Theme 3: Research & Theory

New Media & Society is an international journal with impact factor 2.007. The journal publishes researches within communication, media and cultural studies. The first issue was published in April 1999, and I have selected a research paper from the current issue - October 2015.

The article “Internet, children and space: Revisiting generational attributes and boundaries.”  are focusing on children as subjects and actors on the internet. New information and communication technologies are blurring out the differences in “private” and “public”, “real” and “virtual” spaces. By giving voice to children the research aim to understand how internet usage by children are affecting their experience of space “in” and “out” of the private borders they call home. The article are bringing up what differences there are in childhood depending on time and place, cultural aspects etc.  How children have access to internet through different devices and are competent informants to their activities online and offline. The research which is based on children from Portugal is divided into 4 topics, their time spent online, their favorite sites and activities, their communication and social networking practices.

All theory that are brought up are relevant and necessary and shows that the study is up to date and there is an interesting topic. In the theory and introduction the authors brings up how the navigation online in the virtual space crosses the private and offline boundaries that exists in a home. The method the authors have been used is semi structured interviews with the same amount of girls and boys in different ages between 8-17, located in three different cities, in both private and public schools. The representations are broad and evenly distributed, and therefore considered reliable. A quantitative summary from the interviews are easily accessed through a table, otherwise quotes from different children with belonging explanations are running through the text.  

QUESTIONS:
1. Briefly explain to a first year university student what theory is, and what theory is not.

Sutton and Stew are bringing up a lot examples of what theory is not. According to them, references, data, lists of variable or constructs, and diagram are not theory. Then what is theory? As they describe it, theory is “the answer to queries of why”. I believe theory is the part of your research that makes your finding meaningful. It describes what and why the observation has been made and sometimes also a prediction of what may be.

2. Describe the major theory or theories that are used in your selected paper. Which theory type (see Table 2 in Gregor) can the theory or theories be characterized as?

The major theories is about childhood, how it may differ based on different aspects. How parents control or not controlling the children's usage of internet. It also brings up children's experiences on internet usage through different platforms. All theory is based on a bunch of other researches. I would say that all the theory is explanations on what is, how come and why, and therefore matches with Gregor's theory type 2, Explanation.

3.Which are the benefits and limitations of using the selected theory or theories?

The benefit of using Gregor’s theory type 2, is that you are explaining to the reader all the knowledge he/she needs to understand and take part of the research method and the findings. Using this type of theory might limit you to predict what will be. By predicting you can prepare the reader on what result you think the research might have.  



Nunes de Almeida, Anna., Delicado, Ana., Nuno de Almeida, Alves., Carvalho, Tiago. 2014. Internet, children and space: Revisiting generational attributes and boundaries. New Media & Society. Vol 17(9): 1436-1453. DOI: 10.1177/1461444814528293