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A QUALITATIVE INVESTIGATION OF ADOLESCENT FEMALES' USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING WEBSITES

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Date Issued:
2010
Abstract/Description:
The aim of the present study was to explore the ways adolescent females, age 14 through 17, utilized social networking websites such as MySpace and Facebook for communication, self-presentation and identity development purposes. Uses and gratifications theory served as a framework for identifying the participantsÂÂ' motivations for heavily using these websites, which allow users to post pictures, interests and updates for their friends to view and interact with online. Using a qualitative method, one preliminary focus group and ten in-depth interviews were conducted, totaling fifteen female participants between the ages of 14 and 17. Interview questions covered topics such as peer interactions through social networking sites, posting personal content to their profile pages, self-presentations through pictures and text, creating and maintaining friendships through these sites, and negative and positive feedback received through comments. Results indicated that the participants frequently used social networking websites for five main gratifications: Information Sharing, Convenient Communication, Self-Expression, Friendship Formation and Social Support.
Title: A QUALITATIVE INVESTIGATION OF ADOLESCENT FEMALES' USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING WEBSITES.
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Name(s): Pate, Janine, Author
DeLorme, Denise, Committee Chair
University of Central Florida, Degree Grantor
Type of Resource: text
Date Issued: 2010
Publisher: University of Central Florida
Language(s): English
Abstract/Description: The aim of the present study was to explore the ways adolescent females, age 14 through 17, utilized social networking websites such as MySpace and Facebook for communication, self-presentation and identity development purposes. Uses and gratifications theory served as a framework for identifying the participantsÂÂ' motivations for heavily using these websites, which allow users to post pictures, interests and updates for their friends to view and interact with online. Using a qualitative method, one preliminary focus group and ten in-depth interviews were conducted, totaling fifteen female participants between the ages of 14 and 17. Interview questions covered topics such as peer interactions through social networking sites, posting personal content to their profile pages, self-presentations through pictures and text, creating and maintaining friendships through these sites, and negative and positive feedback received through comments. Results indicated that the participants frequently used social networking websites for five main gratifications: Information Sharing, Convenient Communication, Self-Expression, Friendship Formation and Social Support.
Identifier: CFE0003180 (IID), ucf:48608 (fedora)
Note(s): 2010-05-01
M.S.
Sciences, Nicholson School of Communication
Masters
This record was generated from author submitted information.
Subject(s): communication
mass communication
adolescent females
social networking websites
uses and gratifications
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003180
Restrictions on Access: public
Host Institution: UCF

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