Early 21st century is when the internet came to the limelight as a device that can be used to access any place so long as it has a phone and the possibility of accessing the internet, always referred to,“as a global village”. This is because of its ability to transmit information to where one can access the phone and the internet itself.In addition, most of the people these days who use it have incorporated the same into their cultures. Before, the use of internet was a virtual reality but currently it has become a reality rather than just an ideology.
Though most of the elderly people are not addicts of the social networks such as Flickr, Yahoo messenger, Facebook, Tagged, Twitter etc. these attributes are related to the college students who are said to be the major population that experience the consequences of the internet dating, which can be either positive or negative.
Hypothesis
The question, what is the effect of internet dating on relationships stability among college students? May be tackled by answering the following hypothetical questions:
Is it true that most of the current relationships are generated from internet dating?
Does it mean that most of the campus relationships are unstable currently because of the internet dating?
Do most people prefer internet dating than the actual dating?
Does internet dating have positive or negative consequences for the people involved in such?
Methodology
A methodology is the study of methods of research. To be able to come up with concrete information about the internet dating and its consequences to college students specifically, the application of a reliable research methodology will be essential to be able to determine the result of the hypothetical questions.
In this research proposal, to be able to find out the effect and what are the consequences of internet dating to college students in relation to the stability of their relationships, the application of: Questionnaire, Observation, Interview will be the research methodologies applied in order to retrieve resourceful information about internet dating.
A reason for the following research methodologies is
Questionnaires
This will enable the interviewee to have a free environment by the application of open-ended questions to be able to retrieve first-hand information.
Observation
This enables the researcher to be able to have an external view about the situation at hand in this case. Viewing from a distance by observing the number of people indulging in internet dating, or indulging herself in the internet-dating environment, to be able to determine the number of people involved in the same etc.
Interview
this will enable the researcher to be able to have a personal contact with the person involved in internet dating to be able to understand the same. This will also enhance the acquisition of first-hand information.
All these three-research methodologies are applied to supplement each other in the process itself to be able to come out with the actual information regarding internet dating.
Data collection and analysis
Observation
In the research a study group comprising of couples whose relationships had been initiated online was put into perspective. Individuals who had also met via internet dating and later on broke up were also put under observation. This was in a bid to avoid biasness of information collected and ensure that it is objective in content and based on concrete facts. User of online dating facilities in their relationships was also observed.
The behavior and general conduct of individuals who are participants in online dating was keenly observed. This included different individuals from different regions. The main purpose of this data collection method was ton assist in getting first hand information on the effects of internet dating to relationships.
Interview
Interviews were also conducted with the internet dating participants being the target population of the research. The interviews were conducted privately with the participants so as to enhance confidentiality of the interviewee. With the assurance of confidentiality of their personality the target audience was able to give information objectively and on an honest account.
Approximately fifteen minutes was invested in an interviewee so as to retrieve as much information as possible. The interviewees were in turn cooperative in the availing of information. This method enabled promoting of specific answers from the interviewee hence enabling retrieval of needed information.
Questioner
To enhance confidentiality in the dissemination of information questioners were employed as a means of sourcing for information in the research. The questioners were inclusive by ensuring the incorporation of questions that would enable retrieval of the much needed information for the research. The response received was commendable since 80% of the questioners distributed were successfully filled before submission.
Analysis
From the data collected it was discovered that internet dating had both positive and negative effects toward relationships. Its most positive effect was its ability to sustain communication between long distance couples. Social sites such as face book, twitter as well as Skype were noted to be the most widely used by online daters. This was mainly attributed to their cost efficiency and reliability since, communication is instant. Long distant couples thus felt fully advantaged by this.
However other coup0les viewed it as an agent that greatly weakened relationships since it discouraged physical contacts of individuals. Psychologist argue that physical contact which involves face to face communication is crucial for the enhancement of relationships since it strengthens the bonding that is needed in for the sustain ace of relationships. He further argued that relationships at campus were at great risk due to the massive use of social sites for dating. They are thus more virtual than physical. This was noted to be a major contributing factor to the occurrence of a lot of breakups and unstable relationships in campus.
Conclusion
In a wrap up, internet dating was found to be positive as well as negative with regards to its influence on relationships. The positive side of it was its cost effectiveness in maintaining of communication between long distance couples as well as encouraging diversity in choice of partners. The major negative effect noted was the loss of physical touch between couples since it was discovered to be more virtual than physical in approach. In a nut shell, the benefits derived from internet dating are more influenced by the individual who uses them. An individual thus has an option of using it to his or her own advantage.
References
C, D. D. (2004). Internet Dating. New York: One Dana Press.
Flaherty, A. E. (2005). Internet Dating: the primary effect for physical attractiveness and similarity. Arkansas: University of Central Arkansas, Dept of Psychology and Counseling.
Giffen, R. (2003). Internet Dating: Tips, Tricks and Tactics. Chicago: Adenaline and Lalor Press.
Nagy, D. (2003). Dating 911: The Ultimate Guide to Internet Dating Safety. New York: iUniverse.
