Literature Review
Since the introduction of electronic devices, the world has shifted into a new technological era with great assistance from the development of the internet. The technology then became more portable and commercial, which made the mechanisms more accessible, affordable and evidently more desirable. The popularity of these internet associated devices rose quickly and still continue to rise, as it becomes the norm for individuals to own at least one electronic device. The purpose of these devices it to assist with an individual's daily task along with many more possibilities, and because of its influential power, questions like how it affected with the development of humans in the modern era begin to surface.
The purpose of this study is to discover how the interactions and communications between humans have evolved since the involvement of internet and electronic technology. This topic has peaked interest of many researchers, and popular themes concerning the topic includes relationships and intimacy between individuals via the internet from computers and phones. Some previous research that has been chosen to be used as references all follow along a similar pattern, regarding the sample size and diversity, methodology, and theoretical influences.
One method that is popular to the researchers in the field of sociology is known as Ethnography, which is "the systematic description of human behaviour and organizational culture based on first-hand observation" (Howard, 2002, p.553). But because of the new technological advancement, using such a traditional procedure may be unable to fully analyze the subject. One research decided to adapt to the technologic subject and develop a different form of Ethnography to accommodate any flaws the tradition method had; the new methodology is called Network Ethnography.
Network ethnography involves with passive or active observation, extended immersion, and in-depth interviews, following the processes of ethnographical research methods. The contribution Network ethnography provides is that it does not limit the researcher into choosing territorial field sites, but also has the opportunity to select multiple social networks as field sites.
Another reason why they believe Network Ethnography is a valid method of examining social behaviour and different technological mediums is that a researcher can manage sample bias whether it be extreme, snowball or any other sampling method. The reason being is that "snowball sampling for example, does not allow the researcher to control the direction of sample growth, but social network analysis will identify some of the most significant informants in the network (Howard, 2002 pg 562)." Researchers can use the initial ethnographic and social network analysis to improve their question and inquiry for a more in-depth research via interviews or surveys, gathering more significant information.
In one of the research articles, it attempted to explore and analyze the consequences behind the introduction and implement of computers and the internet and the effects, concentrating in older adults. Multiple mixed methods were used within this study, resulting in a 2 phase plan. The main theory the study followed was the "used life course theory... which focuses specifically on ways in which computers can facilitate communication among the older population as they progress through the normative again events and patterns of the life course" (Beckenhauer, 2009 p. 826). The two main questions the research will attempt to answer is "How do normative processes of aging affect communication patterns among older adults?" and "What effects will computer ownership have on communication patterns of older adults?" (Beckenhauer, 2009 p. 826).
Phase I involves "participants aged 60 years and older in a city of 100,000 people were solicited from two purposefully selected, well-educated populations: a university cultural/educational organization and a teacher-retirement center" (Beckenhauer, 2009 p. 827) with 66 Participants that indicated on the quantative Demographic Questionnaire: Normative Aging and Communication (DQNAC) (Beckenhauer, 2009 p. 827) with only 40 participants that stated they own computers, and Phase II consists 20 out of the 40 participants who fully committed to an arranged interview within a 3-week period.
In Phase II the objective of the interview was to discover their communication patterns and any changes over the past 10 years. The interview consists of 5 semistructured, open-ended questions and lasted half an hour long.
Proposal
IF YOU CAN TYPE UP AN INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH OR TWO LIKE I HAVE DONE ABOVE IN THE LITERATURE REVIEW THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
The main method chosen to explore around this topic was "Network Ethnography" which was mentioned in one of the research journals Network ethnography and the hypermedia organization: New media, new organizations, new methods. The reason why this methodology was is because the focus and the quality of information that will be gathered can vary and significantly alter results if using other methods such as surveys or experimental methods. Network Ethnography will be especially successful in researching the connection between human communication and the internet because it will allow the researchers the ability to have firsthand observation from multiple medium without limitations traditional methods possess. This allows the researchers to choose the sample to specific details and relevant to the study rather than randomly selecting participants for the research. The article claims that the purpose of various field sites, identifying several significant events is that the information gathered is not diminished and diluted, but it can provide a more contextual, detailed analysis (Howard, 2002). If a method such as a survey was used to analyze the correlation of the subject, the data gathered would be vague and possibly false.
Along with Network Ethnography, follow up interviews would be arranged and conducted with participants in order to gain more information and validity in content. Alike the research conducted in the article Exploring relationships between normative aging, technology, and communication, an interview would be organized to discover how the internet and technological devices affected the participant's interaction with society.
The purpose of this study will be to discover how the use of modern technology such as smart phones (that are easily connected to the internet) on a daily basis have had the human relations affected. Interactions and communications between humans have evolved from face to face to "cell to cell" or "laptop to laptop". Popular theories include people are being negatively affected by technology regarding human relationships and intimacy between individuals via the internet from computers and phones.
THIS IS ALL I HAVE FOR NOW, CAUSE I CANT REALLY ADD ANYTHING ON UNTIL WE COMBINE OUR PARTS TOGETHER. TRY YOUR BEST TO ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS SUCH AS OUR HYPOTHESIS, SAMPLE SIZE ETC.
Participants will be 500 smart phone users aged from 16-46 randomly selected from popular social networking sites within North America. The questionnaires would contain 5 questions regarding the affect of smart phones on their social life and human relations. Participants who are willing to participate further into the research with be given detailed interviews.
The method of using mobile phones for research have became a proven new way of sociological research sampling. Parents and the children from 11 families in UK have participated in a research that used mobile smart phones to gather information from their text messages, photo albums and social media sites to get a detailed observation of the children's life experiences and served as a productive and detailed data collecting tool. (Plowman,2012)
The CNN reports that 269.9 million smart phones were purchased internationally in 2010 and that in 2011 a half a billion smart phones may be purchase world wide. (Lane,2011) Some of the questions we will be asking in this study are : How many hours do you spend on your smart phone per day? Do you talk to your friends and family through text and social media more than you do face - to - face? Do you think you will be spending more time talking to people close to you face-to-face if there were no smart phones?
At social gatherings nowadays, friends and families sit down and stare at their smart phones to catch up with the news and events posted by others on their favorite social media. The technology is convenient , allowing people to constantly stay in touch, but can also hurt our social relations. It stops people from talking face-to-face even when they are right next to each other. They are a invasion of privacy, constant distraction from games and apps, and time consuming. Our research will act as a warning to people today and encourage people to meet face to face more compared to communicating online only.