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Facebook Friends Study Questions

Objectives:

• Use affective and cognitive critical thinking strategies to evaluate arguments or studies.
• Demonstrate analytical, problem-solving, and evaluation skills.
• Compare and contrast scientific studies with media interpretations.

Questions (2pts each):

1. What type of research study is "Online social network size is reflected in human brain structure"? Is it experimental, scientific modeling, or non-experimental? How do you know? Provide evidence from the study to support your answer.

2. How do the researchers in the original study establish the correlation between Facebook friends and brain structure? Describe the methodology used.

3. Analyze the thesis statement of the original study and the data presented. Is there a strong or weak link? Do the results support the hypothesis? Explain.

4. How do the findings in the original study compare with the claims made in the Scientific American article "Social Networks Matter: Friends Increase the Size of Your Brain"?

5. What are the key differences between the original study and the Reuters article "More Facebook friends linked to bigger brain areas"? How do these differences affect the interpretation of the study’s findings?

6. Evaluate the Live Science article "Facebook Friends Predicted by Size of Brain Structures." How accurately does it represent the study's findings?

7. Discuss how society might play a role in the formation of the study and interpretation of its results. Consider who funded the study and potential biases.

8. Do you think the researchers were influenced by their own sociocentricity or egocentricity when designing the study? Provide examples from the study or media articles.

9. Assess whether the researchers explored their underlying feelings about the results. How can you tell? Were they objective in their reporting of the conclusions?

10. Are the results presented in the study’s abstract oversimplifications or generalizations? Provide examples.

11. Identify any valid counterarguments to the conclusions made by the researchers in the original study. How do these counterarguments impact the overall findings?

12. Compare the use of key terms from Chapter 11 of "Science and Society" (e.g., conclude, assume, bias, relevance, evidence, justify, consistent) when analyzing the original study and media reports. How do these terms help you critically evaluate the research?

13. How could the research design of the original study be improved to strengthen the conclusions made by the researchers?

14. Analyze the role of cognitive bias in interpreting the study's findings in both the original research and the media reports. Provide specific examples.

15. What additional evidence would you need to confirm the causal relationship between Facebook friends and brain structure changes?

16. How does the concept of correlation versus causation apply to the original study and the media interpretations? Provide specific examples.

17. Discuss the ethical implications of conducting and reporting research on social media usage and brain structure. How do these ethical considerations impact the study’s validity?

18. Compare and contrast the presentation of statistical data in the original study with how it is reported in the media articles. How does this affect the reader’s understanding?

19. How do the findings of the original study relate to the themes of scientific reasoning and critical thinking discussed in Chapter 11 of "Science and Society"?

20. Reflect on your own use of social media. How do you think it might affect your brain structure based on the study's findings? How does this personal reflection help you critically engage with the research?