Description

New technologies for youth communication: A blended research design to study help relationships on the Internet

FABIANA GATTI

Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart of Milan, Milan, Italy

DAVIDE GALESI

Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Trent, Trent, Italy

ABSTRACT

In this contribution we describe a complex research design on the efficacy of a mediated listening service addressed to adolescents and young people who use various communication channels (forum and chat). Introducing a medium in help relations means modifying the interaction itself. The medium transfers some of its intrinsic characteristics into the relation and imposes adaptations on the flow and the communication style. It is important to promote studies about mediated help, in order to verify how counselling principles adapt and are modified by media. Here, we adopt a blended methodology that integrates qualitative and quantitative strategies in order to analyse different but inter-linked topics.

Keywords: forum, chat, youth, counselling, prevention, new media.