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I'll see you on MySpace: Self-presentation in a social network website

Kane, Carolyn M.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu1210100096

Abstract Details

2008, Master of Applied Communication Theory and Methodology, Cleveland State University, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.
Social network sites like MySpace and Facebook are a popular online venue for interaction and expression. This study was designed to identify the ways in which people present themselves online in the social network environment of MySpace.com. To examine the types of self-presentation displayed in MySpace profiles, this study drew from current online research, self-presentation theory (Goffman, 1959; Jones, 1990), nonverbal traditions, and the field of visual communication to develop a novel measurement scheme which could be used to analyze photographic and textual elements. Content analysis of a random sample of public profiles selected from MySpace.com focused primarily on the photographic self-presentation found in the primary profile photograph. The content analysis revealed that competence and ingratiation were the most commonly used strategies exhibited in the sampled profiles. Additionally, significant relationships were found between intimidating behaviors and the intended audience, and intimidating behaviors and the user's sex. Demographic information revealed that males and females were equally represented in the sample, and racial/ethnic diversity closely resembled the U.S. population as reported in the 2000 U.S. Census. Furthermore, non-significant results suggest a possible relationship between the user's sex and the types of nonverbal behaviors demonstrated in the photograph, similar to Goffman's (1979) work on gender displays in commercial advertising photography.
Kimberly Neuendorf, PhD (Advisor)
Paul Skalski, PhD (Committee Member)
Katheryn Maguire, PhD (Committee Member)
129 p.
Communication; Mass Media
self-presentation; social network websites; MySpace; nonverbal behaviors; photographs

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Kane, C. M. (2008). I'll see you on MySpace: Self-presentation in a social network website [Master's thesis, Cleveland State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu1210100096

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Kane, Carolyn. I'll see you on MySpace: Self-presentation in a social network website. 2008. Cleveland State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu1210100096.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Kane, Carolyn. "I'll see you on MySpace: Self-presentation in a social network website." Master's thesis, Cleveland State University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu1210100096

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

csu1210100096
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© 2008, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Cleveland State University and OhioLINK.