The Impacts of the Internet in the Field of Politics - Literature review Example

Introduction There have been heated discussions on the impacts of the internet in the field of politics and how the use of the internet has shaped the political turns around the globe. The creation of political awareness has been achieved with the internet as the access of information is on the increase. The information accessed is expected to stir varied reactions from the public. The information could generate enthusiasm among the audience, or it could develop indifference among others. These reactions are thus transferred in variant ways to the general reception and reaction towards the political situation in the nations in question. Therefore, this paper is an examination of the utility of the social media tools and their impacts on the political and socio-economic development of a community. The paper undertakes the examination through critical analysis of two selected articles. John Curtice and Pippa Norris’ (2007) article, “Getting the Message Out: A Two-Step Model of the Role of the Internet in Campaign Communication Flows During the 2005 British General Election” in which the internet is seen as playing certain roles in general elections in The Great Britain British in the year 2005 is the first article subjected to scrutiny. The article introduces its argument through undertaking a critical analysis on the role played by the social media networks in the elections. The paper also uses the article by Sara Vissers and Ellen Quintelier (2008)“The Effect of Internet Use on Political Participation: An Analysis of Survey Results for 16-Year-Olds in Belgium” to determine the effects of use of the internet on participation in political activities. This article is an in depth analysis of the survey question results that specifically targets sixteen year old Belgians. The article undertakes a study on the role played by social networking in political participation of the society members. The article specifically responds to the forms and impacts of the social media employed by the adolescents in Belgium. Sara Vissers and Ellen Quintelier’s (2008) article clearly uses interpretive paradigm to undertake its examination of the impacts of social media on the participation of adolescents in political activities of a society. In contrast, John and Pippa (2007) article rather utilizes the positivist paradigm in an attempt to bring to the fore the understanding of the impacts of utilization of the social media resources on the 2005 general election in British. Further, the method applied in the articles are diverse and varied thus there is enrichment in the issues raised for analysis. Hoverer, it is noteworthy to identify the descriptive approach that has been employed by both writers in the articles. The articles further are identified as discussing on communication related topics and are generally driven by the need for answers to their research questions. As Sara Vissers and Ellen (2008) are discussing on the role of social media in adolescent political mobilization, John, and Pippa (2007) work is an elaboration on the impacts of the adoption and use of social networking sites in the British political context. Thus, both papers have studied the impacts of communication tools. The ease of analysis of the articles is a major contributor to their selection for this paper. Vissers and Ellen and, John and Pippa have developed articles that have been of academic relevance. They are declared property of the writers, with the academic institutions to which they were submitted as completed research studies identified. The literature and arguments in the articles are adequately supported with effective evidence with clear educational text formatting styles. Questions Vissers and Ellen Quintelier’s (2008) article is an attempt to provide answers to the question on the role that social media has played in the Belgian political mobilisation. The article also seeks to find out the reason for the preference of social media as the most effective platform to carry out political mobilisation. The article seeks to shed light on the increased uptake of social media as a tool for political mobilisation in various countries, with special interest given to Belgium’s adolescent population, which has been using different tools for political mobilization when faced with such political need. On the other hand, John and Pippa Norris (2007) seek answers to the contribution of social networking to the overall campaign communication with regard to the British general election in 2005. Two assumptions can be deduced from the articles; there is massive influence by social media to the acts of political mobilization and, there is positive contribution by social media to political party communication in Britain. Paradigms Positivist paradigm John and Pippa (2007) choose on the positivist paradigm. Here, analysis of the topic in question is key. The social reality of the use of social media in politics is not in any way dependent on the observer. In addition, the positivist paradigm used gears towards finding out the relationship between social media and political advancements in their respective areas in the case study. The two articles embrace one characteristic-generalisation. In both articles it is generalised that use of the social media in politics has positive impact. They thus necessarily do an in-depth analysis of the utilization of the resources afforded by the social media tools within the British context and the contribution of the utilization. In the article, philosophical ideas are presented, and the skill of observation made against the logical justification for such observation is made. Determinism is evident through which an event is understood to be influenced by other factors, as campaign communication in The Great Britain observed to be affected by the internet. It is for this reason that a correlation is sought between these variables. Empiricism is further used to justify the positivism approach in order to verify the hypothesis of positive impact of internet on political campaign communication. Interpretive paradigm Vissers and Ellen Quintelier’s (2008) approach is rather variant. In their article, they have elaborated the cause and effect process under which the political mobilization alongside communication becomes a need in the British context. The authors effectively elaborate what social media is and the realization of social networking in the country. They then specify the social media tools that are significant in the political communication and subsequent mobilization processes, and the reasons behind the selection of specific tools of social media and the reason for ignoring others. This amounts to the interpretive paradigm. Here, it is understood that the selection of the social media tool does not rely on the overall subjective reason, rather, every individual selects a desired social media tool based on his or her ideological considerations of the properties of the tool. This clearly forms a connection to the anti-positivism research paradigm, in which the constructs imply that the underlying forces behind the mobilization of youth in political participation are given impetus by the complex and multi-layered individual ideology. However, it is worth noting that there seems to be a superfluous relation of paradigm adoption by both articles. This is confirmed through the features of a positivism approach in the articles. Both articles use survey approaches in data collection, with quantitative analysis evident in both articles. Methodologies Pippa Norris has used a quantitative research design. With the need to survey and draw conclusions with regard to the uptake and impacts of social media in Britain, a quantitative approach is most effective. This methodological methodology decision is defined by the research aims and objectives specified in the study, and the context within which the research was carried out. However, Vissers and Ellen Quintelier (2008) take up the qualitative approach in carrying out the study. The approach demanded that they select a region for the study. Using the data obtained from this approach, the author was in a position to defend the adolescents’ behaviour patterns observed in Belgium during the political uprising. Methods Vissers and Ellen Quintelier have used different methods in their study. Just like in most research study data collection methods, these authors use both primary and secondary data sources. They also choose on the sampling method for collection of data. Their selected sample involves 6,330 sixteen year old adolescents in Belgium. Questionnaires were a major data collection method. The analysis of the political actions was duly undertaken with regard to the ten political acts that the sample population was to identify with while giving responses to question elements. They use the survey results to determine the manner in which social media has been utilized by the public to justify their claims of political mobilization in the country. Interviews could give first-hand information regarding the uprising. The manner in which Twitter and Facebook were used to mobilise the masses is captured. This information was then analysed with intent to draw informed conclusions with regard to the use of social media in the political communication in Britain. John and Pippa (2007) choose upon the interviews as an effective mode of data collection, and it was designed to incorporate a computer-aided face-to-face interface, in which a sample of 4,268 people positively responded, and a greater likelihood for selection of individuals living within smaller households being preferred for the interviews. The article greatly relies on the survey questions whose responses helped gather empirical evidence with regard to the manner in which people in The Great Britain used various information sources to communicate about the general election. An annual survey was designed with consideration of a sample representing adult participation. The criteria for sampling selected upon entailed an individual, household, and post-code sector multistage design. Questionnaires were equally used, in which the respondents were expected to respond to the questions on an individual basis. The survey had 4 different versions, with data obtainable taking account of both the rates of differential response and differential selection probability. In line with the quantitative methodology, statistical techniques of data analysis are an effective means of generating information. The data collected is thus analysed and organized effectively into comprehensible statistical facts. However, secondary sources of information gave theoretical understanding of the impacts of social networking to the communication of party information. Journals, periodicals, and articles written on impacts of social media were used for data collection. Effective methods of data collection have thus been linked to the success in achievement of the articles’ research objectives. Conclusion In conclusion, it is evident that research studies seeking divergent information are most likely to use different research approaches in methodology and method. This is the case between articles one by Vissers and Ellen and, John and Pippa. Whereas John and Pippa apply the quantitative methodology to carry out the study, Vissers and Ellen prefer the qualitative research methodology, although instances of a mixed research approach can be detected. However, their set objectives are behind the selection of the different approaches. These variant methodologies subsequently give rise to different methods used in the collection and analysis of data. Although there is a variation in the methodology and methods applied in the two articles, there is a point of convergence in the issued dealt with. Both authors are seeking to determine the impacts of the application of social networks on the current society. Whereas Vissers and Ellen (2008) seek to find out how the use of social media has influenced the uptake and propulsion of political mobilization of the masses in Belgium, John and Pippa Norris (2007) are interested in unravelling the role of social media in communication of political information. It therefore is vital for one to have an in-depth understanding of any articles in they are to successfully undertake an analysis of its paradigm selection in terms of methodology and methods. This can only be achieves through critical study of the set objectives of the article in addition to its research questions and literature. References Ellen, Q., & Sara, V. (November 01, 2008). The Effect of Internet Use on Political Participation : An Analysis of Survey Results for 16-Year-Olds in Belgium. Social Science Computer Review, 26, 4, 411-427. Norris, P., &Curtice, J. (January 01, 2007). Getting the Message Out: A Two-Step Model of the Role of the Internet in Campaign Communication Flows During the 2005 British General Election.Journal of Information Technology & Politics, 4, 4, 3-13. Read More

Further, the method applied in the articles are diverse and varied thus there is enrichment in the issues raised for analysis. Hoverer, it is noteworthy to identify the descriptive approach that has been employed by both writers in the articles. The articles further are identified as discussing on communication related topics and are generally driven by the need for answers to their research questions. As Sara Vissers and Ellen (2008) are discussing on the role of social media in adolescent political mobilization, John, and Pippa (2007) work is an elaboration on the impacts of the adoption and use of social networking sites in the British political context.

Thus, both papers have studied the impacts of communication tools. The ease of analysis of the articles is a major contributor to their selection for this paper. Vissers and Ellen and, John and Pippa have developed articles that have been of academic relevance. They are declared property of the writers, with the academic institutions to which they were submitted as completed research studies identified. The literature and arguments in the articles are adequately supported with effective evidence with clear educational text formatting styles.

Questions Vissers and Ellen Quintelier’s (2008) article is an attempt to provide answers to the question on the role that social media has played in the Belgian political mobilisation. The article also seeks to find out the reason for the preference of social media as the most effective platform to carry out political mobilisation. The article seeks to shed light on the increased uptake of social media as a tool for political mobilisation in various countries, with special interest given to Belgium’s adolescent population, which has been using different tools for political mobilization when faced with such political need.

On the other hand, John and Pippa Norris (2007) seek answers to the contribution of social networking to the overall campaign communication with regard to the British general election in 2005. Two assumptions can be deduced from the articles; there is massive influence by social media to the acts of political mobilization and, there is positive contribution by social media to political party communication in Britain. Paradigms Positivist paradigm John and Pippa (2007) choose on the positivist paradigm.

Here, analysis of the topic in question is key. The social reality of the use of social media in politics is not in any way dependent on the observer. In addition, the positivist paradigm used gears towards finding out the relationship between social media and political advancements in their respective areas in the case study. The two articles embrace one characteristic-generalisation. In both articles it is generalised that use of the social media in politics has positive impact. They thus necessarily do an in-depth analysis of the utilization of the resources afforded by the social media tools within the British context and the contribution of the utilization.

In the article, philosophical ideas are presented, and the skill of observation made against the logical justification for such observation is made. Determinism is evident through which an event is understood to be influenced by other factors, as campaign communication in The Great Britain observed to be affected by the internet. It is for this reason that a correlation is sought between these variables. Empiricism is further used to justify the positivism approach in order to verify the hypothesis of positive impact of internet on political campaign communication.

Interpretive paradigm Vissers and Ellen Quintelier’s (2008) approach is rather variant. In their article, they have elaborated the cause and effect process under which the political mobilization alongside communication becomes a need in the British context. The authors effectively elaborate what social media is and the realization of social networking in the country. They then specify the social media tools that are significant in the political communication and subsequent mobilization processes, and the reasons behind the selection of specific tools of social media and the reason for ignoring others.

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