Nerdify Reviews 7 Ways How to Use Social Media in Your College Research Project
Even though you will encounter at least one college professor who will be totally against the use of social media in your research project, it quickly becomes an inevitable part of life where social media content and interaction take place. Of course, if you are majoring in Mechanical Engineering or Chemistry, the use of social media content is highly unlikely, yet if you are studying Fashion Design or Psychology, turning to Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok with all the popular trends is hard to avoid. Our experts at Nerdify reviews have spent some time exploring the best ways on how to add social media to your research project.
1. Learn Your Academic Writing Style Format
While it is mostly clear with APA, MLA, Harvard, and Chicago style formats, Nerdify reviews suggest discussing citation rules for less common writing styles with your college professor. In certain cases, it may be necessary to list your multimedia content separately from sources that are available in print or among online scientific journals. Always try to provide as much information as you can with original punctuation and grammar if you must use social media handlers or specific user names. Remember that providing due credit for every picture or multimedia element found on social media is essential!
2. Incorporate Social Media Content Accordingly
Start with proper analysis and use only those social media references that can be easily obtained online. Posting a short phrase that has been mentioned on Twitter may be both important and insignificant if it does not provide statistical information, political rhetorics, or data that will help you support some idea or an assumption. Ask yourself twice if it is obligatory to use certain online content. For example, if you have to analyze a picture or a painting that you have discovered on Facebook (and it is unavailable anywhere else!), it may be necessary. Likewise, if you can find a museum source or a BBC article for something, it is better to choose a more reliable resource.
3. Add STEM, TEDx, and YouTube Content
Social media can be both good and bad, which is why it is essential to research things first and focus on relevant information that has been published by the likes of NASA, research projects, or foundations. Sometimes such information is only available online, which is why it is good to start with STEM subjects, TEDx presentations, and YouTube videos.
4. Organize Social Media Surveys
Another great research project trick that we have implemented at Nerdify reviews is creating special surveys on our social media platforms to collect first-hand information. Since it belongs to primary sources, it may be helpful for your research project or when you have to write a methodology for your dissertation. This way you can implement your unique social media information, which will make your research even more meaningful. Just remember to learn how to cite primary sources when they are yours.
5. Always Add Analytical Information
One of the reasons why college professors turn down the lists of social media resources that are mentioned in your research project’s references page is the lack of a proper analysis that follows the source. The same relates to an introduction that must come first to incorporate your quote or an image. If a student fails to do so, it makes certain sources look weak and out of place. Your social media content must make sense and help your target audience perceive information in a better way. Doing so will also let you avoid plagiarism issues as your writing becomes more balanced.
6. Provide Credit to All Pieces of Intellectual Property
Most importantly, always provide due credit to anything that you cite or use in a research project writing. Even if you add a simple picture that has been seen basically everywhere (a museum exhibition or a popular meme), you should add your source in a relevant format. If you are not sure about the original source, our experts at Nerdify reviews recommend avoiding the source altogether as providing something that has no background information will make your research project less reliable. The same relates to classical music or movie excerpts that you use where you must mention the composer, movie director, record company, and distributors if you have used a library or online source.
7. Double-check Your Social Media Links
Once you have all your research work done and start with proofreading, check your social media references and in-text citations separately to make sure that they fit and do not look out of place. Read your college research project aloud and check your links to make sure they are still available. While it is always a risk, make sure to provide your latest access date, which is essential in certain social media case scenarios.
