Saint John’s School

Social Studies Department

Name: Gabriel Escalante-Vega Date:10/03/2023_

Mr. Pedro De Jesús Introduction to Sociology

Topic: Summative Assessment - "The Impact of Social Media on Teenagers' Mental Health

Background:

You are a high school student conducting a sociological research project for your school's social
science fair. You've noticed that many of your classmates spend a significant amount of time on
social media platforms and wonder if it affects their mental well-being. Your research aims to
understand the relationship between social media usage and mental health among teenagers.

Case Study Scenario:

You attend a diverse high school with students from various backgrounds and interests. Social
media plays a prominent role in the lives of your peers, and you've observed both positive and
negative effects, such as increased connectivity but also potential stress and anxiety.

Research Objectives:

1. To investigate how the time spent on social media affects the mental health of teenagers.

2. To explore the types of content (e.g., social comparison, cyberbullying) that may impact
teenagers' mental well-being on social media.

3. To assess whether there are differences in the experiences of teenagers from diverse
backgrounds (e.g., gender, socioeconomic status).
Case Study Tasks:

1. Qualitative Research (5 points): Describe how you could use qualitative research methods to
interview your high school peers about their experiences with social media and its effects on
their mental health. Provide sample interview questions.

Using qualitative research methods like interviews can provide in-depth insights into the
experiences and perceptions of individuals regarding social media and its impact on mental
health. Interviews can also help in understanding thoughts, emotions, and behaviors related to the
social media use of the individual.

● Can you tell me about your social media usage like which platforms you use most and
how much time you spend on them daily?

● Can you share a specific experience where social media had a significant impact on your
emotions or mental well-being?

● How do you think social media affects your self-esteem and body image?

2. Quantitative Research (5 points): Explain how you could design a survey to collect
quantitative data on the time students spend on social media, their mental health status, and their
perceptions of social media's impact. Develop a hypothesis related to this analysis.

Begin the survey with an introduction explaining the purpose of the research, promising
confidentiality, and obtaining informed consent from participants. Collect basic demographic
details such as age, gender, grade, and frequency of social media use. Then collect data about
their perceptions of social media and their social media usage and how it has impacted their
social skills and mental wellbeing.

● Hypothesis: There is a significant relationship between the time students spend on social
media and their mental health status, as well as their perceptions of social media's impact.