Introduction
Background Information
Social media are the websites used for the generation and sharing of digital content on platforms for social networking (Anderson, et. al., 2014). Social media can also be defined as channels that are used for online communications hence are utilized by a large number of people for collaboration, sharing of content, interactions, and the collection of inputs that are community-based. The need for convenience in communication and the sharing of information has led to the rapid technological advancement in the communication sector, hence, a number of other social media platforms are being created to satisfy the rising demand for digital tools of communication. Social media is designed based on the user interface and the intended function. For instance, some web applications are designed for the quick sharing of content on a real-time basis, while other platforms take some time before the message reaches the intended recipient.
Statement of the Problem
Facebook is a platform where people can share their feelings and sentiments, with some content regulations. However, some of the posts and comments by the users attract different views from the readers of different genders – some view the comments as not appropriate, while others find the contents suitable for public consumption (Dhir, et. al., 2016). The extent to which the readers disapprove or approve of the comments based on their gender has not been statistically established. Therefore, this research establishes the relationship between gender and decision-making.
Aim of the Study
The aim of this study is to find out the relationship between gender and decision making.
Objectives of the Study
- The main objectives of this study include;
- To establish the level of significance to which different genders approve one’s posts on Facebook.
- To establish the level of significance to which different genders disapprove of one’s posts on Facebook.
Research Questions
The research questions for this study are:
- To what extent of significance do different genders approve an individual’s posts on Facebook?
- To what extent of significance do different genders disapprove an individual’s posts on Facebook?
Null Hypothesis
Participants who read unanimously supportive feedback will rate the Facebook user’s conduct as more acceptable than participants who read unanimously oppositional feedback, with those who read mixed feedback falling between these extremes.
Significance of the Study
The study presents information that can be used by social media regulators to restrict the information that can be shared on Facebook. The results can also be fundamental for the continuity of research works on the relationship between gender and the use of social media. The social standards and comfort in the use of Facebook will also be enhanced when the policies of social media usage are adjusted.
Overview of Methodology
The research uses a deductive approach, quantitative design, and a population of 100 respondents – 60% male and 40% female. The study considers ANOVA to establish the relationship between gender and reaction to Facebook posts. Chi-square analysis is also conducted for the study.
Structure of the Paper
Chapter 1 is the introduction, while chapter 2 presents the literature review. Chapter 3 explains the methodology, as section 4 displays the results and analysis. Chapter 5 presents the discussion of the findings, while chapter 6 is the conclusion.
Literature Review
According to Winter et. al. (2015) and Payel and Denise (2013), the usage of social media in organizations may be beneficial. For example, it can be used to engage students more effectively by enabling faster responses to meet their needs, and an opportunity to communicate back and forth. Social media applications have emerged as powerful platforms for individuals and companies to build their brand (Thompson & Lougheed, 2012). Although the benefits of using social media externally in organizations may be reported in some studies, there is limited scientific evidence to confirm that this is the case internally, and research on the topic is limited.
Social media is also essential in creating business networks that provide opportunities for individuals to exchange ideas and knowledge concerning the business (Payel & Denise, 2013). Moreover, social media is increasingly becoming the instrument for consumers to learn more about a specific business or product. Users agree that they use social media as a means of getting data concerning a brand from the information provided online, and the responses given by the clients (Dhir, et al., 2016). This is possible because social media sites enable businesses to provide the most updated information about themselves, their products and services. Furthermore, companies and individuals have become increasingly more active in promoting business brands to the public (Vogel, et. al., 2014). This can be achieved through indexing, which makes it easier for any individual to acquire an answer when they type in a query in the search bar. Social media also creates publicity that can be trusted since it develops from peer groups, such as through tweeting or posting about a particular product or personal feelings (Rom, et al. 2017). However, the opinions of viewers of different genders regarding specific posts have not been established.
Vogel et. al. (2014) argue that social media is associated with certain negative effects when correlated with its effectiveness in marketing. Being active and present in different social media platforms is important and efficient for individuals. Nonetheless, the main concern comes in measuring the extent to which people are comfortable with others’ posts (Winter, et. al., 2015). The platforms have limited control over what can be shared and what cannot be shared. This can be particularly detrimental if the re-tweets and shares are negative, in the sense that they can damage the image of an individual. Furthermore, the mistakes that people make in social media may be difficult to rectify since the viewers have a great amount of control in approval, based on personal sentiments (Thompson & Lougheed, 2012). However, the previous research works have limited information regarding the views of people of different ages and races, regarding specific posts on Facebook.
Method
Participants
The sample study identified 160 people to take part voluntarily. The participants were both male and female, made from all diverse Millennials. The participants signed a consent form and questionnaire at the beginning of the study—the sample participation borrowed from all ethnicities for fairness. No group was considered superior to the other. As the study was meant to find out the reactions of males and females, there were no significant considerations for other specifications for participants. The age of participants was limited to millennials due to the use of social media. The target was specific as people in their twenties shape their behavior from their environment, their peers, and their belief systems, and the study was an opportunity to see how they reason when faced with a dilemma. The same group of participants was unilaterally used to gather data. All of them were mutual friends to Abigail.
Materials and Procedures
The materials used in this study were non-tangible. The study involved going through a Facebook post and deciding against or with the ideas presented by other participants. All the participants required was access to the internet to see the said post and comment on their thoughts. The data collection was smooth and straightforward. With the use of Facebook, participants were readily available. There was also the use of questionnaires to determine the gender and ethnicity of the sample population.
During the data collection stage, there was a forewarning of participants on honesty and truthfulness to facilitate correct data. They were questioned on their use of social media. This was done because frequent users of Facebook were more likely to be sincere in their comments, and it would take less for them to find the post and comment. New users created a go-slow as they had to create new profiles that would derail the study. The time frame for the research was short and needed a fast-paced participant.
The dependent variable in the study was the right or wrong judgment. Participants based their answers on their reasoning of right and wrong. These arguments also came from preexisting knowledge of statistics and the nature of the exam hence their reply. Having done the review, the actions of Abigail would either be deserving or undeserving.
All the collected data were interpreted in the results to achieve accuracy. However, upon interpretation, there arose an issue with the participants. A parallel study involving those who had taken the statistics unit before acted as a control experiment. The aim was to establish whether the replies differed between those with prior knowledge of the difficulty level of the exam and those without previous experience.
Results
Chi-square test was used to check gender reaction, that is (male vs female) as the independent variable and how participants reacted to their friend’s response to their Facebook posts as the dependent variable. There was a significant effect, c2 (1) = 160.628, p <.001. Male participants (80.2%) did not concentrate on their friend’s response while the female (80.6%) were mindful of the responses. The proportion of the respondents based on age is indicated in table 1.
Levels of Variable
Chi-Square results on the general feedback given to Abigail
The number of respondents who opposed Abigail’s behavior was more than those who supported the behavior, by a factor of 4.4. Those who had mixed reactions were the least and composed of 1/10 of the total. Those who supported the behavior were the second largest (see table 3). From the results, it is evident that the p-value is less than 0.001. The results are statistically significant. Moreover, 50 participants (16%) supported Abigail’s behavior. Those opposed to the behavior were 220 participants (73%). Lastly, some of them had mixed reactions over the behavior that was displayed by Abigail, and they were 30 in number (10%). From the results, it is evident that most of the participants did not support the behavior that was displayed by Abigail on Facebook. The ANOVA single factor analysis produces a higher variance for group 1 than group 2.
Most of the participants strongly disagreed that the behavior that was displayed by Abigail was understandable. A few of the participants agreed that the behavior that was posted by Abigail was reasonable. From the results, the behavior that was portrayed by Abigail was not acceptable. From the ANOVA analysis of the results, the p-value is 0.249781, which is above the expected value of 0.05. Thereby, the results that are obtained from the study are statistically insignificant.
From the results that were obtained, the majority of the students would have been given the advice that was provided by their friends. It is because the majority of the results of the participants agreed with the statement. Few participants disagreed with the report. The ANOVA single factor analysis shows that the group on column 1 has a lower variance than the group on column 2. The average of group 1 is also higher than that of group 2. The standard square between groups is also higher than the standard square within groups.
From the results that were obtained, the p-value is 0.284201, which is greater than the expected value of 0.05. Thereby, the results that have been observed are statistically insignificant.
Discussion
Explanation of Findings
The study hypothesized that Participants who read unanimously supportive feedback will rate the Facebook user’s conduct as more acceptable than participants who read unanimously oppositional feedback, with those who read mixed feedback falling between these extremes. Gender differences are found among social media platforms. Males and females may act differently when approaching new posts that they see on the internet (Winter, et. al., 2015). Some may be easier to convince than others. In the Facebook consensus study of Abigail cheating by accidentally having the answer key, mixed genders commented on her post. Many factors might come into consideration when talking about gender and the priming behind genders when it comes to something like the Facebook consensus study of Abigail. Research has proved to have a difference in social interaction in the retention of information and information processing (Markovits, et al., 2006). Females tend to process information slower than males do when it comes to seeing something like a post on social media. Females act more on their emotions in the moment rather than males just acting on one thought, and this justified the findings. Males process information quicker when it is relating to groups while females process things quicker relating to dyads (Markovits, et al., 2006). Females most likely will be found to sit back and read something multiple times and discuss it with others before coming to a conclusion.
Females also tend to spend more time on social media losing sleep such as Facebook (Thompson & Lougheed, 2012). When on social media females tend to compare themselves to others they may scroll past. When a female may look up to another person on social media since they might be some type of role model to them, it is easier for a female to agree with whatever it is they may post, hence the high number of female respondents who supported Abigail’s move. Stereotypes and role modeling are a factor that unintentionally occurs within individuals’ thoughts (Rose & Mackey-Kallis, 2012).
When considering gender differences and social media age is a huge factor that must be looked upon. The younger someone is the more likely it is to have a negative/positive effect on their mental state depending on a post (Pujazon-Zazik & Park, 2010). A post is easier convinced to a younger crowd rather than an older one. Although a young crowd is easy to convince, an older crowd may also get affected by what they see online. But an older crowd might struggle a little more when something might affect them. If they are at a certain age and everyone around them might be doing better, they may feel like they are behind, and this might affect them with a long-term effect (Payel & Denise, 2013). A younger crowd may see others do something and follow, but eventually, they may grow out of this behavior while finding their identity.
When it comes to Facebook priming and gender, it is more likely females will act upon emotion when priming to the consensus of cheating while men will act more on facts they are looking at. Females might sugarcoat and or explain a story in more depth than males would. Males would most probably go straight to the point rather than give a long explanation for what they believe occurred (Dhir, et al., 2016). If Abigail posts about her having her answer key attached to her exam, then females are more likely to try and put themselves in her shoes before making a comment. If a male reads Abigail’s Facebook posts, they are more likely to look at the story and its facts and give an opinion straight to the point. Other factors that could be taken into consideration as well would be the friendship with Abigail, attraction to Abigail, and or moral factors.
Just like the Facebook study, depending on whether the comments are negative or positive others will conform and change the user’s opinions depending on what they see listed above on Abigail’s post. Cyberbullying is rampant in the current era where the use of social media is widely spread. Most of the time, the incidents of cyberbullying are ignored, while others view it as a normal occurrence that is done for fun. Hence, some users tend to support this behavior rather than go against it (Vogel, et. al., 2014).
People care a lot about their moral reputation and how they are viewed by others, especially on social media (Rom, et al. 2017). It is easier for someone to conform to such comments from the Facebook study if they were negative or positive rather than going against it and having someone think of them in any way that could affect their moral reputation. It’s a lot easier for Abigail’s friends on Facebook to agree to what the group is saying rather than actually sharing their thoughts in fear of ruining their reputation. When Abigail’s friend’s comments are mixed, it’s easier to blend in within the group with their actual opinions.
Limitations and Recommendations
The accuracy of the study was limited by the use of a predetermined and limited number of respondents. Therefore, it would be better if the number of respondents was allowed to stream in an unlimited manner, to a specific post. This would yield a higher range of data, hence an enhanced degree of accuracy. Any future study should consider a larger research population with uncontrolled gender statistics and an open-ended response platform, to display the actual situation of people’s sentiments regarding Facebook posts.
Conclusion
The aim of this study was to find out the relationship between gender and decision-making. The research established that there is a significant link between gender and the position of an individual on whether some Facebook post is appropriate or not. The study established factors such as emotions and personal beliefs to be influencing one’s views regarding Facebook posts. Further research should be conducted to establish how the responses or reactions to one’s social media posts influence their future intentions to make another post.
References
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