Perceptions Of Social Bonds, Social Engagement And Social Capital By Social Network Site Users

<p>ABSTRACT</p> <p>PERCEPTIONS OF SOCIAL BONDS, SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT AND SOCIAL CAPITAL BY SOCIAL NETWORK SITE USERS</p> <p>by</p> <p>ALISHA M. BECKROW</p> <p>May 2015</p> <p>Advisor: Dr. Matthew W. Seeger</p> <p>Major: Communications</p> <p>Degree: Doctor of Philosophy</p> <p>In this study we investigated the perceptions of social bonds, social engagement and social capital by users of the social network site Facebook. A survey questionnaire was distributed to three similar young professional organizations in the Midwest United States. The participants were asked about their use of Facebook as members of the organization. The results indicated that social network sites can be used to compliment other forms of user interactions, such as face-to-face, and can be a mechanism for building social bonds, social engagement, and social capital. The sites are utilized at varying degrees by members and the strength of the social bonds, social engagement, and social capital differed based on the demographic make-up of the group members with the more demographically similar groups reporting stronger bonds, engagement, and capital. Future research can expand this area of study by focusing on other social media sites and groups who utilize these sites.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Communication

Year dc:date.available

2015

Author dc:creator

• Beckrow, Alisha

Contributors dc:contributor

• Matthew Seeger

• communication
• facebook
• social media
• Mass Communication

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations/1118

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.wayne.edu:oa_dissertations-2117