tandoc et al (2015) study into facebook and depression

Question 1

aim

Answer 1

To see whether Facebook use predicted depression.

Question 2

sample

Answer 2

854 journalism students from US university (68% female)

Question 3

research method

Answer 3

Questionnaire (online survey)

Question 4

procedure

Answer 4

Completed questionnaire:
1. Facebook usage and surveillance
2. Envy Scale
3. Depression symptoms
*Facebook surveillance involves looking
at friends’ status’ but not commenting or
posting own information.

Question 5

findings

Answer 5

Heavy Facebook users = stronger
feelings of envy.
Size of the network of FB friends
not related to envy. FB envy was a
predictor of depression.

Question 6

conclusion

Answer 6

Use of FB- not directly lead to depression. But, FB envy can lead to depression.

Question 7

limitations

Answer 7

Sample culturally biased
(unrepresentative & can’t be generalised)
Self-report: participants could have
lied due to social desirability.