[Impact of Public Relations and Social Media on Student Union Election Outcomes]

by

Acknowledgement

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I, [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

Signed __________________ Date _________________

Abstract

This research is based on the role of Social Media on Student Union Election Outcomes”. Universities can be slow to embrace social media, and it's to their detriment. Not only does having a weak social media presence open up a school to looking behind-the-times-it allows students to control a school's image online. Unfortunately, the students who shout (or tweet) the loudest are often less-than-happy with a school. Social media can be a strange new world for university staff not used to a generation of students for whom going without Facebook for a week is a huge struggle. However, if a university doesn't stay on top of its image, its students will step in to fill that void-and they may not convey the message a university wants affiliated with its name. By taking advantage of pre-existing Twitter accounts and a Facebook-savvy student body, schools can easily increase their social media presence with minimal effort.

Along with the fact that if you don't have social media profiles, someone could make a joke one which receives a lot of unwanted attention, this is one of the most important reason for universities to have a presence. Having said this, it's a largely negative justification: a defensive position against others on social media.



Table of Contents

ABSTRACT4

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION6

Background of Study6

Social networks6

Purpose of Study8

Objectives of Study9

Significance of Study9

Overview of study9

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW10

What are social networks?10

Addition in count of students visiting networking sites10

Increase in ad spending on social networking Web sites11

Universities and social networking14

Merits16

Social Media and Elections19

Structural forms of student voter behaviour next very perceptive approach20

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY22

Samples22

Reliability and validity26

Ethical consideration27

Research questions28

CHAPTER 4: DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS29

Summary29

Implications29

CHAPTER 05:CONCLUSION32

REFERENCES33

Appendices38

Chapter 1: Introduction

 Background of Study

Social networks

Social networks are a device for conceiving virtual groups and social networks for persons with similar learning, way of life, concerns or activities. Burke (2006) characterized social networks as "... loose affiliation of persons who combine through the world broad web site. The world broad web permits any individual to conceive a large number of connections with other persons, despite of geographic distance. 'These sites are split up into subnets, in agreement with demographic and geographic preferences. Popular amidst scholars, some social networking sites to conceive systems inside the mesh of personal schools and universities enroll scholars, interaction with classmates and take part in online activities. Most social networking sites supply, and other newspapers on the Internet, for example posted letters, instant messaging, brief converse rooms, blogs, and consideration assemblies the other. Dwyer, Hiltz, and Passerini (2007) described ...