Methodology
FOR OUR FIELDWORK, WE collected data to determine if the use of social media increases Singaporeans' knowledge of events happening in countries apart from Singapore faster than as compared to local newspapers from the perspective of the public.
We utilized two platforms to collect this data: a survey sent out to the public and the school, and a survey conducted in a public area.
The survey that was conducted in a public area was conducted at Botanical Gardens MRT on 16 July 2015 from 2pm to 6pm. We managed to approach members of the public between 13 to 50 years old to seek their opinion on this topic. This enabled us to receive a variety of opinions and also primary and first hand data on how Singaporeans felt about the topic. During this time, we received 24 responses from the members of the public.
For the survey that was sent out to the public and the school, we used the same survey questions as the survey conducted in the public area. This was in order for us to have a larger sample size, which broadens the range of possible data and forms a better picture for analysis, allowing us to have increased precision in our data. The survey was sent out on the 3rd August 2015 and we received 122 responses.
In both instances, we asked the following survey questions:
The questions were tailored to answer our research question and hypothesis as the public's perspective would provide us with the necessary data to answer whether Singaporeans really felt that social media increases their knowledge of events happening in countries apart from Singapore faster than as compared to local newspapers or not. We also did our best to include responses from a variety of age groups in order to understand the general view of Singaporeans on social media.
We utilized two platforms to collect this data: a survey sent out to the public and the school, and a survey conducted in a public area.
The survey that was conducted in a public area was conducted at Botanical Gardens MRT on 16 July 2015 from 2pm to 6pm. We managed to approach members of the public between 13 to 50 years old to seek their opinion on this topic. This enabled us to receive a variety of opinions and also primary and first hand data on how Singaporeans felt about the topic. During this time, we received 24 responses from the members of the public.
For the survey that was sent out to the public and the school, we used the same survey questions as the survey conducted in the public area. This was in order for us to have a larger sample size, which broadens the range of possible data and forms a better picture for analysis, allowing us to have increased precision in our data. The survey was sent out on the 3rd August 2015 and we received 122 responses.
In both instances, we asked the following survey questions:
- What types of social media platforms do you use?
- How often do you use social media?
- Which social media platform do you consider to be a source of news for events around the world?
- How often do you read about events in other countries on social media?
- How often do you read newspapers?
- Are you more likely to view social media as a platform that provides news as compared to local newspapers?
- On a scale of 1-10, how much of the news you read comes from social media? (1 being none and 10 being everything.)
The questions were tailored to answer our research question and hypothesis as the public's perspective would provide us with the necessary data to answer whether Singaporeans really felt that social media increases their knowledge of events happening in countries apart from Singapore faster than as compared to local newspapers or not. We also did our best to include responses from a variety of age groups in order to understand the general view of Singaporeans on social media.
Map of Botanic Gardens MRT Station, Singapore