Methodologies for facebook research: An online mixed methods study of problematic facebook use Tracii Ryan, Andrea Chester, John Reece, & Sophia Xenos Discipline of Psychology RMIT University, Australia

Methodology Problematic Facebook Use Exploratory Methodology Internet Addiction RMIT University© 2012 Problematic Facebook Use

Problematic Facebook Use Methodology Systematic Review of Internet Addiction Measures Thematic Analysis of Factors Development of Questions Online Recruitment and Data Collection Data Analysis (QUAL and QUAN) RMIT University© 2012 Problematic Facebook Use

Problematic Facebook Use Methodology Systematic Review of Internet Addiction Measures Thematic Analysis of Factors Development of Questions Online Recruitment and Data Collection Data Analysis (QUAL and QUAN) RMIT University© 2012 Problematic Facebook Use

Recruitment Recruitment Facebook Paid Advertisement Snowball Method Other Online discussion boards RMIT University© 2012 Problematic Facebook Use

Problematic Facebook Use Recruitment RMIT University© 2012 Problematic Facebook Use

Problematic Facebook Use Recruitment Total Spent Campaign Reach Clicks Cost Per Click $476 827,517 584 82c 27 RMIT University© 2012 Problematic Facebook Use

Problematic Facebook Use Recruitment RMIT University© 2012 Problematic Facebook Use

Problematic Facebook Use Recruitment RMIT University© 2012 Problematic Facebook Use

Problematic Facebook Use Recruitment RMIT University© 2012 Problematic Facebook Use

Recruitment Problematic Facebook Use RMIT University© 2012 11

Recruitment RMIT University© 2012 Problematic Facebook Use

Online Recruitment Conclusions Facebook Paid Advertisement Expensive Very large reach Targeted recruitment Facebook Snowball Free Limited reach Not targetable Online Discussion Board Free Moderate reach Not targetable RMIT University© 2012 Problematic Facebook Use

Benefits of Online Data Collection Participants Convenient Anonymous Researchers Useful for Internet studies Automatic data collection RMIT University© 2012 Problematic Facebook Use

Online Data Collection Survey Focus Group RMIT University© 2012 Problematic Facebook Use

Problematic Facebook Use Data Collection Demographics (3) Sex Country Age General Facebook Usage (4) Facebook user Daily time spent Mobile devices Type of use Problematic Facebook Use (14) Preoccupation (1) Mood Alteration (3) Prefer Online Social Interaction (2) Withdrawal (4) Negative Consequences (2) Problematic Use Acknowledged (2) RMIT University© 2012 Problematic Facebook Use

Data Collection 652 viewed information statement 486 gave consent 166 dropped out 461 started survey 12 excluded 13 dropped out 417 completed survey 8 missing data 36 dropped out RMIT University© 2012 Problematic Facebook Use

Problematic Facebook Use Data Collection Online Focus Groups Asynchronous Discussion Board Email Group Synchronous Chat Rooms RMIT University© 2012 Problematic Facebook Use

Problematic Facebook Use Data Collection Online Focus Groups Asynchronous Discussion Board Email Group Synchronous Chat Rooms RMIT University© 2012 Problematic Facebook Use

Data Collection 165 showed concern 51 gave username 20 registered 114 did not volunteer 51 gave username 20 registered 31 dropped out 9 participated in focus group 11 dropped out RMIT University© 2012 Problematic Facebook Use

Problematic Facebook Use Data Collection Forum Topics Posts Last Post Information Welcome 05 May 2012 05:38pm 3 15 Please click here before you get started Tracii Help and Support Resources 07 May 2012 08:35am 4 11 Click here to get help Tracii Focus Groups Facebook Focus Groups FOCUS GROUPS 3 36 12 May 2012 03:23am Click here to participate in the discussion skatoony Problematic Facebook Use RMIT University© 2012

Problematic Facebook Use Data Collection TOPICS REPLIES VIEWS Facebook Users Focus Group – Start here! Ξ by Tracii on Tue May 08, 2012 3:26 pm 9 23 Do you have any trouble limiting your FB use? Ξ 6 21 by Tracii on Thu April 19, 2012 12:01 pm Do you think Facebook is addictive? Ξ 5 18 by Tracii on Tue May 08, 2012 3:34 pm RMIT University© 2012 Problematic Facebook Use

Problematic Facebook Use Data Collection “What is it that concerns you about your Facebook use?” TOPICS REPLIES VIEWS LAST POST Participant Survey Response Focus Group Response skatoony I should be spending more time studying and concentrating on other things but get distracted by Facebook How easily distracted I am from things that I should be doing. I often will not get immersed in my studies because I’m checking my Facebook or chatting with friends. lilybard I know I spend a lot of time on it, more than I need to. I would probably be more productive in other areas of life if I wasn’t always on Facebook. I do get concerned about how distracted I get by Facebook. Often I log in saying to myself that it’s just a 5 minute check, but I mess around for an hour or longer. Chatting, playing games, it’s so easy to waste time. I know I could be more productive if I didn’t have Facebook. anon82 I spend way too much time on it and would love to be able to step back. It’s very much a timewaster and distraction. I can easily go for hours in front of FB and not realize. So my biggest concern would be the amount of time spent on Facebook. RMIT University© 2012 Problematic Facebook Use

Online Data Collection Conclusions Online Data Collection Qualitative Survey Effective for large samples Briefer responses Focus Group Small samples Richer data Hard to avoid drop outs RMIT University© 2012 Problematic Facebook Use

Methodologies for facebook research: An online mixed methods study of problematic facebook use tracii.ryan@student.rmit.edu.au