MBA8000 The Facebook Report 代写 research report

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Assignment 2 Instructions

Due Date: (See Study Desk or Course Specification)

Word Limit: 3,000 (+ / - 10%)

Background

The Facebook experiment of 2014 manipulated the contents of users’ News Feeds to induce

changes in their emotions (Kramer et al., 2014). Facebook had tampered with the news feeds

of nearly 700,000 people, showing them an abnormally low number of either positive or

negative posts. The experiment aimed to determine whether the company could alter the

emotional state of its users. The experiment was designed to assess whether more positive or

negative comments in a Facebook newsfeed would impact how the user updated their own
MBA8000 The Facebook Report 代写 research report

page. Researchers found those shown more negative comments posted more negative

comments and vice versa. This experiment was widely criticized on ethical grounds regarding

informed consent and other issues related to a poor Research Design.

The Facebook Report

Kramer, A., Guillory, J., & Hancock, J 2014, Experimental evidence of massive-scale

emotional contagion through social networks. Proceedings of the National Academy of

Sciences 111(24), 8788–8790. Available from http://www.pnas.org/content/111/24/8788.full

Your Task

A different social network (XYZ) would also like to know if they could alter the emotional

state of their users. Unlike Facebook, who wanted to know if more positive or negative

comments in their New Feeds would impact how the user updated their own page, XYZ would

like to know if different types of smells could impact how the user updated their own page.

(Digital scent technology is in its infancy now but XYZ believes that as it develops there will

be more interest in online scent marketing).

You have been asked to do the research for them but they do not want to be accused of being

unethical. They have asked you to do a Research Design so they can examine it before you

begin your research. They do not want you to start the research until they approve the Research

Design.

Ethics in Research

You must address the relevant ethical issues in your Research Design. Depending on the type

of research you are designing you might discuss some of the following:

• Informed participant consent

• Voluntary participation and right of withdrawal without sanction

• Confidentiality of participants and records

• Secure storage of relevant data after completion of a research project

• Clear, coherent expression of research proposals

• Regular monitoring of research outcomes.

• Privacy and the internet

• Recruitment

• Feedback to participants

• Protection of participants

• Deception

• Honesty

MBA8000 The Facebook Report 代写 research report

• Integrity

• Bias

• Respect for Intellectual Property

• Carefulness

• Objectivity

• Codes and Policies for Research Ethics

• Professional Conduct

• Non-Discrimination

• Legality

• Human Subjects Protection

Research design content

Your Research Design should include the following elements:

1. A brief introduction identifying the research question and the background for

your report (keep this short and to the point).

2. A short literature review or summary of secondary data from existing sources

that relates to your research question (approximately 500 words). This literature

review is specifically designed to provide background information on the issue

(what we already know so that you can build on this knowledge); what previous

research has been done in this area (what techniques and tools were used that

you might also use); and what remains still unknown (the focus of this

research). You should look to build on the research designs previously used in

any existing studies.

3. A statement of the research question(s) and objectives for this piece of research

– what is it you intend this research program to achieve and what questions it

will address – keep this focused and brief.

4. A recommended research methodology justified and supported with appropriate

theory (from the applied business research literature) and evidence that will best

address the research question and provide answers to Company XYZ. This

includes discussion about whether you are recommending a qualitative or

quantitative approach (and why – justified and supported with theory), and

within this what specific methods you are recommending (from the list of

possible options) and why.

5. Recommendations about the most appropriate sample unit and sampling

methodology (also with justification) to match the design you are

recommending and in this discussion show you have identified issues related to

the research ethics of this proposed research and how you will address these.

6. A discussion of the data (questions) that would need to be collected – being as

specific as possible and showing evidence of an understanding of the form and

level of data required to answer the research questions and how these ultimately

will allow you to address the overarching research objective or question.

7. A discussion of the type and level of analysis that should be conducted with this

data to address the research questions (supported with theoretical justification).

8. A discussion about the validity and reliability elements of your proposed

research plan and any limitations of the research that should be considered by

Company XYZ when viewing your findings and suggestions.

9. Finally, a summary statement about how this design will address the issue that

Company XYZ is interested in exploring and will provide the answers to their

questions – about one or two paragraphs at most.

You DO NOT have to collect data, actually design a questionnaire or

conduct any primary research for this assignment.

Format of the Assignment

This assignment is to be presented as a full formal report (including letter of transmittal,

executive summary etc.) See the Communications Skills Handbook for more information if

you are unsure of this format and the requirements.

Suggested Structure for Assignment 2

Letter of Transmittal

Title page (Not included in word count)

Table of Contents (Not included in word count)

List of abbreviations and/or glossary if relevant (Not included in word count)

Executive Summary

Research Design

A brief introduction identifying the research question and the background for your

report (keep this short and to the point).

Literature Review

Statement of research question and objectives

Research Methodology and Method(s)

Sample unit and sampling methodology

Discussion about Data

Validity, Reliability, Limitations (If relevant)

Summary statement / Recommendations (If relevant)

Bibliography or Reference List - Harvard (Not included in word count)

Appendices - If applicable (Not included in word count)

Further information

Please see the Resources section in Module 5 for a list of related readings and useful links.

MBA8000 The Facebook Report 代写 research report