THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES ON HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS’ SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT
by
June Ahn
A Dissertation Presented to the
FACULTY OF THE USC GRADUATE SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
(EDUCATION)
August 2010
Copyright 2010
June Ahn
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Acknowledgements
This dissertation could not have been possible without the generosity of numerous
individuals. I am forever indebted and grateful for all the support I’ve received
throughout this past year. I particularly want to thank:
My wife Emy, for your unconditional love and support.
My advisor Dr. Dominic J. Brewer, for your steady guidance in all things.
My friend Paul Pasaba, whose software and technical assistance made this dissertation a
reality.
My committee Dr. Guilbert Hentschke, Dr. Janet Fulk, Dr. Richard Clark, and Dr. David
Dwyer for your invaluable mentorship.
Andrew McEachin, Dr. Richard Brown, and Dr. Kathy Stowe for offering a timely
helping hand at various stages of this ambitious project.
And finally I thank all of the superintendants, high school principals, and teachers who
welcomed me into their classrooms and participated in this research project.
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Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
ii
List of Tables
iv
Abstract
v
Chapter 1: Introduction
1
Chapter 2: The Effect of Social Network Sites on Adolescents’ Social
and Academic Development – Contemporary Issues and Research
Figure 2.1: Average Number of One’s Active Network
7
35
Chapter 3: Digital Divide and Social Network Sites – Which Students
Participate in Social Media?
60
Chapter 4: The Effect of Social Network Sites on High School Students
– A Cluster-Randomized Trial
85
Chapter 5: Future Directions for Research on Social Network Sites
121
Bibliography
127
Appendix A
139
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List of Tables...