Theme three: research and theory

Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication

Impact factor: 1.778

The Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication is a web-based scholarly journal. The journal has its focus onsocial science research on communicating with computer-based media technologies, and publishes work by scholars in communication, business, education, political science, sociology, psychology, media studies, information science, and other disciplines. 

“The Benefits of Facebook ‘‘Friends:’’ Social Capital and College Students’ Use of Online Social Network Sites“
Nicole B. Ellison Charles Steinfield Cliff Lampe

The paper is written in 2007 and examines the relationship between the use of Facebook, and the formation and maintenance of social capital. The paper uses theories on Social Capital and they form seven hypothesis. They sent out an anonymous survey to 800 random undergraduatestudents at Michigan State University. 94% of the undergraduate students were Facebook members. Theparticipants used Facebook to maintain or intensify relationships characterized by some form of offline connection such as dormitory proximity or a shared class.The writers also found that there is a positive relationship between certain kinds of Facebook use and the maintenance and creation of social capital and Facebook appears to play an important role in the process.

1.

Briefly explain to a first year student what theory is, and what theory is not.

There are different perspectives on theory at a general level. Philosophers of science are likely to see theory as providing explanations and predictions. In the 1920s Popper described theories as what we use to rationalize, to explain and to master the world. Theories aim to describe, explain and enhance understanding of the world. The core of theory is interactions, causations, and abstraction and generalization about phenomenon. A collection of facts, or knowledge of an individual fact or event is not regarded as theory, even though these kinds of data may form the foundation for theoretical development.

2.

Describe the major theory or theories that are used in your selected paper. Which theory type (see Table 2 in Gregor) can the theory or theories be characterized as?

The major theory in this text is about about social capital. I believe the theories are a type I. Where the theories areexplaining what is and not aiming at predicting what will be. They are doing the research on gathered data, and analysing the data and tryingto make conclusions.

3.

Which are the benefits and limitations of using the selected theory or theories?

This paper was written in 2007 when facebook was very new, so the benefits of the selected analysis theory is that it gives answers to an area that had not been researched too much. It isgood that the writers rely on facts and do not speculate toomuch Also that the paper is based on facts and not too muchspeculation makes the text easy to understand and follow.