Article Analysis: College Dating and Social AnxietyJane SimeonPsychology 300 - 7:00 p.m.Article Analysis - Group 1Dr. Zasloff March 19, 20141. Article Details: “College Dating and Social Anxiety” is an article written by Sarah Stevens and Tracy Morris. It was published in CyberPsychology & Behavior in 2007.2. Previous Research: There is debate about whether Internet use has a positive or negative impact on our social lives. One study found that for 40% of students in their sample, the Internet had been instrumental in forming new friendships. Additionally, 7% of their sample had used the Internet to find a romantic partner. Study participants stated that one of the main benefits of communicating via the Internet was reduced social anxiety and shyness (Knox, 2001). In another study, lonely individuals were shown to be more likely to use email and the Internet to stay in touch with others – which, in theory, allowed them to have a healthier social life. However, evidence has shown that heavy use has a negative social impact (Morahan-Martin, 2003). Finally, another study found that individuals who were comfortable or regularly involved in social gatherings reported more positive effects from Internet use than individuals who were shy and less involved in their community (Kraut, 2002). 3. Purpose of the Study: Researchers conducted this study to understand how the Internet plays a role in the world of college dating for students with and without social anxiety. The first hypothesis was that people with more social anxiety are less likely to engage in dating activities. The second hypothesis was that people with more social anxiety are more likely to use the Internet for s...... middle of paper ......ps. This study was done in 2007, and I learned from it that knowledge gained from previous psychological studies is not simply ignored, forever doomed to never making a difference in anyone's life. All of the studies listed in the reference section of this article had a role to play in the completion of this study, and this study has in turn added to the collective knowledge on this topic. Even with its faults and limitations, the procedures can be improved and new studies, validating previous results or exploring different variables, would emerge. It's now 2014, and as someone with social anxiety, I know that communicating with others through anonymous internet chat sites is now recommended by counselors as a viable way to practice social interaction; and there are now a huge number of support group forums to choose from, dedicated solely to helping people with social phobias..