Educational Psychologists’ participation in online social networking websites: A mixed methods study exploring use and perspectives.

Social networking websites (SNWs) provide Educational Psychologists (EPs) with an opportunity to collaborate, reflect, and share knowledge. Examples of SNWs in use by (EPs) include Twitter and Facebook. SNWs provide EPs with opportunities for ongoing dialogue with colleagues outside their service who have different specialisms and approaches to practice. While there appears to be a growing number of EPs using accounts professionally, there is currently no research documenting what this use is and how it may impact EP’s professional practice. This research has two aims. Firstly, to document how EPs are using SNWs professionally, and secondly, to explore EP’s perspectives around EPs’ use of SNWs. This was explored using a mixed-method study with two phases. 112 participants completed an online questionnaire, and 7 of these participants continued to a second semi-structured interview phase. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. Descriptive statistics were used to quantify the types and frequency of SNW use. The findings of this analysis included that the most regular use of SNWs was to read other EP’s posts and find out about new ways of working. Reflexive thematic analysis was also used to support a description and understanding of EP SNW use. Reflexive Thematic analysis was used to gather a picture of EP’s meaning-making and perspective of using SNWs professionally. The seven main implications of the study were identified and discussed, such as the importance of EPs, employers and professional bodies having a shared understanding of what constitutes safe and ethical SNW use. This study’s strengths and weaknesses are presented, together with future directions for research