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Don Bosco Academy

Cabalantian, Bacolor, Pampanga
S.Y. 2021 - 2022

Dual Persona: Impact of Social Media on the Increased Emergence of

Online and Offline Identities of Selected Senior High School Students in
Pampanga

A Research Paper Presented

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
For Practical Research 1
By:
11-John XXIII

By

STEM 11 - JOHN XXIII

Rongcal, Jenner Paolo C.

Salvador, Jay M
Bartolo, Siegfried S.
Manansala, Ian Karl V.
Evaristo II , Reghis Vincent S.
Navarro, Kurt Igy M.

Ivan Joseph Galang Castro

Research Adviser
May 2022
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ABSTRACT

This research aims to observe and interpret the lived experiences of select Senior High

School students within Pampanga and their experiences with a duality between their online

identities and their offline identities. The purpose of this study is to gain new insights on how we

perceive a person’s identity especially when considering the effect of the usage of Social Media

and the environment of the Internet as a whole. The study consists of ten select grade 11 students

studying across various schools within the province of Pampanga. These respondents were

chosen because of their known activity within Social Media and to provide a diverse variety of

viewpoints and perspectives.

This study is based upon qualitative research, more specifically, phenomenology. This

was decided because the researchers wanted a more first-hand account of respondents and their

experiences with the duality of their online and offline identities. Phenomenology allows the

researchers to interpret and analyze the anecdotal data to gain new and more authentic insights

on the multidimensionality of human personality.

From the conducted interviews and subsequent analysis of gathered data, it was found

that all respondents have observed the phenomenon of having a difference between online and

offline identities either within themselves and/or within others. The data gathered also sparked

discussion regarding whether said dimensionality is disingenuous to a person’s real self or if they

are mere reflections of the person’s whole self. The research also aids in gaining new insights

about the mentality of those who partake in social media and how it is different from real life.

Keywords: Personality, Dual Persona, Senior High School Students, Social Media,

Phenomenology, Pampanga
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS 3

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 5

DEDICATION 7

CHAPTER I 9

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND 9

1.1. Introduction 9
1.2. Theoretical Framework 11
1.3. Paradigm of the Study 13
1.4. Statement of the Problem 14
1.5. Significance of the Study 14
1.6. Scope and Limitations of the Study 15
1.7. Definition of Terms 16

CHAPTER II 19

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 19

2.1. Studies on Duplexity of Personalities: Effects and Causality 19
2.2. Studies on Interactions of Individuals within Technology and Presented Information 20
2.3. Studies on the Portrayals of Self-Representation in Virtual Spaces and Reality 22
2.4. Studies on Social and Physical Friendships, and Acquaintanceships 23
2.5. Studies on the Mind Frame and Well-being of the User 24

CHAPTER III 26

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 26
3.2. Locale of the Study 27
3.3. Respondents of the Study 27
3.4. Measures and Instrument 28
3.5. Data Gathering Procedure 29
3.6. Ethical Consideration 29

CHAPTER IV 31

DATA PRESENTATION, FINDINGS, AND ANALYSIS 31

4.2. Demographic of the Respondents 32
4.3. Research Findings 33
4.3.1. The Expression of Five Factor Personality Traits on the Internet and in Person 33
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Dimension of Personality in Extraversion 33

Neuroticism & Openness to Experience 35
Agreeableness & Conscientiousness 36
4.3.2. Effects of Duality to Self-Esteem & Temperament 37
4.3.3. Inauthenticity and Genuineness 39
4.4. Research Analysis 42
4.4.1. The Expression of Five Factor Personality Traits on the Internet and in Person 42
Dimension of Personality in Extraversion 42
Neuroticism & Openness to Experience 44
Agreeableness & Conscientiousness 45
4.4.2. Effects of Duality to Self-Esteem & Temperament 46
4.4.3. Inauthenticity and Genuineness 47
4.5. Discussion of Overall Results 48

CHAPTER V 50

SUMMARY, NEW INSIGHTS GAINED, AND RECOMMENDATION 50

5.1. Summary 50
5.1.1. What are the impacts of Social Media on the online and offline identities of the students? 50
5.1.2. How does online and offline identities affect a person’s perspective in day to day living? 51
5.2. New Insights Gained 53
5.2.1. What are the impacts of Social Media on the online and offline identities of the students? 53
5.2.2. How does online and offline identities affect a person’s perspective in day to day living? 54
5.3. Recommendations 55
5.4. Conclusion 56

REFERENCES 58
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The researchers would like to express their deep sense of gratitude to all who participated

in our survey, thank you for making time to participate in the researchers’ study, your

thoughtfulness made a great impact on the study being conducted. For my co researchers who

did their best, applied intensive thinking and gave so much effort in doing this research, your

hard work is highly appreciated.

The researchers would also like to give a sincere gratitude to Don Bosco Academy

Bacolor, for giving the researchers a chance to experience how difficult life can be in the real

world. On preparing the researchers to face these challenges head on for we know that they

prepared the researchers for this battle so called life. The researchers knew from the start that it

would be tough, but in the end, the researchers realized that all our hardships are for the

betterment of themselves and their careers in the future. As well for making all of this possible,

despite the pandemic we are going through.

The researchers are immensely grateful to Mr. Ivan Joseph G. Castro for his comments

on an earlier version of the manuscript, although any errors are the researchers’ own and should

not tarnish the reputations of these esteemed persons. For taking the time to provide insights and

expertise that greatly assisted the researchers for the development of the study. Thank you for the

undying and incomparable support.

The researchers would also wish to extend special thanks to Ms. Karen Crineza C.

Rivera, Ms. Ninia S. Flores, and Ms. Mylene Anjanette S. Pinlac for sharing their pearls of
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wisdom with the researchers during the course of this study. Thank you for giving the

researchers the opportunity to conduct this research and whose guidance, encouragement and

suggestion have contributed immensely to the evolution of our ideas on the said research.

To the researchers’ parents, who provided everything when it comes to their studies. The

support and chance that you have given the researchers will not surely end up in disappointment,

for the researchers promise that they will strive harder to make you proud and be worthy to be

called your son/daughter.

Finally, the researchers would like to thank God, for letting us through all the difficulties.

The researchers have experienced your shining light and guidance day by day. By inspiring the

researchers to do our ordinary duties extraordinarily well, to God be the glory.

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DEDICATION

This thesis is dedicated to my parents who taught me to be who I am and be my best self.

They are the kind of inspiration that congratulates me for everything, even the smallest details of

my accomplishments. To my family who supported me with my upbringing and gave me all the

knowledge that I needed to grow up, taught me to be the best I can be. -Ian Karl V. Manansala

This research paper is dedicated to my parents who encouraged me to be myself and

became my inspiration to finish what I started and to my fellow group mates for accomplishing

this research with me until the final step towards the finish line. -Reghis Vincent S. Evaristo II

This research paper is dedicated to my family, whose unconditional and unending support

have helped shape the way I am today so I could give what I can into this research. To my

parents who did not just put importance in what I could do or achieve, but for who I am as a

person. -Siegfried S. Bartolo

This study is dedicated to my friends who find difficulties in being authentically

themselves, this is to remind them that who they are is valid and appreciated. Also to my group

mates who have been the greatest cheerleaders to me as I’ve been to them throughout this

research. -Jenner Paolo C. Rongcal

This research is dedicated to all. Personal development, psychological per se, is a very

diverse and complicated topic that may implicitly seem insignificant. Studying one’s

environment is one of the most important ways to understand oneself. - Kurt Igy M. Navarro
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This research study is a fruit of countless and arduous sacrifices. Through the

researchers’ effort, The Duality of Online and Offline Identities is heartily and proudly dedicated

to the individuals who serve as an inspiration. From parents to guardians, to classmates and

circle of friends who stepped up in the midst of problems doing the study. - Jay M Salvador
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CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

1.1. Introduction

In this time of life, specifically regarding our current era and upcoming ones, there is a

significant amount of accessibility to connect with people all over the world. With this, comes

the insurgence and the evolution of technology and social media. This platform seeks us to

present ourselves in however way we want to be presented. It is human nature to always want to

maintain a good reputation and to solicit good responses from other people in the virtual world,

so we constantly project an imagery that is of a filtered version of our authentic selves. This is

what we identify as the duality between our physical and virtual identities. “Today’s life on the

screen dramatizes and concretizes larger cultural trends that encourage thinking about identity in

terms of multiplicity and flexibility” (Turkle, 1997, p.1). “While we can share more of ourselves

online than ever previously possible, we choose not to. Instead, we curate.”(Guay, 2020).

As researchers who are constantly exposed to virtual platforms such as social media, we

encounter these identities frequently. Our interest to delve into this concept stems from our want

to figure out the degree of authenticity of the behavior and individuality of these virtual

identities. Even though everyday new identities are created, little is known about the impact and

the reasoning behind the presence of the dual personas of these identities, especially within

connections and relationships with other people.

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Relationships are an important aspect in maturing because these connections will increase

the quality of life. Relationships are mutually beneficial,and it is also important to be able to

maintain them after acquiring them. The lack or sometimes the absence of attention can be

directly proportional to the presence of effort in keeping the connection. Identifying the

differences of such personalities of oneself or others, basically understanding the aspects of your

identity such as agreeableness or conscientiousness, and possibly likeability will be a bridge to

strengthen and prolong valued current, new, and future relationships.

Social Aspects inside and outside of the internet now have developed and widened, it has

been familiar to be a great support in building relationships and maintaining good mental and

possibly physical health. Socializing by expressing identities, thoughts and feelings, forming

connections is such a widespread natural tendency. As a part of this Society, each and one of us

play a role in everyone’s life, and we touch and affect those around us. Everyone has their own

sense of consciousness, and with that consciousness do we utilize how we actually touch

people’s lives. With that being stated, Nobody is excluded from having an identity. This research

encompasses everyone for everyone has their own perceptions and concept of identity and the

duality that comes with it.

To summarize, a heightened degree of accessibility to connect with people has resulted

from the rise and evolution of technology and social media. ​Our need to learn more about this

concept arises as new aspects involve the multiple identities an individual can have. We come

across these circumstances more frequently in the future, which is a result of the pandemic where

we live in a world with less physical interaction. Relationships play a crucial role in maturation

since they improve one’s mentality and way of connecting. Communication is crucial in forming
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these connections. Understanding that communication has more disregarded factors would

improve our ability to empathize., and to examine if there are fallacies or misunderstandings.

1.2. Theoretical Framework

This research is based upon the Five Factor Model of Personality (FFM). This model was

developed in the 1980s-1990s in which it divides a person’s personality into five broad traits,

which are patterns that are relatively consistent throughout a person’s life (Grice, 2019).

The five factors that influence a person’s personality are:

● Neuroticism - reflects feelings of distress, anxiety and irritability (Blumer, et al.,

2012)

● Extraversion - reflects the sociability and gregariousness of an individual

(Blumer, et al., 2012)

● Agreeableness - manifests in empathetic or kind behavior (Grice, 2019)

● Openness for experience - sometimes called intellect, describes a person’s

inquisitiveness or propensity in trying new tasks (Grice, 2019)

● Conscientiousness - refers to an individual’s sense of responsibility and duty.

(Grice, 2019)
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This model was chosen since it has been proven to be both broad and efficient. This

research aims to identify and analyze the effects of the use of Social Media on these five factors

that affect an individual’s personality. The Five Factor Model of Personality can aid in explaining

discrepancies between the virtual and physical personalities of individuals.

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1.3. Paradigm of the Study

This paradigm illustrates the study. It is composed of three parts; the input, which focuses

on determining the profile of the respondents in terms of age, sex, and connectivity; The

presence of dual persona in the physical and virtual self of Senior High School Grade 11 STEM

students; The Public Status of Senior Highschool Grade 11 STEM students in their physical self

and virtual self through the presence of the digital era in day to day lives; the output, that can

established Dual Persona of Senior High School Grade 11 students in the vicinity of Pampanga;

which will be conducted through descriptive process that includes interviews, data analysis, data

gathering, and data interpretation.

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1.4. Statement of the Problem

The purpose of this research is to understand and discover the aspects of the causality

brought by the duality of online and offline identities of Senior High School students who are

very active in social media in the area of Pampanga, Philippines. Using this purpose, it will

answer the following questions:

1. What are the impacts of Social Media on the online and offline identities of the

students?

2. How does online and offline identities affect a person’s perspective in day to day

living?

3. What are the recommendations that can be made through this study?

1.5. Significance of the Study

The study focused on the influence of online and offline identities to future interactions

and impressions to reconstruct the presumptions of a person’s individuality. In this study we will

be able to identify certain misconceptions that are commonly stereotyped. The findings of the

study will the be beneficial to the following:

Students - This study is of significance to students because it will open their eyes onto the

different identities that they are portraying in and out of the media. It will make them evaluate

and ponder about their individuality and their interactions with other people. The student body is

very active within social media, and so the data gathered is especially useful to them.
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Parents - This study is of significance to the participants’ parents because it will allow

them to assess their child regarding their social interactions offline and online. This study will

provide them with a unique lens to look through the different dimensions of the personality of

their child.

School/administration - This study is of significance because the schools’ guidance

counselors will have a basis on this kind of topic and may act on it. The schools can also

conclude this topic in conducting seminars and programs informing them of social interactions.

Another aspect to be specified is producing more activities aligned with the students’ ability to

interact with the masses online and offline, this will add more possible activities and

undemanding activities.

Future researchers - The future researchers can also gain significance from this study.

The findings of this study will serve as a reference and a guide for them when they conduct their

future research papers with the same topic or as a related study.

1.6. Scope and Limitations of the Study

This study’s focus is on the diversity of an individual’s personality regarding online and

offline interactions that may cause misconceptions that may be often followed by confusions in

the area of City of San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines. Our target sample is 10 senior high

school students within the vicinity of Pampanga with active social media. The range of ages are

16-17 years old. The researchers collected information using interviews from March 2022 to

April 2022.
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There were some unavoidable limitations present in the study: the participant’s

dishonesty in answering the interviews. The dishonest response may affect the results of the

study. The coverage of the students without internet in the chosen province the chosen

participants will be more expected to be the ones who have anecdotal duality, while the peers can

be said to have more material that can be provided to add substance to the research. The conflict

of schedule and time constraintment will also be a hurdle in accomplishing these various tasks

because of our individual time schedules, commitments, and priorities.

1.7. Definition of Terms

The following are some of the key terms used in this study that learners, researchers, and

reviewers may come across as they read through it

1. Dual Persona

- refers to an individual who possesses two different dissociative identities and

characteristics.

- presence of the different identities of an individual.

2. Interactions

- the act of talking or doing things with other people.

- setting of building multiple self images in specific environments.

3. Offline Identities
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- is an identity that an individual authorizes in an offline environment such as their

homes, schools, and communities in real life.

- this serves as the one of the two personalities that is present in the two individual

worlds.

4. Online Identities

- is a digital identity that an individual establishes when using the internet to

communicate, interact, and socialize with different walks of life.

- this serves as the one of the two personalities that is present in the two individual

worlds.

5. Perspective

- is a particular way of thinking about something, especially one that is influenced

by your beliefs or experiences.

- the results of having dual identities, to how they normally view themselves and

their environment.

6. Physical Self

- the individual’s perception of themselves in areas of physical ability and

appearance; refers to the body, this marvelous container and complex, finely

tuned, machine with which we interface with our environment and fellow beings.

- awareness of who their physical selves are to differentiate it from their virtual

selves.
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7. Relationships

- the state of being related or interrelated with others.

- where the interactions mostly occur.

8. SHS Grade 11 Students

- Grade 11, a part of the K-12 curriculum, is the first year of Senior High School.

- the sample of this research.

9. Social Aspects

- are commonalities among people within a specific culture; includes language,

norms, rules, and etc.

- serves as factors that construct the personality of an individual’s identity.

10. Virtual Self

- person’s virtual representation via new media, especially the internet which a

person uses to travel a virtual common space; it can also be seen as the avatar of a

person who portrays the virtual user in graphic or visual terms.

- awareness of who their virtual selves are to differentiate it from their physical

selves.
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CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

In exploration, we find new knowledge and widen our understanding about the topic on

hand. The duality of online and offline identities is a broad matter to fully grasp, so an in-depth

search is done to give the researchers enough background to understand the concepts and ideas

being tackled. This Chapter presents a brief review and discussion of literature and studies, both

local and foreign that is related to these studies. The Chapter will highlight recurring themes and

practices about researching the comparison between our real self and our virtual self. It will

specifically delve into 5 categorized topics.

2.1. Studies on Duplexity of Personalities: Effects and Causality

In going through psychosocial processes, Cojocaru et al.introduced the consequences of

this conflict between the two types of identity processes (between synthesis and confusion) can

affect the future direction and development of the individual’s sense of self. If adolescents are

successful in this process, they will gain a sense of self-sameness and inner continuity (Erikson,

2010:50), but if it is unsuccessful then S/he will ‘experience the fragmentation and instability

associated with identity confusion’ (Davis & Weinstein, 2017:3).

To some extent several studies are based on different conceptual methods that refer to

personality as an independent variable, sometimes to personality as a dependent variable hence,

personality is both the influential factor as well as the influenced element in the assumed

cause-effect relationships Blumer T., Döring N.(n.d.). As to bring attention to the retention of

variables that are all intertwined which no matter how affects each other. Personality as the

independent variable may influence the choices of the shared contents, and as the dependent
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variable this can be influenced by the qualities of the online environment. In the approach of

personality as the dependent variable states that it assumes that, when compared to the offline

personality, people change in a systematic manner online Blumer T., Döring N. (2022).

This correlates to our main problem which is to understand and discover the

misconceptions of dual identities, online and offline. This serves as one of many factors that

cause misconceptions of dual identities. “Putting the online into the offline reifies both: it

assumes a thing called the Internet and a thing called society, or community, or social relations,

and at best investigates how one affects the other. The point developed above is to break down

the dualism and see how each configures the other.” (Slater, 2002).

2.2. Studies on Interactions of Individuals within Technology and Presented Information

There are always constant interactions in social media. Through these interactions

adolescents focus on what fits in their society. As Barth (2015) observes, adolescents who have

grown up in a world of constant online communication cannot imagine the childhoods of most

clinicians, who grew up without it, and paradigms of development, socialization, sexualization,

and education have fundamentally changed. In recent years, youth have been greatly influenced

by the popularity of different social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

Although social media can help you remain in touch with peers, it's likely that it is tough to

balance the information you share with them and with your mutual friends in general.

“Consistent with socialization in offline contexts, extraverts seek out virtual social contact and

are more engaged during online social experience than are introverts. In the case of social

networking sites, this engagement leaves behind a behavioral residue in the form of friends lists,

picture postings, and so on. Similarly, rather than providing an opportunity for conscientious
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people to loosen their collar, Online Social Networks may instead provide another haven in

which low conscientious procrastinators can avoid getting down to work. Openness is also

expressed as it is in the offline-world with evidence of exploring new activities, experiencing

new people, and changing the photographic scenery. Thus, rather than being an escape from

reality, Online Social Network sites exist as a microcosm of people's larger social worlds.”

(Gosling et al., 2011)

Social media produces adverse and advantageous effects to young people who engage

regularly through it. Benefits include development of social interactions, independence,

communication, and sentimental connection with others. Ito et al. (2008) found that youth tend to

use social media to gather information and to connect with others who share their interests. It

appears that communicating online allows people to enhance existing relationships as well as

foster new ones with similar people that they may not encounter day to day. Regardless of the

recorded positive aspects of social media usage, data about their negative effects is accumulating.

For instance, the youth may experience cyberbullying, online meanness, misunderstandings, and

unintentional disclosures among all the social media platforms. “Although youth predominantly

communicate with their existing friends online, adolescents are more likely than adults to add

“friends” to Facebook who they do not know or like” (Christofides et al., 2011, para. 15). This

indicates that youth are more likely to be careless online than older individuals. Taken together, it

is evident that there are risks present for young people who use social media. “People used the

Internet as a tool for self-understanding; to try out new features in a fascinating environment.”

(Georgieva, 2011). This fact demonstrates that virtual simulations, especially if they are creative,

can be employed in the same way since they elicit experimental behavior.
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With the similarities of this and our study, we were also able to see the difference

between them. The data collected for the article was conducted on a wider scale, while we

collected our data around a more local audience. Besides that, the two still fall onto the same

goal which is to be able to acquire knowledge and understand certain misconceptions that are

commonly stereotyped, especially regarding dual identities.

2.3. Studies on the Portrayals of Self-Representation in Virtual Spaces and Reality

Jordán-Conde et al. (2014) suggest that Facebook is a place where late adolescents

experiment with their identity as their identities are not yet fixed. Valkenburg and Peter argue

that online communication allows for the controllability of self-presentation and disclosure that

results in a sense of security, which is not necessarily possible with face-to-face interactions. For

example, “both younger and older adolescents experiment with their identity on the Internet by

modifying their self-presentation through instant messaging and chatting” (Valkenburg et al.,

2005, para.24) and “older adolescents tend to experiment with the expression of sexual content

as well as explicit language within chat rooms with peers” (Subrahmanyam et al., 2006, para.

24).

Gorgieva (2011) stated that virtual self-representations, how they act and are acted upon

in the virtual space, can be symptomatic for human affection via the usage of technology on an

everyday level. People create online personae to change social reality, to add features to their

existing real self or just to represent it in a certain way. This is supported by the finding that

people have a real identity that is the subject of a healthy alteration of time, known as qualitative

identity, but the online identity is a subject of great and fast-acting change because the virtual
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space is more flexible, in general. Still, people maintain their virtual persona is constant and

claim it is not different from their real life persona.

It was concluded that the comparable virtual self, as a clone of the real person's self, is

more sensitive to change, whereas the different self is already a visible change in the self that is

experiencing new opportunities, particularly those given by the virtual space. The most

interesting result that was discovered by the research entitled ‘The Similarity Between the

Virtual and the Real Self – How the Virtual Self Can Help the Real Self’ is that the virtual self

has only one purpose: to serve as a better representation of the real self, thereby becoming a

primary motivator for personal growth in real life. Such personal reasoning by the respondent is

assigned to the virtual world, which has the potential to guide the projection of the self online,

and hence the real self as well.

The virtual self is not entirely artificially fabricated. Terpsta (2016) posits that the digital

persona is built on building blocks composed of moments coming from a person’s physical

existence, the digital persona is self-referential, calling back to real experiences and content

consumed. Cojocaru et al. (2020) mentioned that online identities are usually built in an idealized

manner, a carefully curated version of one’s sense of self, focusing on a polished appearance and

on placing certain cultural cues that are considered positive or valuable and that would raise the

appreciation or envy of other users. Social media has become a place for adolescents to express

themselves through these platforms at the same time exploring and discovering themselves.

2.4. Studies on Social and Physical Friendships, and Acquaintanceships

Berger et al. (2017) stated In all cultures, friendships are important relationships

throughout a person’s life span. The presence of relationships in our lives of any culture or
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habitat are assets. Possessing such relationships will increase your sense of belonging and

purpose. It was also stated that individuals who are not popular certainly may have close

friendships, and a popular person may not have a real friendship and the affective bond that is a

component of friendship distinguishes friendship from acquaintanceship. The bonds you should

avoid and should maintain is crucial to be aware of, to reciprocate the proper behavior to what is

required in different relationships.

Our research examines the effects and results that are brought upon to these friendships

and acquaintances. In relation to related literatures, relationships within the virtual world are held

on a high pedestal and are identified to be very important. Various social and virtual platforms

have opened up the prospect of whole new connections and identities, which are formed within

new media and compete with ostensibly non-mediated forms of relationships and friendships. In

this regard, the new media have been investigated as a new social space that creates its own

relations and practices, rather than as media that are used within existing social relations and

practices.

2.5. Studies on the Mind Frame and Well-being of the User

Our virtual habitats have a deep psychological impact on us, at times, at an unconscious

level and we should be aware of it (Baid, 2020). Rubin et al. (2015) stated that the existing

literature on peer relationships indicates that friendships with age mates are crucial for the

psychosocial development and general well-being of the youth. Technology, social media in

particular, may play a vital role in establishing identity roles by allowing younger users and

consumers to experiment with various behaviors and interactional patterns.

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According to our five factor personality model, neuroticism corresponds to a person's

emotional instability and their susceptibility to be irritable (Grice, 2016). As with all the other

personality aspects, this could be affected by internet use. “Impulsivity, narcissism, and

aggression are some of the personality traits that seem to be nurtured by the Internet, with

possible negative offline consequences'' (Aboujaoude, 2017). Mehta (2018) stated that to study

the contribution of mindfulness and personality to PWB individually, it is also essential to

understand how mindfulness and personality relate. Several studies have investigated the

relationship between mindfulness and the Big five model of personality. Baer et al. examined the

validity of various measures of mindfulness and their relatedness to the Big Five personality

variables and found a common positive correlation between mindfulness and openness to

experience, and a non-significant relationship between mindfulness and extraversion. The

current research has successfully demonstrated the importance of both personality traits

(extraversion, conscientiousness, openness to experience, agreeableness, and neuroticism) as

well as mindfulness in predicting total psychological well-being.

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CHAPTER III

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter covers the many approaches that were employed in the data collection and

analysis for the research. The methodology will cover topics including the study's location,

research design, sampling and sample size, data types, data gathering method, and data

management.

3.1. Research Design

The researchers employed a phenomenological research design to determine the Duality

of online and Offline Identities of the selected senior highschool students in the vicinity of

Pampanga. Qualitative research provides an understanding of a situation or phenomenon that

tells the story rather than determining cause and effect (Fraenkel & Wallen, 2003; Glense, 1999).

Qualitative techniques are used to study human behavior and behavior changes, which was

applicable to this study.

This research employs the use of Phenomenology. This is because phenomenology

provides the most apt method of gathering and expounding information from data in this

particular field and situation. Phenomenology “is the direct investigation and description of

phenomena as consciously experienced, without theories about their causal explanation and as

free as possible from unexamined preconceptions and presuppositions” (Biemel, 2017, para. 1).

The researchers hope to find the most authentic and real anecdotal experiences of their

respondents, thus, phenomenology is the most appropriate and efficient method to analyze said

data.
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3.2. Locale of the Study

The locale of the study, Pampanga. The researchers chose Pampanga as the locale of the

study because of accessibility and convenience. The researchers, personally, observed that their

circle of friends are capable of possessing dual identities based on interaction; through real life

communication and virtual connection.

Don Bosco Academy - Bacolor, in the province of Pampanga, is where the researchers

are currently enrolled and studying. The researchers are the students of Senior High School

Grade 11 STEM. The researchers have been inquisitive regarding the online and offline identities

of students; that makes them interested and implicated in conducting this study.

3.3. Respondents of the Study

The respondents of this study are ten (10) Grade 11 students enrolled in different schools

within the vicinity of Pampanga. The respondents are considered socially active, both online and

offline. They have gained experiences and knowledge from interacting with other people through

social media while simultaneously building their image and identity. Having this quality gives us

researchers the opportunity to gain the necessary information for this study. The researchers used

purposive sampling to choose the respondents. Purposive sampling is a sampling technique in

which a researcher relies on his or her own judgment when choosing members of the population

to participate in the study.

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3.4. Measures and Instrument

Interviews is the instrument which will be used for this study. An interview is a

conversation for gathering information. It involves an interviewer, who coordinates the process

of the discourse and asks questions, and an interviewee, who responds to those asked questions.

Semi-structured interviews will be observed; the researchers will use a set of predetermined

questions and the respondents can answer in their own words. The researchers can probe areas

based on the respondent’s answer to ask supplementary questions for clarifications. Interview is

the chosen instrument because it suits the nature of the study and with the small sample of the

study, it will allow the researchers to dive deep and delve more into the conversations with the

respondents.

The interview questions will be divided into four (4) parts in order to have a smooth and

organized conference, come the actual interview. Part I will be the introductory questions that

will gather the profile of the respondents such as the demographic. Part II is specified for the

questions regarding the virtual self whilst Part III will be intended for the physical self. The last

segment, Part IV, is established for the questions about the duality of the two.

The interview questions had never been used; therefore they lacked validity and

reliability. In order to increase the reliability of the interview questions, a pilot study was

conducted with senior highschool aged students. Piloting the questionnaire aided the researchers

in determining the respondents’ understandability of the questions (Forsyth & Kviz, 2006).

Different types of questions were prearranged in order to inquire and explore the answers

of the respondents: background, knowledge, experience, opinions and values, feeling, and
 29

sensory questions. The interviews will be conducted over the telephone or through video calls in

order to obtain as much information as possible

3.5. Data Gathering Procedure

The researchers will first submit a letter of consent seeking permission to conduct an out

of the campus interview to the principal, Marilou P. Barotac, MATS, and the Senior High School

Coordinator, Mylene Anjanette S. Pinlac. In acquiring consent, it will then proceed with the

observation, interviews, and document analysis. The interviews will contain questions about their

experiences and observations of their behavior in and outside of the internet (E.g. Have you ever

noticed yourself acting a certain way in front of the screen or camera? Does it ever bother how

you interact with others?). For the convenience of the respondents interviews would be

performed with an available application of their choice. There will be 2-3 selected interviewers

which will be assigned to corresponding respondents. These interviews would be recorded with

the consent of the respondent, with the purpose to analyze the documented interviews. The

documents would be presented to all the members for the inspection and analysis of all gathered

data. The analysis of the gathered data will be focusing on categorizing the commonalities and

differences of their experiences.

3.6. Ethical Consideration

According to Bhandari 2021, ethical considerations in research are a set of principles that

guide the researchers’ designs and practices. Researchers must ensure that the rights of the
 30

research subjects are not violated in any way. “All researchers have good influence, but if they

are not careful, their studies can place individuals in situations that involve risk” (Gall, 1996).

A number of ethical considerations were observed during the construction of this study.

First and foremost, researchers respect each and every one of their respondents. It is important

for the researchers to keep their respondents’ personal information private and confidential, and

their identities anonymous. It should also be stated that the respondents had free will to

participate in the interviews, and researchers asked for their consent to be interviewed prior.

Consent Letters were written and distributed to those who needed to be sent one. It was made

clear by the researchers’ research advisor that permission should be first obtained before

proceeding to the gathering of information from certain students, permission to conduct research

outside school premises and to request time from our respondents were asked within these

letters.
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CHAPTER IV

DATA PRESENTATION, FINDINGS, AND ANALYSIS

The purpose of this study is to figure out what aspects of the duality of online and offline

Senior High School students that are very engaged on social media that may be causing conflict

within oneself.

This chapter of the paper provides the data gathered from the ten (10) students within the

vicinity of Pampanga who served as respondents of this research. The researchers conducted an

interview regarding the research topic stated in the study from the time period of April 18, 2021

to April 22, 2022. It is expected to see different and various responses of students who have

accepted to be interviewed. The collected data will be represented through analysis and

interpretation that has been organized according to the research questions enumerated in the

second chapter of this paper . The researchers employed a phenomenological research design to

determine the duality of online and offline identities. The researchers hope to find the most

authentic and real anecdotal experiences of their respondents, thus, phenomenology is the most

appropriate and efficient method to analyze said data.

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4.2. Demographic of the Respondents

Participant I.D. Gender Age Screentime (daily) Introversion and

Extraversion (traits)

1AM Male 17 6 hours Introvert

2AT Male 17 7 hours Ambivert

3AA Male 17 7 hours Extrovert

4IH Male 17 7-9 hours Extrovert

5JF Male 17 15 hours Extrovert

6JS Male 17 6 hours Ambivert

7KR Male 17 5-6 hours Extrovert

8ZN Male 17 16 hours Ambivert

9HM Female 17 16 hours Introvert

10JT Female 17 8 hours Extrovert

The figure above provides data on the categories of respondents according to gender, age, and

their daily usage of mobile smartphones. Normally at the indicated screen time range, many of the

respondents usually use 80-90% for social media.

The researchers noticed that there was a lack of respondents for pivotal points in certain

phenomena in regard with introverts. This means that the researchers are aware that the findings

are more inclined to extroverts and ambiverts due to the surplus of extroverted respondents.

Accordingly, Correa et al. (2010) showed that extraversion is positively related to social media

use, while Ross et al. found no correlation between the time spent online or the use of

communicative Facebook features (Ross et al., 2009). As stated the research can still be

continued with more respondents since there is an immeasurable phenomena in regard to duality.
 33

Shown in the column above; 40% of the respondents consume an estimate of 4 - 6 hours, while

the other 30% with an estimate of 7 - 9 hours, and the last 30% spend their screen time with an estimate

of 10 or more hours with a total of a 100% with their fingertips glued to a screen with content.

4.3. Research Findings

This part of the chapter will showcase the findings of the data obtained from the

individual interviewees on the awareness of dual identities in online and offline. The data was

extracted according to the research questions. The researchers used the five factors (Costa &

McCrae, 1985) or the Big Five (Goldberg, 1981) composed of the components: neuroticism,

extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness as introduced in our

theoretical framework.

4.3.1. The Expression of Five Factor Personality Traits on the Internet and in Person

The following categories display a sort of discrepancy between the respondents’ virtual

and physical selves on how they express or manifest factors from the Five Factor Personality

Model. The following aims to document anecdotal recounts of respondents’ experiences and how

they can be categorized into the five factors.

Dimension of Personality in Extraversion

Dimensions of personality are indefinite, and having the social media, a new social space,

and the physical world, are the variables for the dimensions to take into account. One collective

group of these dimensions is Extraversion which is included in the five factor personality traits.

High extraversion makes a person be an extrovert, an outgoing and sociable person, and low
 34

extraversion makes a person be an introvert, a reserved individual who prefers to be alone. A

particular group namely ambivert those who are positioned just in between, having both qualities

of introvert and extrovert. Evaluating oneself, gauging what particular group one belongs to

helps personal development.

“I am an extroverted person, so I am outgoing” (10JT)

“[...] kung sino lang kakilala ko, dun lang ako maingay” (2AT)

Increased diversity of social spaces correlates with the increase of the tendencies of

duality. Realizing uncanny differences in his/her own expectation in his/her actions in social

media or in the physical world, may leave possible permanent change/s on his/herself. Like our

respondents said:

“as minsan out of nowhere sa mga public server sa Discord, bigla nalang ako umiingay

bigla” (2AT)

“My extrovert side comes out when I socialize on the internet.” (6JS)

Therefore the collective group of extraversion, where individuals belong to three certain

groups, can be reliant on what experiences the user comes into contact with in the virtual and

physical world. These niches increase the possibility of creating a separate personality. Taking

into account these tendencies will further personal development.

 35

Neuroticism & Openness to Experience

Neuroticism is described as a person’s propensity to unstable emotions such as anxiety

and irritability. Openness to experience refers to a person’s confidence and ability to try out new

experiences and inquisitiveness to the things around them. These two factors of the five factor

model are brought together to describe respondents’ openness to experience new social situations

through social media or their anxiety and uneasy feelings towards interacting through social

media.

The duality of personalities or the discrepancy between how people express themselves

online compared to offline may be linked to the confidence Social Media gives them.

“[...] kung sino lang kakilala ko, dun lang ako maingay, tas minsan out of nowhere sa

mga public server sa Discord, bigla nalang ako umiingay bigla” (2AT)

“With how I tweet, I don’t talk that way [in real life]. I just use a lot of forms of

expression na I wouldn’t say in person but I have the guts to say online” (3AA)

Respondents who described themselves as introverts or ambiverts found themselves to be

more outgoing than normal when interacting with others online. Even extroverted people who

described themselves to be outgoing even in real life, said that they would say things in social

media that they wouldn’t have the ‘guts’ to say in real life.

It can also be said that Social Media can be a source of anxiety or other feelings of

neuroticism. Social Media has a unique pressure that imposes on an actively online person’s life.
 36

“I can see myself the way other people can see me, it's just puts more pressure talking to

people [because] the stuff can be recorded” (1AM)

“having dual personalities can maybe lead to things like overthinking and anxiety” (4IH)

Some respondents described their experience in social media as promoting feelings of

pressure and anxiety. With the culture surrounding Social Media and the toll it has on its users,

some users are more wary or self conscious about their actions on the platforms.

Social media can bridge the gap for others to be more confident in a new platform, while

for others, it can be overwhelming having so many eyes on you. Either way, there is a clear gap

between feelings of neuroticism and propensity for new activities between respondents as their

virtual and physical selves.

Agreeableness & Conscientiousness

Agreeableness manifests in empathetic and sympathetic behavior. Conscientiousness

corresponds to a person’s feeling of responsibility. How these two factors interact in people’s

personalities both online and offline are crucial to determine a person’s actions and attitudes both

in their virtual and physical selves.

“there are people na mahahalata mo they act differently online than when you meet them,

not [often] negative. Sometimes they need to cater to the audience or like nahihiya pa sila, so it

is understandable” (3AA)
 37

Respondents showed to be empathetic of others in their observations of other people’s

behavior. When asked about if they have observed if people have had different personalities

online and offline, most were very in touch and had a deep understanding of the people around

them and how they acted.

“I am active when sharing political views” (7KR)

Many of our peers that are politically active also share these views on Social Media. One

respondent spoke about sharing political views over social media. A person’s sense of social

responsibility in their communities, manifest these behaviors through the platforms where they

are frequently online.

4.3.2. Effects of Duality to Self-Esteem & Temperament

How we perceive other people, how we value ourselves, and our tendency to behave in

both the virtual and physical world are also affected through the presence of the duality of

identities. In the virtual world, we tend to project a more polished and pleasing version of

ourselves, altering certain aspects of who we are to make us seem more likable.

“I tend to present a more perfect, innocent, and filtered version of myself. I don't show

everything because I want to seem appealing.” (3AA)

"It is as if you are concealing yourself because you show that you are happy even when

deep inside you are not." (5FJ)

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These altered versions are what are usually praised within the virtual world, thus causing a

person to lower their self-esteem regarding their true identity. It teaches this false belief that an

inauthentic version of ourselves is tantamount to a better version of ourselves.

An individual’s temperament influences how they experience and express themselves in

different situations. Adolescents who have grown up in a world of constant online

communication cannot imagine the childhoods of most clinicians, who grew up without it.

Respondents who exposed themselves to Social Media at a young age found themselves to be

more interactive online than in real life.

“Maaga ako na-expose sa Social Media, somehow it became a part of my routine

na.”(4IH)

“Madalang lang maginteract with [other] people kase nakakulong lang ako sa kwarto

[gumagamit ng Social Media].” (4IH)

It appears that communicating online allows people to enhance existing relationships as

well as foster new ones with similar people that they may not encounter day to day. With the

diverse population Social Media is offering, some users tend to have a comfortability based

personality, conscious opinions, and an in-depth view of a person.

“It bothers me and changes my personality when I am talking to unknown people. Pero

when it comes to my friends, pinapakita ko yung totoong ako” (7KR)

 39

However, when asked about their approachability, it is observed that the respondents are

convivial and sociable whenever and if only if an individual is the one who reached for them

first.

“Kapag may nag-approach sa akin, inaacomodate ko naman pero kapag ako ang

mauuna [makipag-usap] hindi.” (5JF)

“I'm not usually approaching others to interact [but] still conversible and open.” (8ZN)

Putting the online into the offline identities reinforces both: it implies that Internet or Social

Media, society, community, or social ties, and at best analyzes how one affects and impacts the

other. The points developed at the aforementioned statement break down the dualism and see

how each configures each other, especially at the matter of self-esteem and temperament.

4.3.3. Inauthenticity and Genuineness

Inauthenticity and Genuineness are conflicting adjectives to describe an identity of a

person. Having one of these adjectives can influence an individual’s perspective to interactions

with others and to a person’s personality. Bringing these adjectives towards the virtual world can

cause either misconceptions or trueness to the person interacting with. Inauthenticity can cause

an individual to self-confusion of what true identity is, while genuineness can cause an

individual self-sameness and consistency of true identity.

“Have 2 sides of attitude,calmer and energetic, depending on the people who you interact

with.” (6JS)

“Personality differs on what boundaries are up with each person/group of people.”

(3AA)
 40

“My personality changes on each person, it depends on how comfortable I am with

them.” (9HM)

Personalities are dependent on the comfortability of the person who they interact with.

Eight out of ten of the interviewees answered the same. These comfortability based personalities

are shown as extroverts, e.g, energetic, lively, outgoing, etc.

“At times, siguro may pinuput akong personality, parang you’re presenting a different

self parang more perfect in a sense version of you, filtered parang ganon. You don’t show

everything, I think I do that sometimes” (3AA)

“Mapapaisip ka nalang talaga, also, I care a lot of what people think about me di ko

kakayanin na mabash ako so I keep myself clean in social media pero I still show my true

personality” (4IH)

Filtered version of a person shows only the positive sides of personality. These

personalities are described as pleasing to the eyes of the other person. Keeping negative

personalities to themselves makes straightforward interactions but little understanding with each

other. In the eyes of the other person, they see a perfect person without building up a connection

to form a relationship.

“Believes that how you act in real life will inevitably affect how you act in social media

because you only have 1 true identity.” (9HM)

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“Yung pag-act in social media compared sa pag-act sa irl is hindi naman exactly the

same pero may similarities paren, kase ikaw naman paren yung tao behind the screen.” (4IH)

“I believe that what I act on social media is also me in real life.” (5JF)

Genuine personality comes from the combination of a person’s personality online and

offline. Online personality comes from a part of real life personality, and vice versa. Both

personalities affect and influence one another.

“Other people may judge/have wrong or bad assumptions on you.” (2AT)

“Baka kala ng mga friends mo sa social media is ganon rin ang personality mo in real

life.” (7KR)

Having a different personality online can cause inaccurate impressions. People who know

a person online have different perspectives than people who know a person in real life, causing

misunderstanding and misconceptions about the person. This also affects the interaction between

online and offline interactions.

“Quoting a classmate, saying that there is a lot of space to move in social media. Like

experimenting with self-representation and drivel he said.” (8ZN)

“Duality of identities is a positive thing because it can help a person understand and see

all sides or personalities of a person.” (6JS)

Having dual identities means that there is more to explore to a person. Being able to

discover something new by understanding and experimenting with online and offline
 42

personalities through interactions and experiences in online and in real life. Having

self-awareness can boost a person’s confidence since an individual understands and knows all

sides of their personality.

4.4. Research Analysis

This section interprets and analyzes the findings of the research discussed by the section

above. The research will analyze and identify any aspects regarding the causality of probable

misconceptions and the actual case of the situation. Recommendations will be mentioned in

chapter five.

4.4.1. The Expression of Five Factor Personality Traits on the Internet and in Person

The five factor personality will also be displayed in the next categories for our analysis,

since these factors correlate in numerous and diverse ways internal or external. The following

analysis will discuss the five factor personalities’ interconnection more in detail.

Dimension of Personality in Extraversion

The involvement of Extraversion, one of the simplest ranges of personality that will be

able to represent the way you behave, assists how you view yourself. The usual behavior is

described and possibly already gauged by the individual, but in the two niches, virtual and

physical world, the behavior may be inconsistent. Inconsistency only proves the conversion of

personality. Simplifying the identification of the possible first variable affected to be

extraversion, should there be any sudden misinterpretation of others or oneself.

 43

Social media of various forms and applications and its principal to be the new mode of

communication. An infinite world of information within a world, making it easier and increasing

the probability of creating or obtaining duality. Numerous scenarios can result in creating or

obtaining duality.

One specific scenario coming from one of our respondents is using social media while

playing online games. Performing such activities will for sure bring out any sociability there is

within oneself, increasing the extraversion of an individual. This scenario resulted in our

respondent being more extroverted in the real world, but they still can be identified to be in the

group of introverts, while maintaining the image of an extrovert in the virtual world. Ambiverts

who have a balance of both attributes of the introverts and extroverts, ambiverts per se tend to

have more extrovert attributes in the virtual, than in the physical world as observed with our

respondents. Though they themselves expect not too much in socializing online, especially when

it comes to public platforms online, there are situations where they act out of character. It can be

proved that they were bothered by the uncanny and sudden action, wherein they’re left

questioning themselves. The stated scenarios are examples wherein the formation of duality is

naturally obtained/occurring.The scenario wherein the creation of duality is intentional will

further be discussed in the next sections.

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The indefinite Dimensions of Personality, regrouping them collectively in Extraversion is

of relevance in identifying duality. A particular variable wherein if there is any change in

comparison to the virtual and physical world, duality may be identified.

Neuroticism & Openness to Experience

Social Media and the wider usage of technology as a whole, creates a distinct

environment from a person’s real world. This allows for a new and novel way to represent

oneself separate from how they present themselves in the real world. This subtopic aims to focus

on the fact that it is a new and separate experience and how people cope with that new avenue.

In some situations, Social Media can open new doors and allow users to be more

outgoing or confident within the virtual world. The use of social media can be a canvas with

which people can create and experiment with their personality. Some respondents recounted

about observing others experiment with their personalities and how it seems that Social Media

helps them achieve this. But this sense of freedom within Social Networks, and its pervasiveness

in our modern day, means that anyone and everyone can see one’s posts. This creates an air of

caution within some respondents and their experience with social media. Where they feel they

are under a sense of scrutiny when they express themselves within it.

But the two: openness to experience and neuroticism, may be connected in that the

culture within the Internet promotes negative emotions. As Aboujaoude (2017) claims,

aggression and narcissism among others, seem to be nurtured within the Internet. The growing

sentiment within respondents is that they find it odd when they see others act drastically different
 45

online compared to how they act in real life and some might even feel a certain pressure to act

differently or more appealing on Social Media themselves because they feel the pressure from

the audience that comes with being an active member and user of Social Media.

Agreeableness & Conscientiousness

The factors agreeableness and conscientiousness aims to measure and observe an

individual’s ability to be empathetic of others and an individual’s sense of responsibility. The

place of agreeableness and conscientiousness in this research is based on respondents’ ability to

make empathetic relationships with others and their community. Respondents’ identities are also

linked with who they interact with, whether it is with strangers or their close friends. According

to Berger et al. (2017), friendships are important relationships in an individual’s life span, and

how adept individuals are at feelings of sympathy, empathy, and responsibility toward others can

definitely affect their relationships.

Social media is an extension of society, and the way communities and individuals interact

within it can be a reflection of society in the physical world. Among all factors mentioned in the

Five Factor Model, respondents’ agreeableness and conscientiousness, or in other words their

ability to relate to others and their sense of social responsibility, did not seem to change whether

they were interacting with others on Social Media or in real life. Respondents did not show any

sign of discrepancy on how they related with others and empathetic behavior. Respondents who

also expressed forms of social responsibility, such as sharing their political views on social

media, expressed that said behavior is not exclusive to their virtual selves, and is present in how

they express themselves both online and offline. This could be that respondents’ propensity to be

understanding of others and to be conscientious are often rooted in their physical selves, and that
 46

this behavior is translated into their virtual selves. But in relation to other Factor Traits the said

factors are still high in the probability of being altered. This is to be taken with a grain of salt for

the sample size taking into consideration the factor being analyzed, is much too small to

conclude to clear and reproducible results.

4.4.2. Effects of Duality to Self-Esteem & Temperament

A lot of factors are brought into this subtopic, a person who finds themselves exposed to

Social Media at an early age is able to communicate with ease in the virtual world, thus spending

more time in Social Media. These media-savvy individuals grow to become more aware of the

existence of the duality of identities and how it affects a person’s Self-Esteem and Temperament,

because they themselves are subconsciously investing more time in possibly developing another

version of themselves within the virtual world.

Social Media is an arena oftentimes filled with strangers, with that being stated, people

find it difficult to interact comfortably with others in this Platform. We learned that a person’s

personality is ultimately comfortability based, that is why people would rather project a filtered

version of themselves rather than an authentic version of who they are, it is difficult to be

unfiltered and genuine when communicating with people you are not even acquainted with. This

inevitably affects a person’s Self-Esteem because the ‘filtered version’ of themselves is what is

deemed acceptable and better by most people. This finding is supported by the studies on the

portrayals of self-representation in virtual spaces and reality, Cojocaru et al. (2020) mentioned

that online identities are usually built in an idealized manner, a carefully curated version of one’s

sense of self, focusing on a polished appearance and on placing certain cultural cues that are

considered positive or valuable and that would raise the appreciation or envy of other users.
 47

In connection with the theories laid in our framework, agreeableness revolves around

being cooperative and kind. When a person is comfortable interacting with another person

through social media, their agreeableness is increased. Agreeableness affects the person of a

behavior and personality, this is given emphasis in this theme.

4.4.3. Inauthenticity and Genuineness

Inauthenticity and genuineness presents personality traits that are shown based on the

comfortability of a person to who they interact with, the filtered version of a person shown

online, genuinity of personalities online and offline, inaccurate impressions of virtual self

causing misconceptions, and exploring self-representations of a person.

This theme is connected to the studies on interactions of individuals within technology

and presented information. This point presents studies that show that adolescents engage in

constant interactions in social media. In these interactions, adolescents focus more on what fits in

their society. Connecting the filtered version of a person, only showing pleasant personality to

engage with others. “People used the Internet as a tool for self-understanding; to try out new

features in a fascinating environment.” (Georgieva, 2011). Adolescents seek out something new

to experience and explore themselves in social media. Interacting with different types of people,

activities, and events. Gaining new values and authenticity. Having explored a person’s own

understanding and discovery, gives a person consciousness of self. Ito et al. (2008) found that

youth tend to use social media to gather information and to connect with others who share their

interests. It appears that communicating online allows people to enhance existing relationships as

well as foster new ones with similar people that they may not encounter day to day. Strangers are
 48

mostly found within the world of social media and personality towards strangers are completely

different than a person’s personality with their friends, family, ect. Personality is based on a

person’s comfortability towards a person or group. In other words, the relationship in between.

Social media causes positive and negative effects. Positive effects include finding the genuine

personality of a person. Reflecting with both online and offline identities. Meanwhile, negative

effects include the inaccurate impression of others to virtual identities.

Among the five factors that influence a person’s personality, Neuroticism and Openness

to experience have more relation to the theme than the other factors. Neuroticism refers to the

feelings of distress, anxiety, and irritability. The anxiety of the filtered person comes from

constant filtering to suit what is pleasing in society. Inaccurate impressions can bring forth

anxiety to the person with a filtered personality and to the person interacting with them. These

impressions can be taken from a person's personality in a particular niche and can cause

misconceptions that might be the root for further anxiety. Having a filtered personality is one of

the factors of these impressions. Openness to experience refers to the propensity of a person to

try new tasks. This is relevant to exploring self-representations.

4.5. Discussion of Overall Results

This chapter has further and thoroughly discussed the researchers’ findings in relation to

previous components of the research especially Theoretical Framework and Review of Related

Literature. The result of the findings proves the point of duality being a naturally

occurring/phenomenon, having 10 out of 10 of our respondents admit they have encountered

duality from themselves and others in both virtual and physical worlds even though that around 2
 49

out of 10 were not too aware of its existence, only being enlightened after the research.The Five

Factor Personality Traits have also been proven to be practical in our research. The duality that is

present in our respondents and their environment, may have different purposes and causes. The

duality may have negative and positive results. Existence of duality may add the opportunity to

know oneself or others depending on the scenario, because duality can still be seen as only facets

to the gem of your genuine self. It can also be concluded as a concern of what duality affects the

person's temperament, the anxiety they hold just to act to what the society pleases and deems

acceptable, resulting in misconceptions of others’ and may reconstruct a new set of values to

oneself.
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CHAPTER V

SUMMARY, NEW INSIGHTS GAINED, AND RECOMMENDATION

In this part of the research chapter, the conclusion derived from the findings of the study

on the duality of online and offline identity. This chapter is presented in three sections. The first

section covers the overall summary of the researchers’ study, it presents the statement of the

problem and an overview of the researchers’ findings. The second section contributes the

insights gained by the researchers, the insights are supported by data obtained from the study.

The third section includes the recommendations of the researchers for future studies.

5.1. Summary

5.1.1. What are the impacts of Social Media on the online and offline identities of the

students?

Since the tendency to behave is affected with the presence of duality in online and

offline worlds, the relationships held in both worlds are affected and the sets of beliefs

and values can be reconstructed.

a. Interactions

The way of interacting is affected mainly by the following. Comfortability,

the more comfortable the individual is, the more genuine he/she presents

themselves. The purpose, in what niche individuals are currently in, such as in

what type of social media/application and social setting is also a variable. The
 51

extraversion also is one practical variable affected which is easily identifiable

when there are certain changes. It was also mentioned that the authors argue that

the perceived anonymity and distance of computer-mediated communication help

overcome social inhibitions Blumer, T., Döring, N., (2012). Since there was data

of respondents increasing in extraversion with their interactions online.

b. Sentiment

Sentiment is the attitude of an individual towards an event or situation; an

opinion. Impressions of individuals in the virtual and physical world may differ in

various ways, so having opinions of others may only be misinterpretations. It

could also increase neuroticism developing an attitude not ought. It should be

taken into consideration that in the virtual world, the image presented of

themselves are not completely lies, but they are also parts of their genuine selves.

This will be further discussed in the next section in relation with neuroticism and

conscientiousness.

5.1.2. How does online and offline identities affect a person’s perspective in day to

day living?

Social media creates another world for a person. The filtered version of a person

is shown through the virtual world. Encountering someone’s filtered version online has

set the recognition of a person, while interacting with them offline sets a different

perspective, vice versa, causing inaccurate impressions and assumptions. On the other
 52

hand, the person with a filtered version of themselves affects their set of beliefs and

values, following the standards of social media mostly. Setting an importance to keep an

image, the duality, to be someone who they’re not. It increases a person’s sense of

conscientiousness and possibly neuroticism, constantly affecting their behavior to project

a specific image that is conscious of their actions that may be caused by anxiety. | The

prevalence of dual identities produces an impact on how we view other people, how we

regard oneself, and how we behave in both the virtual and actual worlds. Social media

creates a community where interacting with other individuals seems to be much more

free and convenient than its offline counterpart. This results in people who describe

themselves as introverts to be more vocal and outgoing than normal when interacting

with others online. Even extroverted individuals who characterize themselves as outgoing

in real life stated that they would say things in social media that they wouldn’t have the

courage to say in person or in real life. On the other hand, these two different worlds do

not hinder an individual to filter or totally change their personalities when interacting

based on their comfortability. Ultimately, a person’s personality is closeness or

comfortability based that is why people, both in the virtual and real worlds, would rather

project an altered version of who they are. It is difficult to be unfiltered and genuine when

communicating with people you have never managed to meet.

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5.2. New Insights Gained

5.2.1. What are the impacts of Social Media on the online and offline identities of the

students?

Duality of a person is a situation that can be dealt with. The relationship between

self and others are affected by alterations of personality in online and offline worlds.

a. Interactions

A person’s ability to subconsciously alter their personality and behavior

based on their comfortability in certain niches is both a benefit and an affliction.

Choosing the right impressions to project an image befitting for the environment

is beneficial for both the user and purpose of the setting, but if there was a

specific purpose, and there was a lack of comfortability, this may lead to

inconvenience. It was also proven that there is an increase of extraversion with

use of the internet , specifically social media may be due to anonymity,

concluding that interacting online continuously is a great opportunity to socialize.

b. Sentiment

Duality of identities can be taken as an opportunity to get to know and

understand a person’s actual personality. This opportunity can also be used to

self-reflect and explore your uniqueness. Since it was concluded that the images

they present are also and only parts of their true personality, it can be deduced to

be more open. But since neuroticism, specifically the feeling of anxiety is not

completely controllable, suggesting to try to be more open and considerate will

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aid the algorithm to develop healthier processing of setting proper insights and

impressions.

5.2.2. How does online and offline identities affect a person’s perspective in day to

day living?

The duality of online and offline identities creates a subconscious within people to

constantly fabricate themselves in order to be held in esteem by others. It affects a

person’s perspective in day to day living in a way that it makes them be constantly aware

of their actions and behavior. It is human nature to always want to project good

impressions onto other people, and to obtain this, a person will usually avoid projecting

authenticity and will create another version of who they are, which ultimately causes

misconceptions about their true identity. The neuroticism that comes with the pressures of

Social Media causes conscientious individuals to be more wary of the way they present

themselves, which in turn, causes more feelings of anxiety and general neuroticism down

the line. The effects can be established to be diverse and are hard to be structured due to

the data not being explicit. People who identify themselves as introverts or people who

spend more time online tend to be comfortable and uninhibited in social media. One

reason for this is that social media users have a sense of anonymity. It can also be said

that online communication can benefit extraverted people as well, allowing them to

maintain social dominance within virtual platforms. That being said, it should also be

stated that this is not the case with everyone, results are inconsistent and they vary from

person to person.
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5.3. Recommendations

Based on the findings and conclusion presented on the previous chapter the following

recommendations are suggested:

5.3.1 For Further Research

1. Widen the variety in the demographics of the respondents.

2. Greater number of respondents for larger scale.

3. Utilization of a new basis for the Theoretical Framework, besides ours The Five Factor

Models of Personality.

4. A model dividing the personalities online in specific applications.

5. Experimental research methodology of continuous internet usage affects introversion and

extraversion.

5.3.2 For Practical Actions

1. Raise awareness of the duality of identities to individuals.

2. Highlight the significance of authenticity regarding an individual’s personality.

3. Teach a proper approach to duality in online platforms.

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5.4. Conclusion

The objective of the study is to identify and understand the duality of identities in online

and offline worlds. Social media is mostly the focus in the virtual world and in real life focus on

in person interactions. The research needed samples that are socially active. This study gave the

researchers some challenges that keep recurring every chapter. The lack of diversity of the

respondents gave the researchers a finite amount of data to be acquired. The researchers achieved

the objective of this study and learned something new from the findings of this research that

widened our knowledge on dual identity.

Hopefully this research contributed to an understanding of the experiences of individuals

who navigate through the virtual world on a daily basis and its findings and recommendations

can serve as a basis for future research projects regarding dual identities present in numerous

social platforms. The researchers also hope that the experiences of the respondents could be used

to create more conversations, spread further awareness, and educate a wider scale of individuals

regarding the existence of dual identities, how they are formed, and the misconceptions that they

occasionally produce.

Being in the postmodern media era, active use of social media is used to construct their

identities. The existence of the virtual and physical world, wherein the virtual have more

accessible and indefinite opportunities to experiment, making almost a lot of actions by some

certain netizens to be questionable and unpredictable. The natural response of individuals to have

a personality according to their setting is being transformed to a more diverse and complicated

phenomenon. Based on the related literature, points aligned with the data acquired. The present
 57

research was conducted to identify some parts of the duality of identities existing in the newly

diverse social community there is.

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