A CORRELATIONAL STUDY BETWEEN PERSONALITY

CHARACTERISTICS OF OLDER ADULTS AND FACEBOOK USAGE

Grand Canyon University-PSY-550December 11, 2013Raymond Williams

Introduction

The purpose of this study is to determine if Facebook

usage effects the personality characteristics

in older adults

Literature Review

The internet has evolved into playing a prominent role in identity development, interpersonal skill development, development of social skills, and personality characteristics (Jenkins-Guarnieri, Wright & Johnson, 2013).

Ivcevic and Ambady (2012) -Consequences involved with identity claims and Facebook profiles resulted in showing that observers relied more on profile pictures, followed by quotes and interests.

Ivcevic and Ambady (2012) - Impressions from Facebook Info pages resulted in a small correlational effect with criteria in everyday life, but a larger correlation with observed online behavior.

Stevens, Humphrey, Wheatley & Galliher (2011)- Discovered that Individuals with obsessive-compulsive personality characteristics that use Facebook more than average do this compulsively to manage anxienty and stress.

Hypothesis

Null Hypothesis- Facebook usage of varying amounts of time does not have an effect on personality characteristics among older adults.

Alternate hypothesis- Facebook usage of varying amounts of time does not have an effect on personality characteristics among older adults

Methodology

Survey Method

Participants Apparatus/Materials/Instruments

Procedure and Design

Participants

200 non-traditional university students (100 men and 100 women, average age of 40) Quota-sampling-to ensure an older

generation is obtained Convenience sampling-assessments

conducted at college library, student services center, humanities building, engineering building, computer science building, and natural sciences building

Apparatus/Materials/Instruments

First question is Demographical (age, gender)Eight Survey questions to determine:- Time Spent logged on to Facebook and

How many Facebook friends (2 questions)

- Emotional attachment and intensity of Facebook usage (5-point Likert Scale) (6 questions)

Procedure and Design

2 Survey Booths for convenience 5 research assistants – 50 surveys each

Choice of: $50 Visa gift card $100 worth of Facebook points

Results

Chi-square test

df = (n – 1) (5 (traits being compared) – 1) = 4

α = 0.05

χ2 (4) = .71, p < .05- H0 is rejected

Discussion

Purpose is to examine significance of Facebook usage and effects on personality characteristics among older adultsH0 = no effect

HA = effect

A Confound of diffusion could raise threat to internal validity.Partial Replication of (Jenkins et al., 2013)-survey question format

Ethical Considerations

Institutional approval Informing participants about purpose of

study, duration and procedures Re-evaluation of the external motive for

participation

Recommendation for Further Research

Representative sample covering multiple regions in the United States

Additional methods to study effects of social media sites

References

American Psychological Association. (2013). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct: Including 2010 amendments. Retrieved from

http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/index.aspx

Incevic, Z., & Ambady, N. (2012). Personality impressions from identity claims on Facebook. Psychology of Popular Culture, 1(1), 38-45. doi:10.1037/a0027329.

Jenkins-Guarnieri, M. A., Wright, S. L., & Johnson, B. D. (2013). The inter-relationships among attachment style, personality traits, interpersonal competency, and Facebook use. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 2(2), 117-131. Doi:101037/a0030946.

Stevens, S., Humphrey, K., Wheatley, T., & Galliher, R. V. (2011). Links among obsessive-compulsive personality characteristics and Facebook usage. Psi Chi Journal of Undergraduate Research, 16(3), 106-112.

Appendices

Table 1: Summary of time spent on Facebook

Table 2: Facebook usage analysis

Table 1. Summary of time spent on Facebook

Table 1Summary of Time Spent on Facebook

Amount of Time Spent Logged in to Facebook

frequency

Percentage (f / N) x 100

0 – 10 minutes on average per day

   

11 – 30 minutes per day    31 – 60 minutes per day    61 – 90 minutes per day    Logged-In 24hrs per day        N = 200

Table 2. Facebook Usage Analysis

Table 2Facebook Usage Analysis

Type of Usage   % = f / N x 100

Feeling out of touch when not logged-in  f %

Preferred if everyone communicated with Facebook f %

Respond frequently to content from other users  f %

Content posted by other users has angered me f %

Posted retaliation posts to content that has angered me f %

Most content posted by other members is friendly f %

Strongly Disagree

           

Disagree            Neutral            Agree            Strongly Disagree