Iranian Journal of Sociology

Abstract The aim objective of this paper is to investigate how being Facebook users can affect both relative deprivation and life satisfaction among active and non-active Facebook users.  To provide an answer, the research data was collected through two different stages; at the first stage we distributed survey questionnaires among 2437 samples in Tehran and examined how being Facebook user can affect relative deprivation among active and non-active Facebook users. In the second stage, and in order to complete the research results we distributed some 288 questionnaires among students at University of Payam Noor, focusing on the question of life satisfaction among active and non-active Facebook users.  In addition, we used direct and participatory observation to examine comments that were provided by Facebook users.  This method would have provided complementary evidence that could evaluate the validity and reliability of the two-stage research results. Some of the results indicate that being an active or non-active Facebook user can culminate into different consequences for the users. In other words, being a non-active Facebook user will increase feeling of relative deprivation.  This is while being a Facebook user not only does not have any effect on the amount of feeling relative deprivation but it will increase the sense of life satisfaction.  The results of direct and participatory observation indicted that some factors such as having a huge number of Facebook friends along with a great number of “likes” on the Facebook pages will bring popularity for the user.  It seems the effects of being a Facebook user among active and non-active ones is related to their trustworthiness and popularity.    

Abstract This is a methodological paper which addresses advantages and limitations of three survey methods, including online, cluster online and offline methods in a study of Facebook users in Iran.  This paper indicates that regardless of online or offline methods the analytical results will be the same.  The evidence for such claim has been provided by a study that was conducted among Facebook users in Tehran during 2011 and 2012.besides, the paper claims that applying either one of these three methods for collecting data will result in similar findings.  This will also not undermine the validity and reliability of the measuring tools.   We have used Strauss’s approach to social research where he and Corbin urge the researchers to use methods to their discretion.  We used various methods to collect data and analyze it and we came to the conclusion that if a reverse sampling method is used in online survey, its results will be similar to the result of offline and cluster sampling research methods.