Research Design Connection: Taking Selfies – Repercussions

by Sally Augustin, Ph.D. | October 22nd, 2018

Stiglbauer and Weber studied how taking a photo of oneself in a space (a “selfie”) influences place-based experiences. As they report “Selfies are omnipresent…Selfies are a form of self-expression; but selfie-taking also shapes the selfie-taker’s self. We argue that taking selfies in a place strengthens selfie-takers’ identification with that place. In three experimental studies…the control group took pictures of a place…whereas the experimental group took selfies in that place. Place identification was higher in the selfie condition than in the control condition…Our results suggest that taking selfies in a place can strengthen the linkage between selfie-takers and places.” It’s important to note that the researchers found that “The effect can reverse for individuals who do not enjoy taking selfies” and that forces such as peer pressure may lead people to take selfies who do not like doing so. Stiglbauer and Weber’s findings are an argument for designing spaces so that …