1. 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

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

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. Problematic Facebook Use
Recruitment
RMIT University© 2012
Problematic Facebook Use

7. Problematic Facebook Use
Recruitment
Total Spent Campaign Reach Clicks Cost Per Click
$ , c 27
RMIT University© 2012
Problematic Facebook Use

8. Problematic Facebook Use
Recruitment
RMIT University© 2012
Problematic Facebook Use

9. Problematic Facebook Use
Recruitment
RMIT University© 2012
Problematic Facebook Use

10. Problematic Facebook Use
Recruitment
RMIT University© 2012
Problematic Facebook Use

11. Recruitment Problematic Facebook Use RMIT University© 201211

12. Recruitment RMIT University© 2012 Problematic Facebook Use

13. 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

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

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

16. 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

17. 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

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

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

20. 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

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

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

23. 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

24. 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

25. Methodologies for facebook research: An online mixed methods study of problematic facebook use