Theme 4, part 1: Quantitative research

For this theme I selected a paper called:

The Benefits of Facebook ‘‘Friends:’’ Social Capital and College Students’ Use of Online Social Network Sites

by Nicole B. Ellison, Charles Steinfield and Cliff Lampe

Summary of the paper:

This paper examines the relationship between use of Facebook and the formation and maintenance of social capital. The conclusion of the study says that there is a strong connection between use of Facebook and social capital. The use of Facebook was also found to interact with psychological well being, suggesting that Facebook might provide greater benefits for users with low self-esteem.

1. Which quantitative method or methods are used in the paper? Which are the benefits and limitations of using these methods?

The study is based on a quantitative method where a online survey was sent out to a random sample of 800 undergraduate students at Michigan State University. 286 students completed the survey. The survey contained questions about the students demographics, age, gender, year in school and if they where Facebook users or not. Further questions measured Facebook intensity, psychological well-being and social capital. All questions could be answered on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). The benefits with using this quantitative method with sending out a survey are the large amount of data that can be extracted. The researchers got a lot of information and statistics over the research areas, which they used to create a lot of diagrams and tables. A limitation with this kind of method is that the researchers do not get any detailed or quality information. The fact that the responders “only” had to answer with a number and that they got paid (5$) for participation could have resulted in unserious, quick answers just to earn some money.

2. What did you learn about quantitative methods from reading the paper?

Qualitative methods are great to carry out when you have a large group of participants and if you are after a large amount of data and numbers. The response rate of the survey was only 36 %, meaning that a really large number of possible participants are required. Since this study aimed to examine Facebook users, I think it was a good choice of choosing a quantitative method because of the large number of Facebook users.

3. Which are the main methodological problems of the study? How could the use of the quantitative method or methods have been improved?

I think the biggest methodological problem in this study is the answering 1 to 5 scale that can be interpreted differently by different participants. I personally think it is pretty hard to answer questions on a scale from strongly disagree to strongly agree. Also I think there is a uncertainty about if a question really gives the answer to what the researches want to find an answer to.  There is a risk that the researchers are biased and are interpreting the answers to get the wanted results.

4. Which are the benefits and limitations of using quantitative methods?

One benefit with using quantitative methods is that it is a cheap method of reaching a lot of people from the target group with a survey, through e-mail or phone. It is also a good way of getting a lot of data from surveys where the participants have been answering the exact same questions which makes it possible to make generalized conclusions.

A limitation is that the answers might be too simple or thin, and if there are not as many participants as required, it is hard to make any conclusions.

5. Which are the benefits and limitations of using qualitative methods?

The main benefit with qualitative methods is that you get a deeper understanding of your target group. Interviews, for example, give opportunity to rephrase a question if the participant does not understand it and follow up questions can be asked in order to get detailed information.

The limitations are that it is a time consuming method giving results from just a few people.