The Methodology Behind Representing Self: The Role of Instagram in Identity Formation
School Name
Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
Grade Level
12th Grade
Presentation Topic
Psychology and Sociology
Presentation Type
Mentored
Oral Presentation Award
1st Place
Abstract
Visual studies research is a type of qualitative research methods that analyzes cultural imagery to generate meaning. Culture can be analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. While quantitative methods prove more effective over large samples, the data collected are neither as detailed nor as rich as data collected from qualitative methods. Phenomenology, heuristic inquiry, autoethnography, grounded theory, ethnomethodology, and semiotics are all qualitative research methods that can be useful in visual studies research. For the purposes of this study, I drew from the first four methods listed to understand the use and meaning of images for the participants in this study. I want to know the specifics of association: how are the subjects reacting, what posts are they double-tapping—more than the typology of the post, but the unique contents of each and every post. The aims of phenomenology are to gain meaning and understanding from every day, lived phenomena. Subjects in this group have an experience, and researchers try to understand what that experience means for that group. Heuristic inquiry is phenomenology with first-hand intense experience of phenomena by the researcher. Ethnography is the study of culture, while autoethnography is the study of one’s own culture, drawing from one’s own lived knowledge and the lived knowledge of others within that culture. Finally, grounded theory is a method of developing methodology for deriving theory (Patton, 2002). Through qualitative research, this study developed a method for determining the relationship between the users’ double-tap on Instagram and the representation of self.
Recommended Citation
Clark, Bailey, "The Methodology Behind Representing Self: The Role of Instagram in Identity Formation" (2018). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 98.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2018/all/98
Location
Neville 305
Start Date
4-14-2018 9:45 AM
Presentation Format
Oral and Written
The Methodology Behind Representing Self: The Role of Instagram in Identity Formation
Neville 305
Visual studies research is a type of qualitative research methods that analyzes cultural imagery to generate meaning. Culture can be analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. While quantitative methods prove more effective over large samples, the data collected are neither as detailed nor as rich as data collected from qualitative methods. Phenomenology, heuristic inquiry, autoethnography, grounded theory, ethnomethodology, and semiotics are all qualitative research methods that can be useful in visual studies research. For the purposes of this study, I drew from the first four methods listed to understand the use and meaning of images for the participants in this study. I want to know the specifics of association: how are the subjects reacting, what posts are they double-tapping—more than the typology of the post, but the unique contents of each and every post. The aims of phenomenology are to gain meaning and understanding from every day, lived phenomena. Subjects in this group have an experience, and researchers try to understand what that experience means for that group. Heuristic inquiry is phenomenology with first-hand intense experience of phenomena by the researcher. Ethnography is the study of culture, while autoethnography is the study of one’s own culture, drawing from one’s own lived knowledge and the lived knowledge of others within that culture. Finally, grounded theory is a method of developing methodology for deriving theory (Patton, 2002). Through qualitative research, this study developed a method for determining the relationship between the users’ double-tap on Instagram and the representation of self.
