Methods selected for the study
The research is going to apply a qualitative technique to obtain data on the effects of social media. College students will be included as the study population. Moreover, the research design will concentrate on Focus Group Discussions (FGD’s) among the students selected to participate in the study. The focus group discussions will be undertaken to obtain in-depth information on the phenomenon under study.
Additionally, the researcher will develop an interview guide that will assist in determining the issues that will be discussed. All the students will be expected to give their perspective on the research topic. The study will employ inductive reasoning to generate specific answers about the effect of social media. Furthermore, the incorporation of inductive arguments will provide information on the patterns of social media use among the participants.
Construction of the research and operationalization of the concepts
The focus group discussions will be undertaken in a secluded room after school hours. The researcher will send e-mails to the participants regarding the time that the discussions will commence. Additionally, they will be informed that the discussions will last for two hours to enable them prepare adequately. During the FGD’s session, all the information discussed will be copied word-for-word, and tape-recorded.
The moderator will ensure that all the questions on the interview guide are discussed. After the FGD’s, the researcher will transcribe the data by typing the recordings in a Microsoft Word document. In an effort to ensure that all the information is captured, data on the hard copies will be compared to the tape-recorded information. The concepts will be operationalized by the development of themes. The themes will represent the variables to be investigated, and they will include; antisocial behavior, psychological well-being, academic performance, internet addiction, self-esteem, and bullying.
Sampling, data analysis, and data presentation
A random sampling technique will be applied to identify the students to participate in the FGD’s. Additionally, the researcher will develop a sampling frame that will include all the students in the class, and use a computerized random calculator to select 12 students who will participate in the FGD’s. This sampling technique will eliminate any potential bias, as all the students will have equal chances of being selected. After the data is cleaned and arranged into themes, it will be analyzed using NVivo software. The data will be presented in the form of proportions, and direct quotes will be incorporated in the final report.
Effect of the qualitative research design on the research questions and results
The qualitative design will be effective in answering the research questions, as it will ensure that comprehensive information is gathered from the participants. Furthermore, the FGD’s will enable the participants to debate on contentious issues related to the topic, and hence promote saturation of information. The qualitative design is fit for the research questions, as it will allow the researcher to obtain as much information as possible about the effect of social media on the students. It will also guarantee the development of research hypotheses that can be tested through quantitative research studies.