A SOCIAL NETWORK FOR FRESHMEN TO GET IN CONTACT

Students in their freshman year at the University indicate that one of the most important problems they have is getting new contacts (Psychology and Youth Forum, 2009). This constitutes an essential point to solve since a suitable social network affects to both social quality life and academic performance (Morales, 1999; Requena, 1998). In the present research a computer program for students to get in contact is presented. In order to set up different students couples, several criteria based on psychosocial models were employed (Baron & Byrne, 1991; Festinger, 1957; Heider, 1958; Newcomb, 1953, 1961; Simpson, Fletcher, Campbell, 2001). The study involved three steps. At the first one, participants should answer a question survey about attitudinal, personality, self-acceptance, and sociodemographic variables. At the second step, each participant received an e-mail where the assigned person’s Messenger address was provided. Each couple should have more than 77% of similar attitudinal answers. After two months of interaction, an e-mail was sent asking for their satisfaction with the assigned person, and their intention of having a personal date. The implications of this computer program use are discussed.