måndag 25 november 2013

Theme 3: Research and theory


Journal
I selected the journal, “Computer in Human Behaviour, which is a scholarly journal aiming to examine the use of computers from a more psychological perspective. The journal focuses on human interaction with computers, with a focus on human behaviour. The journal has an impact factor of 2.067 and the 5-year impact factor is 2.489.

The research paper
The research paper that I have chosen is, “Who uses Facebook? An investigation into the relationship between the Big Five, shyness, narcissism, loneliness and Facebook usage” written by Tracii Ryan and Sophia Xenos. The aim of the study is to investigate how different personalities influences usage and non-usage of Facebook and the differences between a user and non-user. According to the research, the social network satisfies the users in different ways depending on their characteristics. Facebook users were more extraverted and narcissistic compered to non-users. People who didn’t use Facebook were more conscientious and lonely than people who did.

Reference:
Journal: Computer in Human Behaviour
Volume 27, Issue 5, September 2011, Pages 1658-1664
Link:

1. Theory can be explained in various ways depending on which field or circumstances it is being used. Theory can be used to explain an idea or phenomenon to get a greater understanding of it.
Sutton I.R and Barry M argues in the text “What theory is not” that it’s easier to describe what theory is rather what it is. They give example of what theory is not: references, data, list and variables or constructs, diagram and hypotheses.

2. It was a research paper where they analysed data from participants. The paper can be categorized as, Analysis (according to table 2 by Gregor), since they are only describing and analysing the data.

3. The benefits with an analysis type are that you answer the question what is. Which is very useful when you are working with a field with very little previous knowledge on. But the limitation is that you don’t get to see how the development will be and how the future will be.

1 kommentar:

  1. I think that the paper you chose is really interesting!

    I liked how you explained the benefits of the analysis type theory. I wouldn't disregard it because it does not explain, predict or say how to do something. For me it is an important theory type because it analyzes something that we had little knowledge about. I would say that it builds the foundations for other theories and researches.

    SvaraRadera