Understanding user behavior

Oct 13, 2025 by magicalceylontours.com 148 views

Motivation to use social networking sites and affiliate needs: A Correlational Study on Facebook Social Networking Sites to Meeting Affiliation Needs among IEC Malaka Medan Students

Introduction

In today's digital age, social networking sites have become an integral part of our lives, especially among adolescents. Facebook, one of the most popular social networking sites, has become a platform for teenagers to interact, build social relations, and meet their affiliation needs. However, the question remains: what motivates students to use Facebook, and how does it fulfill their affiliation needs? This study aims to investigate the relationship between the motivation to use Facebook and the fulfillment of affiliation needs among students of IEC Malaka Medan.

Background

Social networking sites like Facebook have become a primary medium for adolescents to interact and build social relations. In this context, the needs of affiliation or a sense of connection with others are very influential. Teenagers, in the stage of psychosocial development, seek acceptance and recognition from peer groups, and Facebook provides an ideal platform to meet these needs. Through Facebook, students can not only interact with their friends but also share experiences, thoughts, and feelings, creating a stronger bond between them.

Methodology

This study used a correlational design to investigate the relationship between the motivation to use Facebook and the fulfillment of affiliation needs among students of IEC Malaka Medan. The research sample consisted of 28 students aged between 12 to 17 years and followed the English language program from the level of step 1 to step 10. The sampling method used was proportional and purposive stratification. Data was collected through a questionnaire consisting of 26 closed questions. Furthermore, data analysis was done by creating a descriptive table that was connected to a correlational table, followed by a hypothesis test and significance test using the SPSS for Windows version 17.0 program.

Results

The results showed that there was a significant relationship between the motivation to use Facebook and the fulfillment of affiliation needs among IEC Malacca Medan students. The significance value obtained from the table was 0.031, indicating that the t-count statement was smaller than the t-table, which means the relationship between the two variables was not significant. However, a single table analysis revealed differences in the reasons for using Facebook among students.

Discussion

The findings of this study suggest that although there is motivation to use Facebook, not all reasons for use can produce significant fulfillment of affiliation needs. Another factor that might affect the results of this study is a variety of user habits. Some students may prefer to use Facebook as a means of entertainment, while others may use it more for academic or community purposes. Therefore, it is essential to understand the background of the user and their social context when analyzing the impact of social media on their lives.

Conclusion

This study provides insight into the relationship between social media and affiliation needs among adolescents. The findings emphasize the importance of a deep understanding of user behavior in this digital era. In the future, further research can be done by expanding the number of samples and including other social media variations. This is to get a more comprehensive picture of the motivation of the use of social networks and its impact on the social needs of adolescents.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Further research: Expand the number of samples and include other social media variations to get a more comprehensive picture of the motivation of the use of social networks and its impact on the social needs of adolescents.
Understanding user behavior: Understand the background of the user and their social context when analyzing the impact of social media on their lives.
Developing social media literacy: Develop social media literacy programs to educate adolescents on how to use social media responsibly and effectively.

Limitations

This study has several limitations, including:

Small sample size: The sample size of this study was relatively small, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Limited scope: This study only investigated the relationship between the motivation to use Facebook and the fulfillment of affiliation needs among students of IEC Malaka Medan.
Methodological limitations: The study used a correlational design, which may not be able to establish causality between the variables.

Future Directions

Future studies can build on the findings of this study by:

Investigating other social media platforms: Investigate the relationship between the motivation to use other social media platforms and the fulfillment of affiliation needs among adolescents.
Examining the impact of social media on mental health: Examine the impact of social media on the mental health of adolescents, including anxiety, depression, and self-esteem.
Developing social media interventions: Develop social media interventions to promote responsible and effective use of social media among adolescents.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study provides insight into the relationship between social media and affiliation needs among adolescents. The findings emphasize the importance of a deep understanding of user behavior in this digital era. Future studies can build on the findings of this study by investigating other social media platforms, examining the impact of social media on mental health, and developing social media interventions.
Q&A: Motivation to use social networking sites and affiliate needs

Q: What is the main focus of this study?

A: The main focus of this study is to investigate the relationship between the motivation to use Facebook and the fulfillment of affiliation needs among students of IEC Malaka Medan.

Q: What is affiliation need?

A: Affiliation need refers to the need for social connection and belonging. It is the desire to be part of a group or community and to feel accepted and valued by others.

Q: Why is Facebook an important platform for adolescents?

A: Facebook is an important platform for adolescents because it provides a space for them to interact, build social relations, and meet their affiliation needs. It allows them to connect with friends, share experiences, and feel a sense of belonging.

Q: What are the reasons why students use Facebook?

A: The reasons why students use Facebook vary, but some common reasons include:

To interact with friends and classmates
To share experiences and thoughts
To feel a sense of belonging and connection
To seek acceptance and recognition from peer groups
To use as a means of entertainment

Q: What are the limitations of this study?

A: The limitations of this study include:

Small sample size
Limited scope (only investigated the relationship between the motivation to use Facebook and the fulfillment of affiliation needs among students of IEC Malaka Medan)
Methodological limitations (used a correlational design, which may not be able to establish causality between the variables)

Q: What are the implications of this study?

A: The implications of this study are:

The importance of understanding user behavior in this digital era
The need for social media literacy programs to educate adolescents on how to use social media responsibly and effectively
The potential for social media to impact mental health, including anxiety, depression, and self-esteem

Q: What are the future directions for this research?

A: Future directions for this research include:

Investigating the relationship between the motivation to use other social media platforms and the fulfillment of affiliation needs among adolescents
Examining the impact of social media on mental health, including anxiety, depression, and self-esteem
Developing social media interventions to promote responsible and effective use of social media among adolescents

Q: What are the recommendations for educators and parents?

A: The recommendations for educators and parents include:

Educating adolescents on how to use social media responsibly and effectively
Encouraging responsible and effective use of social media among adolescents
Monitoring and supervising adolescents' use of social media
Providing support and resources for adolescents who may be struggling with social media use or mental health issues.