Write a research paper on the following topic: What research techniques are applied in communication and media studies?Incllude the following elements in your research paper: 250 word abstract of your paper (a summary of research questions, theories, methods, and possible findings. 2. An Introduction (research motivation, rationale, and background). 3. A Full literature Review. 4. A Quantitative-based research methodology – A Survey- using research question hypothesis, theories, operationalization, data analysis methods, speculative findings, limitations and ethics. 5. Conclusion and Discussions. Extra Credit: Find an undergradute aademic conference or under graduate academic journal that you can possibly sumit your essay to. Detail a plan of what next steps you will do in orer to develop your assignment or submission. That is the whole assignment. I started the assignment based on a project we did earlier in the semester (teacher told me to do this) and this is what I have so far, but clearly it needs a lot more work. WE are just doing a “pretend survey” to show that we know how to do Communication research. So we just have to speculate/guess at the survey results and things like that. Here is what I have so far: I. Abstract: (250 words) Social Media use is widespread among teenagers. However, few studies have addressed the prevalence of social media platforms directed at those under the age of 12 (tweens), and how this affects both positively and negatively their social and emotional development at a vulnerable and maturing time in their lives. II Introduction: (Research motivation rationale and background) Past research has concentrated on teenage social media use and the devastating harm it has caused an entire generation. However, because most social media apps state that their use is limited to those age 13 and above, most previous studies have focused on this older group. Unfortunately, since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been a dramatic increase in tween usage of social media. For example, Common Sense Media, found that overall screen uses among tweens increased by 17 percent from 2019-2021, growing more rapidly than the four years prior. Thus, on average daily screen use went up among tween to 5 hours and 33 minutes per day and much of this time was on Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook. Our research aims to quantify the prevalence of social media directed at tweens and identify the potential benefits and risks associated with this increased usage of tweens’ social and emotional development. For our data collection method, we will rely on a survey. We are choosing to utilize a survey because this is cost-efficient and will enable us to get data from a larger population, resulting in more reliable and accurate results. The survey questionnaire will be administered on-line to a diverse group of 8 – 12-year-olds. Our hypothesis is that exposure to social media by tweens will significantly and negatively impact their social and emotional development at a critical time in their lives. We are assuming that tweens that use social media are negatively impacted, and this affects their future development. The dependent variable will be social and emotional development and the independent variable is time spent by the tween on social media. We are going to use the data collection method and all 500 of the tweens will take the same exact survey. To make sure we can separate social media users and social media nonusers our first questions will ask if the participant uses social media, and how often they use social media. The following questions will focus on which social media apps they use. This will allow us to have more accurate data on usage rate as well as to focus on the effects of a certain app specifically. Our hypothesis is that exposure to social media by tweens will significantly and negatively impact their social and emotional development at a critical time in their lives. Our study is speaking to several media effect theories. One theory is based on the cultivation theory, because as tweens are exposed to social media they will repeatedly view false and explicit images resulting in a false sense of reality and therefore it changes their perception of themselves and the real world at an extremely critical time in their development. Ethics: We are guided by the American Psychological Association (APA Code of Ethics 1973) which ensure that we are professional and unbiased throughout the research and that we will guarantee that all participants will be voluntary, their right to privacy is protected and that they give informed consent, that no deception is used and that after the study is complete, we will debrief the participants appropriately and in-depth and guarantee accurate reporting. In addition, we recognize that undertaking research with this young age group (under 12) raises several additional ethical challenges that must be addressed to ensure that the research is justifiable and ethical. We have addressed the key question of the critical timeliness and importance of this research and how it is necessary to protect this age group from social media. Furthermore, to truly understand the impact social media is having on tweens, they are necessary participants in this research and there is no other way to gain this information but from their own answers to the impact this is having on their lives and development. We have determined that children will not be harmed by being involved in this research by focusing on the wording and appropriateness of the questions. Other concerns that we have addressed that are specific to this age group are ensuring informed consent by getting parents and guardians to co-sign along with their children. We will have counselors on hand so that if a participant becomes distressed or upset during the survey they will be supported. And we have specific methods and protocols in place for respecting the children’s privacy responding to a child’s disclosure of harm or abuse. Finally, when deciding on payment for participants and looking at the best practice of reimbursement, compensation, appreciation, and incentive, as suggested by the Ethical Research Involving Children Organization, we have determined that the best approach would be to pay the tweens a nominal fee of $5 for their involvement in recognition of their time and acknowledgement for their contribution. III. (A Full Literature Review) Here is my step by step run through of my research process: Survey: First we will utilize our school resources and computer research on tween social media usage to focus our research question on tweens and social media into a reliable self-administered questionnaire. WE will ask the following ## Survey Questions: (need to come up with 10-12 questions and describe quantitative based research methodology (hypothesis, theories, operationalization, data analysis methods, speculative findings, limitations) To ensure validity and reliability, we will focus on asking a mix of clear and appropriate open-ended and closed-ended questions in order to avoid the social desirability effect and truly learn the tweens social media behaviors and impact. We recognize that one limitation is that self-reported data can be subject to personal bias, and this may be especially true in tweens. Next, for sampling, we will randomly seek over 500 tween participants who may be interested in being part of the survey in the Greater Boston area to ensure diversity and avoid bias. Next, after receiving parental consent, we will rely on an online survey tool, and send out surveys to willing participants, as our goal is 500 participants, we will send out a greater number of surveys to ensure an acceptable response rate and avoid non-response errors. Next our data analyst will monitor the returns, gather all the responses and quantify the results. Finally, we will work with our data analyst to share the final findings and conclusions of the research. IV. Results: Tween social media usage is on the rise and the dramatic increase in screen time and social media apps replaces valuable growth opportunities for tweens. Furthermore, the impact social media has on tweens social and emotional development….. For example, screen time is replacing family time, sleep, reading, chores, and outside activities such as sports, arts, and community involvement and community service. In addition, social media platforms often include explicit, pornographic, violent, and scary content that is not meant to be seen by tweens. Images from the recent attacks in Israel, the Ukraine war and pornographic images will have dramatic long-term effects on a tween’s social emotional development. Furthermore, misinformation is rampant on social media and tweens do not have the maturity or brain development to determine what is fake and could be confusing and harmful. The implication of all this is long term harm to our tweens throughout their teenage years and beyond. We hope that future research would focus on the long-term impact of the prevalence and impact of social media directed at tweens as well as ideas to reduce this harm through technology, policy, legislation, and specific guidelines for parents. V. Conclusions and Discussions Extra Credit: (at least 200 words)
