Social Psychology Dilemma of ‘Real World’ Vs ‘Virtual World’ Assignment

Lay Summary

The aim of this study is to examine how use of technology, in our complex world, especially COVID-19 and beyond, such as social networking and gaming sites, applications, and technology, etc., have influenced people’s behaviour in society. The hypothesis suggests that people have been influenced to act out their intentions for social validation, which increases their level of existence from the virtual world to the real world. These actions can be either positive or negative. This study aims to evaluate how social networking sites/apps have influenced persons’ behaviour in society that is either an act of positive and/or negative actions. It is hypothesised that a person has been influenced to act out their implemented intentions because they want social validation to increase their level of existence from the ‘virtual world’ to the ‘real world.’ This project would engage a systematic literature review (literature sourced from databases produced by commercial publishers and grey literature) and also rely on existing audio and visual web data (including video clips, movies, pictures, etc.) and will also make contacts with organisations/associations willing to share such data sets so the data could be used to predict actions that would be considered normal, positive or negative (e.g. criminal behaviour or terrorism) behaviours linked to virtual world interactions. The research will also use a large survey and multiple focussed workshops to evaluate these behaviours further. The results from this research will identify positive and negative behaviours linked to such use. Data will also be evaluated to identify early predictions of a person’s action before they are implemented and as a way of early surveillance to prevent behaviours of concerns that could lead to criminal acts. 

The general aim of this study is to identify behaviours in general, and behaviours of concerns linked to the virtual world and also compared to the real world, which is a result of social validation that influences and persuades a person’s behaviour in acting in a positive or negative manner.

Specific Aims & Objectives

To evaluate and understand behaviours linked to social validation in virtual world and real world by:

1. Conducting a systematic review of literature.

2. Conducting survey-based data collection.

3. Conducting focussed workshops to understand internet user related behaviours.

4. Evaluating the data to identify what leads to problems of interactions & engagement in internet activities that are either negative or positive, and any potential abuse and solutions to behaviours of concerns.

Research Methodology

1. Ethics:

Relevant human ethics applications will be applied for as required. To assist researchers, the ethical principles set out within the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research will also be utilised and referenced.

2. Survey section:

Create online surveys, using Qualtrics (www.qualtrics.com), based on factors identified from the literature review. This section will obtain data from the ‘world at large’ confined to adults (18 years or older) who use internet sites and apps. Sample response in excess of n=2000+ is estimated. Using online survey platforms can allow reaching out to a wide range of users which will make the research applicable to a worldwide audience thus increasing the validity of the research.

3. Workshop section:

Design and conduct around 20 focussed group (n=10 each) workshops to identify factors contributing to the research question and solutions proposed. Multiple focus group allows for varied sample of the population to be captured and this also increases the validity of the response to the research-related questions.

4. Analysis:

Data will undergo descriptive analysis to identify behavioural factors in the real world versus virtual world, therefore allowing for the identification of any types of trends and relationships in behavioural factors in the real world and virtual world.

Research question:

How do behaviours associated with social validation from the real-world influence and persuade a person’s behaviour in a positive and/or negative manner in virtual world; and vice versa?