The Investigation of Direct and Indirect Effects of Virtual Social Networks on Students Social and Learning Outcomes

The aim of this research was the investigation of direct and indirect effects of virtual social networks on student’s social and learning outcomes. Research method was casual-correlation. The statistical population of this research included 4500 students of Islamic Azad University and Payame Noor University of Saqez in the 2016-17 academic year. According to the statistical population and using Krejcie & Morgan sampling table, 354 people were selected as the sample by stratified random sampling method. In order to collect research data, Yan Yu et al. virtual social networks, social and learning outcomes questionnaires were used. The questionnaire has 26 items that measure research variables included: using virtual social networks, acculturation, social acceptance, self-esteem, satisfaction of University life and performance proficiency. To assess the validity of this questionnaire, formal and content validity and to assess reliability exploratory factor analysis and coefficient of Cronbach's alpha were used. Cronbach's alpha was 0.85. Data were analyzed by Pearson correlation test and path analysis using SPSS and Amos software. The result showed that using virtual social networks has a positive and significant relationship with social outcomes and learning outcomes. Also, the results of path analysis showed that using virtual social networks does not directly affect the learning outcomes, but by mediating social outcomes has indirectly effect on the outcomes of student learning.