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Running Head: FACEBOOK AND EFFECTS ON DEVELOPMENT

A study on how Facebook affects the Self Esteem, Cognitive, and Socio emotional
Development of Adolescents
Maria Ysabel Alyana L. Conty
De La Salle University

Abstract

FACEBOOK AND EFFECTS ON DEVELOPMENT

This research study focuses on how Facebook, a social networking site affects the self esteem,
cognitive, and socio emotional development of adolescents aged 15 18 years old. This paper
will examine the study conducted by Van Houtte, B.A and Jarvis, P.A (1996) in University of
Illinois on grade school students (grade 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9). The researchers conducted a part of
Van Houtte and Jarvis study, specifically testing autonomy, in the Philippine setting. The
research study included a total of 30 participants from St. Scholasticas college, an exclusive
school for girls. These 30 participants range from 10-12 years old and are grade five students of
the said institution. This paper shows the difference of the autonomy development of children
having pets and not having pets in the Philippines. The study used Silverberg and Steinberg
(1986) autonomy scale to measure the autonomy level of the two groups: pet owners and non
pet owners.
Keywords: social networking sites, Facebook, cognitive development, socio emotional
development, self esteem

FACEBOOK AND EFFECTS ON DEVELOPMENT

A study between pet-owners and non-pet owners, and


How pets affect autonomy
Many of the people nowadays consider pets as their family. These pets give people
advantages, like being the escape-goat and/or saviours on circumstances. According to
Endenburg, N. & Van Lith, H.A. (2010), the influence of animals in child development is greatly
beneficial, especially for children who experienced psychological problems. These animals are
able to help children recover with such situations, and pets are able to become best buddies with
these children.
Experts believe that animals are curing agents that help people with disabilities. These
animals are called Assistance Animals. These animals are trained to nurse people with
disabilities and deficiencies in their daily activities. Being an assistance animal, it is very known
for them to help cure stress, and other psychological problems. These animals are agents in
making them live through their lives.
Review of Related Literature
A study conducted in University of Illinois, by Van Houtte, B.A & Jarvis, P.A. (1996),
was the guide of the researchers to conduct the study in the Philippines. Roles of pets on preadolescents psychosocial development was the main literature where the researchers based
their study. In this research, Van Houtte, B.A. & Jarvis, P.A., had 130 participants wherein they
were able to implement the study. Their study included Autonomy Development, Self- Concept,
and Self-Esteem. These three aspects were tested using different instruments. It was concluded
that having pets, in USA help children build Self-Concept and Self-Esteem during the pre-

FACEBOOK AND EFFECTS ON DEVELOPMENT

adolescent stages (grades five through six). Autonomous characteristics, on the other hand was
said to be built during their early childhood years. Van Houtte, B.A. & Jarvis, P.A., used the
instrument produced by Silverberg and Steinberg (1986), to measure the autonomy of these early
graders. This instrument was called the autonomy scale and was produced in the study
conducted by Silverberg and Steinberg in 1986.
The research produced by Silverberg and Steinberg in 1986 was entitled The
Vicissitudes of Autonomy in Early Adolescence. This research study was conducted in the
University of Wisconsin Madison. Silverberg, S. B., & Steinberg, L., had a sample of 865
students (almost half of the citys population), where they made these children answer a 20- item
test to measure the autonomy of children. These childrens age, ranges from ten to sixteen years
old. This is believed to be the early adolescent stage. The conducted research by Silverberg and
Steinberg was able to prove that the test used was efficient and effective on measuring the
autonomy of pre-adolescent stages. This has helped many researches to be valid, since the tool
was assessed using Cronbachs alpha and computed how valid these results were to measure
autonomy.
Influences of animals in the emotional, cognitive, and physical aspects of human
development are integral. These animals help people become more active and social to help
people efficient, effective and productive. Emotional development of people with disabilities and
deficiencies are positively changed with the help of pets/ animals. These animals influence their
social skills and physical skills on being active agents towards society.
With these results, the researchers wanted to conduct the study in the Philippines in a
simpler way. The researchers focused on Autonomy Development of grade five students, and
only female participants were involved in the study.

FACEBOOK AND EFFECTS ON DEVELOPMENT

Conceptual Framework

Figure 1.0 Independent Variables affecting Dependent Variable


The diagram above explains how the independent variables will affect autonomy
development. The researchers focused on students who have pets an student who does not have
pets. This research believes that this two groups, either one is a non-pet owner, or a pet-owner,
would affect the autonomy development of the student. The conceptual framework consists of
how the different variables correlate with each other, which will give the researchers the view of
how each group will affect the dependent variable. This figure shows that there is only one
Independent variable, with two levels. These two levels are the, Level 1: Pet owners and Level 2:
Non-pet owners. This diagram shows that those levels will affect the dependent variable which is
the Autonomy Devlopment.

FACEBOOK AND EFFECTS ON DEVELOPMENT

Research Questions
The research study would only want to answer a general question. There are no sub sequent
questions; because it is believed that the general question will be the main focus of the
researchers. The general question is:

Is there a significant difference between the autonomy of girls ages 10-12 who are pet-owners
and who are non-pet owners?
Hypothesis
With this research question, the researchers believed on two hypotheses. These
hypotheses are the following:
Ho: There is no significant difference between the autonomy of girls ages 10-12 who are petowners and who are non-pet owners.
Ha: There is a significant difference between the autonomy of girls ages 10-12 who are petowners and who are non-pet owners.
Ho, is the null hypothesis that will accept the insignificant difference of pet-owners and
non-pet owners. Ha, on the other hand will prove that there is a significant difference between
the autonomy developments of the two groups.
In this way, it is believed that one of the hypotheses may be proven wrong. This will
make or break the research study conducted in the Philippines.
Significance of the Study

FACEBOOK AND EFFECTS ON DEVELOPMENT

Autonomy Development is an integral part in building a childs character. This will help
them build their social development which is one of the needed aspects of child development. In
this study, the researchers believe that this will help the public to implement programs in schools
to include school pets to help build childrens autonomy and be able to enhance their social
skills.
Method
Design
The researchers used a post-test design non-equivalent value. It is considered as nonequivalent, since the test sampling was not randomized, since the administration of St.
Scholasticas College, which is the school of the participants, was the one who chose what
sections of the grade five levels will be used for the sampling.
Sampling Design and Participants
In choosing the participants for this study, the researchers decided for all participants to
be female and to be only in a range of 10-12 years old. The researchers chose St. Scholasticas
College-Manila to be part of the research since it is an exclusive school for girls. Also, since the
research was conducted late March, it was too late for the researchers to conduct the study with
the other schools. The researchers found out that St. Scholasticas College-Manilas Elementary
level has a Trimestral schedule and was available.
The school allowed the researchers for 3 sections of their Grade 5 class, which consisted
of 10-12 year old female students, to be part of the study. However, the researchers do not know
the population of the entire 3 sections since the researchers distributed 60 copies of the survey
form only. The researchers planned to gather data from 30 pet-owners, and 30 non-pet owners,
but when the results came out there were 42 pet-owners and 18 non-owners, which is why the

FACEBOOK AND EFFECTS ON DEVELOPMENT

researchers decided to reduce the participants into 30, with 15 pet-owners and 15 non-pet
owners.
In choosing the 30 participants from the 60 students, the researchers separated the petowners from the non-pet owners. The researchers then conducted a random sampling technique,
specifically draw lots, choosing 15 female students from each group.
Instruments
The study contained a 20-item survey which was used from previous studies made by
Silverberg and Steinberg in 1986. This 20-item survey consisted of questions testing and
measuring autonomy development. The battery test was called autonomy scale, where students
are asked to answer these 20-item questionnaire with a 4 point likert scale (Strongly Agree = 4
and Strongly Disagree = 1). This will help the researchers identify whether students are able to
build their autonomy with the help of their pets.
Consisting of 20 items, the students are asked to answer the survey in 10-15 minutes.
With this battery test, they are rated according to how much the students were able to build their
autonomy, with and without pets.
After using the autonomy scale, the researchers used the Mann Whitney U test, which
consisted of finding the U, the mean ranks and the raw data of the study. This will help determine
how significant the differences of both groups are with the results that will be gained from these
studies.
Procedure
The researchers were assigned to 3 sections, namely St. Ehrentrudis, St. Lioba, and St.
Frideswida . All of the sections answered the survey all at the same time with one researcher for
each classroom to guide them. The researchers first gave out the survey, and then explained the

FACEBOOK AND EFFECTS ON DEVELOPMENT

instructions. The instructions included the shading of the circle about them being pet-owners and
non-pet owners, and putting a check on the number which would describe their relationship with
their parents. The participants were given the assurance that their information will be kept
confidential and will only be used for the purpose of the study. The students were given 10-15
minutes to answer the survey to avoid class disruption. After the participants were done
answering the survey, the researchers gave their gratitude and left the classes.
The researchers were able to collect 60 participants (42 pet- owners and 18 non- pet
owners). Rather than using all the participants, the researchers broke it down to 30 participants
(15 pet owners and 15 non pet owners). Each of the participant was tallied among their
answers and tabulated the results for easy computations with the use of the data analysis
provided (Mann Whitney U test).
Data Analysis
This study made use of the Mann Whitney U test to interpret the data gathered from the 4
point Likert Scale survey that the students were asked to answer to measure their Autonomy. In
solving for the U, the researchers first acquired the sum of the answers for each item of each
participant, separating the 15 pet-owners from the 15 non-pet owners. The researchers then made
use of a website (http://faculty.vassar.edu/lowry/utest.html) which automatically solves for the U,
Mean, and P, upon giving the value of N1 and N2 and the sum of the scores of each student from the 2
groups.

FACEBOOK AND EFFECTS ON DEVELOPMENT

U, p-level and Group1 and 2


(Statistica 8)

Standard Deviation of Pet Owners


(http://www.calculator.net/standard-deviation-calculator.html)

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FACEBOOK AND EFFECTS ON DEVELOPMENT

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Standard Deviation of Non-Pet owners


(http://www.calculator.net/standard-deviation-calculator.html)
Results
To use the Mann Whitney U test, the researchers needed to find U. The researchers
were able to compute U, which was equivalent to U=73.5. With this, the researchers used the
results and found out the Critical Value (n1=15, n2=15). The critical value for this number of
samples was: 64. Since 73.5 is greater than 64, the researchers accepted the Null Hypothesis,
therefore, there is no significant difference between the autonomy of girls ages 10-12 who are pet
owners and who are non-pet owners.
Discussion

FACEBOOK AND EFFECTS ON DEVELOPMENT

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In comparison to our reference study in knowing the level of autonomy of adolescents,


we believe that theres a difference when it comes to where the study was conducted.
The culture of the participants where they were brought up affected the change of the results of
autonomy level of female students. As what the researchers have in the Review of Related
Literature, the study was conducted in the West, in this study, the researchers conducted the study
in the East. This shows the reason why the results changed as well.

Appendices
Name (Optional):_______________________________________
Section:_______________________________________
Age:________
I.

Shade the answers that apply to you.

1. Do you have a pet? (If yes, proceed to question number 2, if no proceed to question number 3.)
o Yes
o No
2. If yes, how many years were you with your pet?
o 1-3 years
o 3-5 years
o 6 years and above
3. If no, did you have a pet in the past? (If yes, proceed to question number 4, if no proceed to the table)
o Yes
o No
4. How many years were you with your pet?
o 1-3 years
o 3-5 years
o 6 years and above
II.

Put a check mark on your chosen answer.


Questions

1.My parents and I agree on


everything
2. I go to my parents for help
before trying to solve a problem
myself.
3.I have often wondered how

Strongly Agree
4

Agree
3

Disagree
2

Strongly Disagree
1

FACEBOOK AND EFFECTS ON DEVELOPMENT


my parents act when Im not
around.
4.Even when my parents and I
disagree, my parents are always
right.
5. Its better for kids to go to
their best friend than to their
parents for advice on some
things.
6. When Ive done something
wrong I depend on my parents
to straighten things out for me.
7. There are some things about
me that my parents dont know.
8. My parents act differently
when they are with their own
parents from the way they do at
home.
9. My parents know everything
there is to know about me.
10. I might be surprised to see
how my parents act at a party.
11. I try to have the same
opinions as my parents.
12. When they are at work, my
parents at pretty much the same
way they do when they are at
home.
13. If I was having a problem
with one of my friends, I would
discuss it with my mother or
father before deciding what to
do about it.
14. My parents would be
surprised to know what Im like
when Im not with them.
15. When I become a parent,
Im going to treat my children in
exactly the same way that my
parents have treated me.
16. My parents probably talk
about different things when I am
around from what they talk
about when Im not.
17. There are things that I will
do differently from my mother
and father when I become a
parent.
18. My parents hardly ever
make mistakes.
19. I wish my parents would

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FACEBOOK AND EFFECTS ON DEVELOPMENT


understand who I really am.
20. My parents act pretty much
the same way when they are
with their friends as they do
when they are at home with me.

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