SACE ID: 398693W Assessment type 3- Evaluation
Research Project Evaluation
Research Question: To what extent does social media influence the physical
wellbeing of high school students and adolescents?
Summary of the research question and outcome
As a psychology student studying health and well-being, I have developed a keen interest in the
intersection of social media and physical and mental wellbeing. My research question was inspired
due to a significant shift in how social media impacts the lives of high school students and adolescents,
including myself. Social media has become an integral part of our daily routines, shaping our
perceptions of body image, exercise and nutrition. I am intrigued to explore the extent to which social
media influences our physical wellbeing, whether through promoting unhealthy beauty standards,
encouraging sedentary lifestyles, or encouraging comparison-driven behaviours. Research processes
used included:
- Survey
- Interview
- Research papers
- Websites
- Journal articles
My research project revealed the intricate relationship between social media usage and various facets
of adolescents' and high school students' lives, including negative effects on physical well-being,
stress/anxiety, and body image, alongside potential facilitative roles in offline social activities.
The final research outcome of the research project was an informative essay of 2000 words diligently
written to support any claims made. The text's content was carefully curated to meet a substantial
variety of readers needs and educational backgrounds.
Part A – Evaluation of the research processes, specific to the research question
This evaluation critically assesses the influence of social media on adolescents' physical well-being,
drawing on multiple research processes including interviews with experts, surveys, peer-reviewed
journal articles, and websites. Each source was chosen for its reliability and credibility. The
effectiveness, validity, and reliability of each research process will be analysed and ranked, while also
addressing challenges I faced during the research and assessing the overall credibility of the
information gathered.
To ensure the credibility and validity of the data, an interview was conducted with a psychologist
specialising in mental health and social psychology. The psychologist's extensive knowledge and
expertise in mental health, with a wealth of publications and years of experience, made the interview
highly effective and credible. The information obtained through the interview was both valid and
reliable, helping to strengthen and cross-reference the data gathered from other research process.
However, to enhance the interviews credibility, including more diverse expert opinions and by
conducting follow-up interviews to delve deeper into specific aspects of social media impact on high
school students and adolescents wellbeing would have been valuable. Overall, conducting
professional interviews is one of the most efficient and reliable research process for my question.
1|Page
Research Project Evaluation
Research Question: To what extent does social media influence the physical
wellbeing of high school students and adolescents?
Summary of the research question and outcome
As a psychology student studying health and well-being, I have developed a keen interest in the
intersection of social media and physical and mental wellbeing. My research question was inspired
due to a significant shift in how social media impacts the lives of high school students and adolescents,
including myself. Social media has become an integral part of our daily routines, shaping our
perceptions of body image, exercise and nutrition. I am intrigued to explore the extent to which social
media influences our physical wellbeing, whether through promoting unhealthy beauty standards,
encouraging sedentary lifestyles, or encouraging comparison-driven behaviours. Research processes
used included:
- Survey
- Interview
- Research papers
- Websites
- Journal articles
My research project revealed the intricate relationship between social media usage and various facets
of adolescents' and high school students' lives, including negative effects on physical well-being,
stress/anxiety, and body image, alongside potential facilitative roles in offline social activities.
The final research outcome of the research project was an informative essay of 2000 words diligently
written to support any claims made. The text's content was carefully curated to meet a substantial
variety of readers needs and educational backgrounds.
Part A – Evaluation of the research processes, specific to the research question
This evaluation critically assesses the influence of social media on adolescents' physical well-being,
drawing on multiple research processes including interviews with experts, surveys, peer-reviewed
journal articles, and websites. Each source was chosen for its reliability and credibility. The
effectiveness, validity, and reliability of each research process will be analysed and ranked, while also
addressing challenges I faced during the research and assessing the overall credibility of the
information gathered.
To ensure the credibility and validity of the data, an interview was conducted with a psychologist
specialising in mental health and social psychology. The psychologist's extensive knowledge and
expertise in mental health, with a wealth of publications and years of experience, made the interview
highly effective and credible. The information obtained through the interview was both valid and
reliable, helping to strengthen and cross-reference the data gathered from other research process.
However, to enhance the interviews credibility, including more diverse expert opinions and by
conducting follow-up interviews to delve deeper into specific aspects of social media impact on high
school students and adolescents wellbeing would have been valuable. Overall, conducting
professional interviews is one of the most efficient and reliable research process for my question.
1|Page
