As part of my Masters research I'm hoping to prove a Facebook Page is an effective learning tool for Health Professionals. I want to prove its educational function (knowledge bites/regular learning posts) can enhance clinical learning.
Difficult to prove?? How to evaluate????? Research methodology? I am really stuck :-/
THANKS

Hi there, firstly narrow down your topic through your research questions. Eg: Perhaps choose a specific site or tool you are going to evaluate and a specific tool or knowledge set that the site provides that you will focus on.

Then think of questions that will help you frame your research around this tool and something that you can gather evidence on to measure. Note you are still investigating your broader topic but from the measurable lens of your current focus. Do you have a specific Facebook page you wish to evaluate or do you need to create one.

Then you might measure visits, etc. You might possibly want to use a mixed methodology using visits, a survey tool that provides both quantitative and qualitative data. You could possibly do a case study of one particular site and in addition to gathering survey data and statistical evidence on usage and hits for specific posts, you might be able to identify a few individuals who would be prepared to provide more detailed information through interviews or extended responses.

I:E Site might be providing information on an aspect of Diabetes and this site has been provided as a resource to undergraduate health studies students to assist with a specific unit or module they are undertaking as part of a broader program or perhaps the students themselves have found/created the page or alternatively the learning provider (lecturer) has created the page for his/her students as a group resource.

Your questions might be focused on how often this site was used or cited by the particular group. Did they find it helpful? How did they use the site-as an information tool (sort of like a text book) or was it used in other ways. To supplement knowledge, help study for exams, or to post questions, etc.

PS This is how I might approach it. There would be other ways undoubtedly that would be just as or more useful to consider. Would your supervisor be able to help with this?

PPS I meant to add that researching (aka the reading you do for your lit review should help you with narrowing down your topic as well).

Thanks so much for this, very helpful.

Yes the online Facebook resource is already set up and very successful, it has 9000 followers and 1000s hits/day. Facebook can provide hits/stats. Many of the page followers may just be happy clickers though (!) so I think I'll need to evaluate using a small group of legitimate Health Professionals as you say. I like your idea of mixed methodology combining a large analysis of data/readership, and then more focused smaller feedback. I used Survey Monkey before for previous work... but I am not sure if that is considered an valid academic tool.

Appreciate your help and any more thoughts warmly rec'd...