Project 1

📄 Description

This research proposal was designed to examine how social media influences human behavior across distinct age groups. The purpose of this proposal is to understand how different digital media are navigated and how they impact habits, communication styles, and overall emotional well-being of individuals of different age groups.

As a part of the research proposal, we were advised to go through 4 to 5 relevant literature to better identify the research gaps, which helped build a targeted research question and a proposed methodology. Additionally, this research proposal includes structured data collection processes, such as surveys and interviews, which will help better explore behavioral patterns and changes in social interaction triggered by social media usage in the context of Bangladesh.

🔍 Justification

Since the emergence of social media, it has drastically changed how individuals think, interact, and behave; however, its impact varies across age groups. For example, a teenager's self-esteem is influenced differently by a TikTok trend than a social media post influences an older adult’s worldview. Thus, understanding the positive and negative effects of digital media on society is vital for the field of communication studies. As this proposal has been designed specifically to delve into the age group most vulnerable to certain behaviors, it provides a foundation for educators, policymakers, and parents to develop strategies to promote healthier, more productive media consumption.

📊 Key Outcomes

• This project helped me learn the step-by-step process of a research proposal, such as designing a stratified sampling framework, conducting a literature review, and identifying research gaps; additionally, it also helped me better understand patterns of communication across different generations through the use of digital media. Most importantly, this project allowed me to develop a structured academic research proposal from research ideas and the gap between communication theories and real-world behavior, which helped develop my skills in creating a structured research paper.