Abstract

Social media has become ever present in our daily lives, being a predominant source of news and information, as well as leisure. However, its swift institution and lack of neurological research upon its introduction to society leaves questions about its lasting effects. While human development and social impacts have been studied thoroughly, little research has been done on the overarching impacts of social media on the later stages of cognitive development. This study investigates the associations between social media use and formal operational abilities. To investigate this, data on 60 College of Wooster students was collected, including screen time and social media usage, scores on Bart’s Formal Operations test, and additional social media use information. Results indicated no statistically significant effects of social media use on formal operational abilities. However, the participant average on the formal operations test was surprisingly lower than the passing score, and social media usage consisted of 15%-40% of participants’ time. Although no concrete results were found, the low formal operational abilities paired with the substantial amounts of time participants spent on social media may imply some longitudinal relationship between these factors.

Advisor

Casey, Michael

Department

Psychology

Disciplines

Cognitive Psychology | Developmental Psychology | Psychology | Social Media | Social Psychology

Keywords

social media, formal operations, algorithms, college students, attention, anxiety

Publication Date

2023

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2023 George P. Harney