Fieldwork

As part of the research into my project, I decided to conduct an online survey regarding the impact of technology on relationships. I asked participants about how they use technology to communicate with their partner, and also what they thought the negative and positive aspects of technology were, within the context of communication and intimacy with their significant other. 

I spent over an hour creating this survey through a third party website, and had very detailed and specific questions. However once I was ready to launch it, I learned that I could actually only have 10 questions, and any further questions required me to pay fees. So I pared it back to 10 simple questions.

•  I understand that my answers are anonymous and consent to their usage in Steph Doran’s photography project. 
• What is your relationship status? 
• How often do you use technology to communicate with your partner? 
• Overall, do you think technology helps you feel closer to your partner? 
• Why / Why Not? 
• Which type of technology do you think has the most positive impact on your relationship? 
• Why do you think it has a positive impact on your relationship? 
• Which type of technology do you think has the most negative impact on your relationship? 
• Why do you think it has a negative impact on your relationship?

In order to conduct my research in an ethical manner and respect the privacy of participants, the first question was a checkbox for consent to use their statements. Additionally, all answers were provided anonymously.

At the time of writing this blog, there have been 29 submissions into the survey, however I will keep it open for a while longer yet. It has been 6 days since I launched this survey, and I have only used Facebook to ‘advertise’ it so far. The results have been interesting though, particularly the open ended questions.

So far, the reasons that participants gave for why technology ( did / didn’t) make them feel closer to their partner included;

• It helps us stay connected but it’s not what makes our relationship or makes us closer. It’s a pert of it but not the main part.
• Because I can sms him when work is being sh*t house and tell them about it! Then he tells me everything is going to be ok and then I don’t feel like quitting.
• It helps us to connect as we don’t currently live together but doesn’t make us closer as I’m not big on phone conversations. When we first met oddly could talk multiple times a day for hours at a time but since being in a relationship I struggle to find topics to talk about on the phone (and think he does too) but when we’re together we can talk for ages.
• Technology takes the personal out of any communication.
• A lot of messaging not a lot of talking verbally or face to face.
• I am able to share things int he moment and keep conversation flowing even when we are apart. Also shared interest in video games.
• Because we are in long distance.
• Should talk
• Because despite being physically separated from each other, we can still talk everyday, send photos, memes, etc. 
• We live together, but sometimes it’s good to chat about his day if he is having a rough time at work or me at uni, or when we just need someone to talk to, and we’re not together.
• Unfortunately because I rely on communication, and that is how it is done generally these days.
• I prefer to talk in person, less distractions and it’s easy to see their response on their face.
• Helps us keep a dialogue open during the day. We joke around and tag one another in food posts, etc.
• Allows us to share photos, humour and communicate more easily.
• One tap away from communication.
• Our communication via technology is normally stupid little texts like “is today over / I need coffee.” Most of our in depth conversation is when we both get home.
• So we can keep in contact during work.
• Any communication is better than nothing 😁
• Because if I didn’t have it I wouldn’t be able to talk (/”communicate”) to him daily.
• It’s comforting to know he’s there whenever I need him.
• Due to distance it helps keep communication available and helps dialect remain open.
• Particularly at the moment, I can’t see my partner physically, so having dinner over video call is hugely important to catch up and connect.
• Before we lived together, we were in almost constant contact by phone, which was a nice way to stay connected and involved with one another’s lives. It made me feel closer to my partner because I always knew he was only a text away. Now that we have the same home we don’t need to use technology as much to communicate but it’s still a good way to share things (articles, music, etc). It allows us to bond over shared interests.
• Ability to communicate while apart makes significant difference. Letting them know I’m thinking of them even if not a written message - sending a meme or tagging in a photo show’s they’re on my mind.
• Can catch up while partner is away (at lunch at work, on trips away, ect.) So it’s less lonely or difficult.
• Sharing
• Easy and quick way to stay in contact throughout the day. And we can send cute GIFS.

I also had various responses to the questions about why a particular type of technology was the most positive and most negative on the intimacy of the relationship. Some of the results are below;

Here is a link to the full survey results. It automatically updates as more results come in.