Social media and well-being: A methodological perspective

Douglas A. Parry; Jacob T. Fisher; Hannah Mieczkowski; Craig J.R. Sewall; Brittany I. Davidson

doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.11.005

Social media and well-being: A methodological perspective

Douglas A. Parry, Jacob T. Fisher, Hannah Mieczkowski, Craig J.R. Sewall, Brittany I. Davidson

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Abstract

Due to the methodological challenges inherent in studying social media use (SMU), as well as the methodological choices that have shaped research into the effects of SMU on well-being, clear conclusions regarding relationships between SMU and well-being remain elusive. We provide a review of five methodological developments poised to provide increased understanding in this domain: (a) increased use of longitudinal and experimental designs; (b) the adoption of behavioural (rather than self-report) measures of SMU; (c) focusing on more nuanced aspects of SMU; (d) embracing effect heterogeneity; and (e) the use of formal modelling and machine learning. We focus on how these advances stand to bring us closer to understanding relations between SMU and well-being, as well as the challenges associated with these developments.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	101285
Journal	Current Opinion in Psychology
Volume	45
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.11.005
State	Published - Jun 2022

Keywords

Media effects
Methodology
SNS
Social media
Social media use
Social networking sites
Well-being

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Psychology

Online availability

10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.11.005

Library availability

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title = "Social media and well-being: A methodological perspective",

abstract = "Due to the methodological challenges inherent in studying social media use (SMU), as well as the methodological choices that have shaped research into the effects of SMU on well-being, clear conclusions regarding relationships between SMU and well-being remain elusive. We provide a review of five methodological developments poised to provide increased understanding in this domain: (a) increased use of longitudinal and experimental designs; (b) the adoption of behavioural (rather than self-report) measures of SMU; (c) focusing on more nuanced aspects of SMU; (d) embracing effect heterogeneity; and (e) the use of formal modelling and machine learning. We focus on how these advances stand to bring us closer to understanding relations between SMU and well-being, as well as the challenges associated with these developments.",

keywords = "Media effects, Methodology, SNS, Social media, Social media use, Social networking sites, Well-being",

author = "Parry, {Douglas A.} and Fisher, {Jacob T.} and Hannah Mieczkowski and Sewall, {Craig J.R.} and Davidson, {Brittany I.}",

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language = "English (US)",

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T2 - A methodological perspective

AU - Parry, Douglas A.

AU - Fisher, Jacob T.

AU - Mieczkowski, Hannah

AU - Sewall, Craig J.R.

AU - Davidson, Brittany I.

PY - 2022/6

Y1 - 2022/6

N2 - Due to the methodological challenges inherent in studying social media use (SMU), as well as the methodological choices that have shaped research into the effects of SMU on well-being, clear conclusions regarding relationships between SMU and well-being remain elusive. We provide a review of five methodological developments poised to provide increased understanding in this domain: (a) increased use of longitudinal and experimental designs; (b) the adoption of behavioural (rather than self-report) measures of SMU; (c) focusing on more nuanced aspects of SMU; (d) embracing effect heterogeneity; and (e) the use of formal modelling and machine learning. We focus on how these advances stand to bring us closer to understanding relations between SMU and well-being, as well as the challenges associated with these developments.

AB - Due to the methodological challenges inherent in studying social media use (SMU), as well as the methodological choices that have shaped research into the effects of SMU on well-being, clear conclusions regarding relationships between SMU and well-being remain elusive. We provide a review of five methodological developments poised to provide increased understanding in this domain: (a) increased use of longitudinal and experimental designs; (b) the adoption of behavioural (rather than self-report) measures of SMU; (c) focusing on more nuanced aspects of SMU; (d) embracing effect heterogeneity; and (e) the use of formal modelling and machine learning. We focus on how these advances stand to bring us closer to understanding relations between SMU and well-being, as well as the challenges associated with these developments.

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KW - Methodology

KW - SNS

KW - Social media

KW - Social media use

KW - Social networking sites

KW - Well-being

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Social media and well-being: A methodological perspective

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Online availability

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