Gathering Data Is The Next Step In The Research Process

Gathering Data Is The Next Step In The Research Process For Some Rese

Gathering data is the next step in the research process. For some researchers, that includes doing surveys and/or interviews. For others it means doing secondary analysis, which simply means looking at what other researchers have done on the topic. Other methods of gathering data include reviewing websites and social media, participant observation, etc. You can read about the full spectrum of social science data gathering in Social Science Research: Principles, Methods, and Practices. Explore the CSU Global Writing Center's page on Lit Reviews for this assignment and then cover the following: For the purposes of this assignment, you'll use the topic for your Portfolio, the topic from CT 1, or a new topic (it's up to you) to create a Literature Review based on data you've gathered doing secondary analysis: Restate your topic (or state your new topic) clearly and succinctly. Explain why your topic is important to Human Services. Choose only three pieces of data to explore (this is a short paper and you won't have the room to cover much more). Tip: If you find more than three and you're using this assignment to help with your Portfolio Project, set it aside. Follow the CSU Global Writing Center Template for Writing a Literature Review.

Paper For Above instruction

The research process begins with gathering pertinent data, which varies depending on the research approach. For many researchers in the social sciences, secondary data analysis is a valuable method, involving the examination of existing research, datasets, and literature relevant to a specific topic. This approach allows scholars to synthesize previous findings, identify gaps, and formulate new research questions without the need for primary data collection. In this context, I will utilize secondary analysis to explore the topic of "The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health," a subject relevant to human services because of its implications for mental health professionals, educators, and policymakers.

The importance of this topic to human services is multi-faceted. As social media platforms continue to evolve and permeate daily life, concerns regarding their effects on adolescent mental health have increased. The pervasive nature of social media can influence self-esteem, anxiety levels, depression, and social skills among young individuals. Human service professionals, including counselors and social workers, need a deep understanding of these impacts to design effective interventions, promote mental well-being, and inform policy decisions. Furthermore, understanding the nuances of this relationship can aid in developing preventive strategies, educational programs, and support systems that mitigate negative effects and foster resilience among youth.

To ground this review, I will examine three key pieces of data derived from previous research studies. The first source investigates the correlation between time spent on social media and levels of anxiety among teenagers (Twenge, 2017). The second explores how social comparison on social media platforms affects adolescent self-esteem (Vogel, Rose, Roberts, & Eckles, 2014). The third assesses the effectiveness of digital literacy programs in reducing negative mental health outcomes associated with social media use (Fardouly et al., 2018). Analysis of these data points offers insight into the multifaceted impacts of social media on adolescent mental health, informing practices within human services that aim to address and improve youth mental health outcomes.

References

  • Fardouly, J., Diedrichs, P. C., Vartanian, L. R., & Halliwell, E. (2018). Social comparisons on social media: The impact on body image concerns and mood. Body Image, 25, 90-97.
  • Twenge, J. M. (2017). IGen: Why today’s super-connected kids are growing up less rebellious, more tolerant, less happy—and completely unprepared for adulthood—and what that means for the rest of us. Simon & Schuster.
  • Vogel, E. A., Rose, J. P., Roberts, L. R., & Eckles, K. (2014). Social comparison, social media, and self-esteem. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 3(4), 206–222.