prepared to discuss issues related to their social networking issues. They may view sharing social media issues as a way of invading with their privacy. This could arguably be true because many people use social media to share their private lives with their friends. Nevertheless, the researcher will articulate on deliberating on ethical issues required when carrying out a research. In addition, time factors will also create a significant challenge when carrying out the research. Basically, a comprehensive research would require more time to complete. 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