RESEARCH SKILLS TASK 3
Source 1
Source and date of source
Brief summary of information in source
Usefulness of the source – is it valid
and relevant information? Does the
source contain information that will
assist in answering your research
question? Does it directly relate to your
inquiry?
Source 2
Social Networking sites may be controlling
your mind - here's how to take charge
Published on December 5, 2017, by Simon
McCarthy-Jones in THE CONVERSATION
This source delves upon how human needs
create human vulnerabilities in which
becomes the sole target of the corporations
behind social media platforms. These
companies are able to target each users’
specific interests as more people continue to
be excessively involved in online activities
such as liking another user’s post, regularly
entering the search page, or posting about
themselves. Thus, keeping our attention
which in turn has led to the term 'addiction'.
It has been researched that around 5% of
adolescent users show significant levels of
addiction-like symptoms, leading to the
concern that users should make a choice on
whether the benefits outweigh the costs.
The information lacks validity as it was
published in late 2017, however, is relevant
as it delves upon how social networking has
become bait for industries that are solely
dedicated to capture and sell our attention.
 
Moreover, the source contains information
that assists in answering the research
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Source 3
A Study on Positive and Negative Effects of
social media on Society
Uploaded on March 2018 BY Waseem
Akram in the INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF
COMPUTER SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING
The source is a study discussing the positive
and negative effects social media has on
society. The impacts of social media are
shown upon several categories such as
medical/health, business, education,
society, and youth/teens.
The information lacks validity as it was
uploaded in early 2018 and is not relevant
as it primarily focuses on the positive and
negative effects of social media on several
areas such as business, society,
medical/health, youth/teen, and education.
While it does not touch upon the research
question, the information is written with
Why Control of social media becomes
necessary?
Published on September 13, 2020, by Arun
Teja Polcumpally in MODERN DIPLOMACY
This source reveals how social media is
becoming a grave concern for societal
security as internet communication rapidly
grows with time. It further discusses the
dangers/concerns of cognitive bias being
pushed open into society due to the internet
removing all restrictions, empowering free
speech.
It elaborates upon how the algorithms
governing social media slowly becomes bias
after training with biased data collected from
the platforms. This leads the algorithms to be
bias during the stage of development.
This source then concludes by proposing a
probable solution to help users break free
and take control over social media.
The information is valid and relevant as it is
current and discusses upon how the spread of
a single post caused pre-planned violence.
This real-life disaster was caused due to a
post by the nephew of a legislative assembly
member on his social media in which violence
erupted, harming a total of 93 people, 3 of
which were killed, while 15 civilians and 75

Likelihood of accuracy - how credible
is the source (consider credibility of
author, who publishes the source,
intended audience)? Is the author of
the source legitimate for the purpose of
answering your question?
RESEARCH SKILLS TASK 3
question through the explanation of the
similarity between social media platforms and
hackers by comparing the exploitation of a
vulnerability in human psychology. These
vulnerabilities included humans fundamental
need to belong and a fundamental desire for
social status. The activation of humans'
valuation system is brought about when
certain behavioural actions are rewarded
through information about themselves, food,
or even money.
 
This suggests that the information directly
relates to the research question as it
discusses in detail how companies take
advantage of this 'valuation system' to exploit
society's attention towards itself. Further
resulting in the change of both a person's
physical and mental status.
The information is highly credible as it is
published by an Associate Professor in Clinical
Psychology and Neuropsychology from the
Trinity College in Dublin. Thus, also making
the author legitimate for answering the
research question.
 
The source is published on The Conversation,
which is a network of media outlets that
publishes news stories and research reports
accompanied by expert opinion. They do not
seek profit as all articles online are free to
read and study about. This allows the
intended audience to include students in high
school or university. It also targets families
who may have begun experiencing signs from
their children such as refusing to engage in
face-to-face activities/events, are constantly
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highly detailed explanations with statistics
backing up each claim.
 
In addition, the information details how
society is negatively affected due to
personal information being hacked, falling
for frauds/scams, keeping up reputation,
and cyber harassing.
This concludes that the source does not
contain information that will assist in
answering the research question as the
points mentioned above strays away from
the research question which focuses on
how the control of information social media
platforms have can negatively harm society.
The author of this source is credible as the
document was submitted to JCSE which only
allows the publication of the article after
being reviewed by editors. However, the
author of the source is not legitimate for
the purpose of answering the research
question as the profile states that they
belong to the Department of Computer
Applications which focuses upon the areas
of Science and Technology.
 
The intended audience for this study would
not include students but instead
researchers, as the source is highly
statistical, detailing a document containing
9 full pages which provides information
regarding the impacts of social media.
personnel was injured. This shows how this
incidental violence could become a frequent
event if social media content continues to
grow with its cognitive bias and manipulate
users into believing everything they see on
the internet.
 
This information also assists by explaining
how 'social media giants' neglect their role in
preventing the spread of misinformation. This
means that social media companies are
controlling the information within their
platforms as a means to further manipulate
the thinking of society towards their bias.
 
The information provided in this source
touches upon the research question,
however, does not delve upon it in detail,
thus the source does not directly relate to our
inquiry.
This source is partially credible as there is
contact information of the website, however,
lacks information regarding the author. This
may be due to a restriction on the enclosure
of private information, or the author has
chosen not to reveal themselves.
 
The author is legitimate for the purpose of
answering the research question as they are
part of the Indian community and may have
even experienced the event themselves.
 
The intended audience would be researchers
or citizens of India that are knowledgeable
over the events mentioned as the article uses
highly analytical terms and names from well-
known political figures.

Likelihood of accuracy - Does the
source provide reliable (the degree to
which identified research processes
have produced stable and consistent
results) information?
Limitations of the source- is the
source fact or opinion? What is the
purpose of the source – to inform,
persuade? Is it objective? Can you
identify a biased perspective? Is it
designed for a particular audience? Is it
relevant to the questions? Is the source
current? Are there omissions in the
information? Can it be verified?
RESEARCH SKILLS TASK 3
uneasy/fidgety around others, with some
even being embarrassed of their own
parents/families.
The source provides reliable data/results in
which a 5-year-follow-up-study has shown
how the design of social media platforms are
intended to control users' involvement in an
activity on their platform, leading to social
networking addiction. This harms society as a
whole with an increased tendency to
experience negative emotions, being unable
to cope well with everyday problems, and a
wide spread of loneliness and fear of missing
out. Thus, limiting the growth of the user's
mental and physical state as they are
constantly concerned over the social
hierarchy.
This source is written based off of facts with
quotes from multiple large figures such as
Sean Parker (first president of Facebook), and
a 5-year-old study which founded that many
excessive behaviours deemed to be
addictions.
 
The purpose of the source is to inform how
excessive involvement in activity on social
media platforms could lead to addiction, how
companies target the vulnerabilities in human
needs to capture and sell our attention, and
how society is becoming more enclosed as
algorithms begin to compute more
specifically targeted interests towards users.
It also persuades users to leave the apps
alone, with constant fear of having to battle
depression, or from fear of becoming isolated
to the outside community.
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The source provides reliable information
with statistical data and several secondary
data gathering tools such as on-site
observations, interviews, and
questionnaires backing up each example as
evidence for their statements.
The source is written based off of facts with
each subtopic focusing on specific factors
impacted by social media. These factors
were explained with the purpose of
informing society of the positives and
negatives of allowing children, adults, and
elderly to be socially active on social media
and whether or not the benefits outweigh
the costs and vice versa.
 
This source contains no identifiable biased
perspectives, as it mainly contains
definitions regarding the social media apps,
when they were created, who created
them, and how they have affected the
factors in society e.g., education.
 
The level of language used is technical and
contains various terminology that may not
The source provides reliable information as
the explanation/discussions are backed up by
events that occurred in real life such as the
Wall Street Journal Report and the incident
that happened in India on the night of August
11th, 2020.
In addition, statistical data provided for these
events have been consistent throughout the
continuation of the article, deeming it more
reliable.
The source is written based off of facts as it
primarily focuses discussing events that
occurred in real life detailed by statistical
figures.
 
The purpose of the source is both to inform
and to persuade. The source informs society
of the casualties that were marked due to the
incidents whereas it persuades society to not
repeat the mistakes of others and instead
learn after reading about the consequences
of one’s action on social media whether
deliberately or not.
 
There are no identifiable biased perspectives,
as the source does not delve into great detail
why and how these events occurred and
instead only provided the trigger of the event.
 
 RESEARCH SKILLS TASK 3
 
This article does not contain a biased
perspective as the author does not make
claims but backs up explanations through
evidence. In addition, the information is easily
understandable while also incorporating key
terms to highlight the main points of the
argument. Thus, having a larger audience
ranging from students studying the article for
an assignment to researchers attempting to
gather more info upon their question.
Likewise, parents are also a part.
 
However, the source is not current with the
publishing date of the article being on the 5th
December, 2017, meaning that the trends
and nature of social media platforms have
changed resulting in less accuracy from the
provided data.
 
There are no omissions in the information as
it provides the thought process of both sides
(creator & user), while also comparing the
addictiveness of social media to gambling and
the creators of the platform to hackers. In
addition, it further provides solutions to the
idea of taking back control from the owners
of these platforms.
 
The information can be verified as the
website contains public contact information,
and states that all authors and editors within
the company signs up to their Editorial
Charter, ensuring that the content is fact-
based amongst other qualities.
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be suitable for students in high school, thus,
limits the targeted audience to be that of
researchers who would analyse the
document to gain more knowledge or
university level students who would analyse
the document as a source.
 
However, this source is not relevant for the
purpose of answering the research question
as there is no indication upon the topic of
control of information by social media
platforms through social media platforms.
This article mainly contains definitions
regarding the social media apps and how
they have affected the factors in society
e.g., education.
 
Furthermore, the source is not current
which also decreases the level of relevance
and validity for the purpose of answering
our questions as the trends in society
change every year. There are no omissions
in the information as it provides a list of
references for the information written in
the last page of the article. The
statements/explanations can be verified by
the secondary data collected through on-
site observation, interviews, and
questionnaires.
Due to the source only discussing a political
incident that occurred in India, it can be said
that this source is designed for researchers,
people vastly interested in political news,
citizens of India, and people who may have
been involved in the event whether it be
themselves or their relatives.
 
Furthermore, the source is relevant but not
directly as it does not delve in detail how the
control of information by social media
platforms has negatively impacted society.
Instead, it focuses more on how the spread of
fake news on social media has resulted in
many casualties due to the consequences.
 
There are omissions in the source as there are
no references listed for the information. The
information can be verified as there is contact
information available on the website, in
addition to their board being comprised of
entrepreneurs and diplomats from all over
the world. They also state that they provide
unbiased qualitative analysis on the
information provided.
 RESEARCH SKILLS TASK 3

With direct reference to the sources as evidence, respond to the follow questions:

1) Which source would be most useful and why?

Source 1 was considerably more useful for the topic question as it was written by an Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology and featured data primarily focusing
on how the control of information by social media platforms can be harmful for society. Source 2 and 3 however, had more limitations as both articles strayed away from the research
question, with Source 2 focusing on the impacts of social media and Source 3 mentioning an incident that broke out due to the spread of fake news.

2) Which is the best quality source? Why?

Source 1 was of a higher quality source as it contained more primary data which discussed on the harmful effects of social media and how excessive involvement with the platforms have
resulted in 'social networking addiction'. Thus, Source 1 was of a much higher quality source as the article's qualitative analysis centred around the research question in detail, in addition
to the relevant expert opinion which provided depth upon their statements towards social media platforms.

3) To what extent does source # support source #?

Source 3 and Source 1's arguments support/complement each other with Source 3 elaborating in detail an argument written in Source 1 which talks about how society is rapidly becoming
estranged to face-to-face communication and relationships. Source 1 is supported by Source 3 as Source 3 explains in detail the function of the algorithms governing social media
platforms. Although the information between both sources differs, they come under the same topic of discussing how society has been and will continue to be negatively affected by the
control of information social media has if no actions are taken.

4) If this was your research project, what information would you still need to find to add depth to your research?

The information needed to add depth to the project would be gaining some primary research derived from interviews made up of questions detailing the amount of screen time social
media platforms take up over a course of a week or two. This data will be presented in a graph format and become evidence that proves how companies behind social media platforms
specifically target our interests, resulting in an increase of usage every day. In addition, surveys could also be made with questions ranging from 'do you notice an increase of notifications
from social media apps such as Instagram and Facebook every passing week?' to 'Does your home page become filled with your interests'.

In addition, researching a larger variety of articles under the topic will allow for a wider range of understanding. In which can then be applied to the research project. The explicit details
will differ in each article, thus will grant more knowledge upon the subtopics within the main one, further adding depth to my research. By comparing the secondary and primary sources
gathered/collected, it will increase the reliability and accuracy of the information written.

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