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// THESIS GUIDANCE PORTAL · Social Science

Social Media's Influence on Political Participation Among Nepali Youth

Level: Bachelor, MasterDifficulty: Intermediate

1. Introduction & Problem Statement

Overview: Study of how platforms like TikTok and Facebook shaped youth political engagement in recent elections.

Background Context (Nepal): The rapid diffusion of smartphones and social media platforms (TikTok, Facebook, YouTube) in Nepal has created new digital public spheres, transforming youth political campaigning, civic discourse, and voter turnout.

2. Research Objectives

  • ›Measure frequency and nature of political content consumption on TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube among youth aged 18–28
  • ›Examine relationship between social media political engagement and online/offline civic participation (voting, rallies, petitions)
  • ›Analyze role of independent viral campaigns and political satire memes during recent parliamentary and local elections
  • ›Evaluate youth vulnerability to viral political misinformation and fake news during election periods
  • ›Provide digital media literacy policy recommendations for the Election Commission of Nepal

3. Proposed Methodology

  1. Cross-sectional online and offline survey of 300 youth voters across Kathmandu, Chitwan, and Morang districts
  2. Digital Civic Engagement Scale measuring online discussion, content sharing, and offline political activity
  3. Multiple Linear Regression modeling in SPSS identifying predictors of youth voter turnout
  4. Content analysis of top 50 viral political TikTok clips and Facebook memes during election cycles
  5. Pearson correlation analysis linking social media usage hours with political efficacy

$ Worked Example / Sample Scenario

Sample Scenario: Surveying 300 youth voters reveals that active political engagement on TikTok (following candidates, sharing commentary) positively predicts offline voting participation (Beta = 0.32, p < 0.001), independent of traditional party affiliation.

4. Thesis Chapter-by-Chapter Outline

Chapter 1: IntroductionTU/KU standard

Background, problem statement, research questions, objectives, scope, limitations, and significance of the study

Chapter 2: Literature ReviewTU/KU standard

Theoretical framework, conceptual models, previous empirical studies in Nepal and developing nations, networked public sphere theory, uses and gratifications, and digital democracy literature in South Asia, and gap analysis

Chapter 3: Research MethodologyTU/KU standard

Research design, population/sampling framework, data collection instruments, analytical tools, and ethical considerations

Chapter 4: Data Analysis & ResultsTU/KU standard

Empirical findings, statistical testing, model estimations, regression analysis of voter participation, content analysis charts, and fake news exposure scores, and detailed discussion

Chapter 5: Conclusion & RecommendationsTU/KU standard

Summary of key findings, theoretical contributions, policy recommendations, and future research directions

5. Recommended Tools & Technologies

To implement the practical, technical, or analytical portions of this thesis topic, the following software tools, libraries, or APIs are recommended:

SPSSNVivo / MAXQDAMS ExcelGoogle Forms

6. Core References & Academic Sources

  • [1]Election Commission of Nepal — Voter Turnout & Civic Education Reports
  • [2]Center for Study of Labour and Mobility (CESLAM) / Martin Chautari — Media Research Papers
  • [3]New Media & Society / Asian Journal of Communication / NepJOL

7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How do you define youth age in Nepal political research?

The Ministry of Youth and Sports defines youth as individuals aged 16–40, though political studies typically focus on young voters aged 18–29.

Q: What is the Networked Public Sphere theory?

Formulated by Yochai Benkler, it posits that digital peer networks allow citizens to create, alter, and distribute political dialogue outside traditional corporate media gatekeepers.

Q: How do you conduct content analysis of TikTok videos?

You sample top-viewed videos using specific political hashtags, establish a coding codebook (tone, message theme, visual style), and code video attributes.

Q: Where can I access official voter registration data in Nepal?

The Election Commission of Nepal publishes voter list summaries broken down by district and age cohort on their website.

Related Thesis Topics & Student Tools

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