Light Reading
May 31st, 2008 |My thesis proposal, Effects of Cultural Capital on Selection and Frequency of Use of Social Network Websites, can be downloaded here. Please keep in mind that this project is in its embryonic stages and very much subject to change.
Abstract: Sociologist Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of cultural capital posits that parental educational attainment and parental income are major determinants of future outcomes and behavior. Cultural capital inherited early in life impacts acquired educational capital and taste preferences, and perpetuates class divisions. Researchers such as danah boyd have hypothesized that class divisions are being reflected in behavior on social network sites (SNSs) like MySpace and Facebook.
This study will use random sampling methods to acquire results from two data sources: subjects’ responses to an electronic questionnaire, and content analysis of the subjects’ SNS profile(s). The purpose of the study is to evaluate the theoretical model depicted below, derived from a combination of Bourdieu’s theories and existing research on SNSs.
