The Psychological Effects of Internet

Socializing and Cyber Bullying on Teenagers

Jessica WeberNovember 11, 2008

ClientMy client is a single parent who wants to

keep her children safe while she is away at work.

Interview and direction◦ Her teenagers are home alone, exploring social

networks and making connections.◦ She want to know what type of information and

social connections they are making?She and other concerned mothers have

gotten together, to find out the psychological effects of Social sites and Cyber bullying on their children.

Facet Analysis- Original & Revised

• Original • Facet

– Internet usage teenagers safety

– Websites youths protection

– Internet/online adolescents security– Social networks children bullying– Online filters teenagers / adolescent

• Revised– Internet and adolescents or

teenagers and safety or bullying

Initial Search Strategy

• I started with the premise of the use of the internet by children and how to keep them safe.

• Combination of keywords and subject terms

• Used controlled vocabulary and the thesaurus of databases

• Boolean searching• Flexible with terms because it is a

new twist on an old problem• Pearl Growing

Database Selection

This subject deals with the interaction of users and technology on a certain age group so I started with psychological databases.

• I Chose EBSCO because they had 5 relevant databases for my search through 1 vendor– Academic Search Premier– Child Development & Adolescent

Studies– ERIC– PsychArticles– PsychInfo

Controlled Vocabulary and Natural Language

• I began searching with the terms internet and teenagers and safety in all databases

• I used a general key word search to pearl grow subjects.

• Thesauri usage consisted of:– internet and websites as a

descriptor/subject term– The second terms were teenagers,

children, boys and/or adolescents as a descriptor, subject term, or keyword in the other search field

Modification of Search Strategy

I reconnected with the client to evaluate the initial results◦ I was on the right tract but she wanted more

information on bullying pertaining to the internet.◦ With this new information new terms were added to

the search strategy.

I refined the searching process by adding the new term cyber bullying/bullying and educational databases

Many of the authoritative works on internet and teenagers are rather current

This brought up more results dealing with students and schools responsibility and to help council and protect students.

What worked / what did not work

Helpful strategies• Boolean• Flexible search techniques (subject and

keyword)• Researching databases before

searching• Controlled vocabulary

Limitations• Focusing too much on specifics• Lack of organizing search results• Limited time with client

Conclusion/Client Recommendations

• Use the bibliography as a jumping-off point

• Pearl-grow from the lists of resources following the articles and in the appendices of the books to get additional information

• Ask son’s teachers for suggested reading lists they recommend on the topic

What Did I Learn From This Assignment?

It’s important to make sure you really understand the question your client is asking and his or her expectations for materials

You should circle back to your client after you get your initial batch of results to be sure you are on track

There is more and more information on how teenagers are psychologically impacted by the internet.

Advice for Other Online Searchers

ALWAYS check the thesauri before searching a database to see what terms are used for your topic

PEARL-GROW! The descriptors listed for articles will lead you to terms you may not have thought of before

Use limiters if they make sense, not just because they’re there… be mindful of your topic and client

Questions?