LibGuides: Social Science Video Contest: Research Your Topic

Research Help

Your 4–6-minute video should critically examine the impact of social media through a social science lens. Be sure to include social science concepts and/or theories in your research and final product.

Be sure to incorporate a minimum of one scholarly (credible) source using APA Style to support/demonstrate your understanding of this topic.
Be sure to review the grading rubric carefully to understand the judging criteria for this contest.

What question(s) are you trying to answer?

The social science concentration focuses on the economic, political, psychological, and sociological impact of humans on the environment.

You may choose to examine the issue through one of these subjects or a combination of them.

The main purpose is to examine the topic through a social science lens to enhance understanding and propose real solutions.

Consider these questions as you formulate your topic:

What role should the social sciences play in the analysis of social media?
How has social science research helped you to better understand the impacts of social media on the individual, community, and society?
Why is this research important to take into consideration?
Should current policymakers be aware of this research?
What are some of the key ways to address the impacts of social media on individuals, communities and society?

Examples of Possible Topics:

Changes in communication patterns due to social media
Effects of social media on privacy
Effects of social media on education, teaching and learning
How consumers make decisions using social media (e.g., ads, spam, influencers)
Usage of social media to influence activism
Impact of social media on mental health
Impact of social media on individual vs. collective behavior

As you research:

Beware of your own personal biases and be open to considering information that challenges your opinions
Try switching out keywords in search boxes to get different results
Save the permalink (in Databases) or URL (from websites) for any source that you may need to return to later

**Use these library databases to locate credible, authoritative sources of information:**

Issues and Controversies Easy to read background information, pro/con articles, primary sources, visual aids, and statistics on controversial topics.
Opposing Viewpoints (Gale In Context) Find pro/con issues on a variety of current topics- including health-related issues.
Academic Search Complete (EBSCO) A general broad-based academic database where you can explore and discover scholarly journals, news, and magazines.
JSTOR Subject(s): A database with social science content that Includes scholarly journals, book chapters, and primary sources.
Sage Journals (Sage Publications) Subject(s): Humanities, engineering, and the social sciences, life sciences, materials sciences, and health sciences. Best for: Assignments that require credible, scholarly research. Includes: Scholarly journals

Social Science Video Contest: Research Your Topic

Research Help

What question(s) are you trying to answer?

Consider these questions as you formulate your topic:

As you research:

**Use these library databases to locate credible, authoritative sources of information:**

Find reputable web sources:

Use Google Scholar to focus on info from experts

Choosing Keywords/Search Terms

Library Login

Library Access

(articles, eBooks, etc. from databases OR library search engine)

(loans, renewals, requests from the library search engine)