The research study was about emotional contagion in using online social networks such as Facebook. The posts that our friends post on Facebook and our Newsfeed often affects our emotions. The research findings were that individuals who see positive posts from their friends develop positive emotions whereby they were likely to post positive posts on their timeline while those who view negative posts develop negative emotions hence they are liable to post negative posts on Facebook (Adam D. I. Kramer, 2013).
The results of the study demonstrate correlation. This is a correlation because it has made predictions about the likelihood of two variables taking place together. From the research, there is correlation where it is seen that omitting emotional content in Facebook decreased the number of words an individual produced both when positivity and negativity were reduced. Also, correlation is observed in the study when persons who had positive content decreased in their Newsfeed; they tended to post negative words on people’s status, and fewer words were positive. Reduced negativity resulted in more positive words on the posts of individuals on Facebook. Furthermore, the study shows a correlation as it has correctly established the relationship between two variables in which it has demonstrated the connection between the posts that people view in Facebook whether positive or negative and how these posts influence their emotions. It has predicted the behavior of individuals.
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If this research were carried out by psychologists, there would be a major violation of ethics as a consequence of conducting the study. Following the article by the New York Times, Facebook failed to obtain people’s consent in participating in the research (Goel, 2014). Obtaining informed consent during research is vital for psychologists. Facebook carried out the study on individuals by altering their posts and manipulating their feelings without their knowledge and consent. It did not request for explicit permission (American Psychological Association, n.d.).
References
Adam D. I. Kramer, J. E. (2013, October 23). content/111/24/8788.full.pdf . Retrieved from http://www.pnas.org: http://www.pnas.org/content/111/24/8788.full.pdf
American Psychological Association. (n.d.). ethics/code/ . Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/: http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/
Goel, V. (2014, June 29). 2014/06/30/technology/facebook-tinkers-with-users-emotions-in-news-feed-experiment-stirring-outcry.html?_r=0 . Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com: https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/30/technology/facebook-tinkers-with-users-emotions-in-news-feed-experiment-stirring-outcry.html?_r=0
