Page 331 - RUICHSS 2023 Proceeding

University of Ruhuna ISSN: 2706-0063
Matara, Sri Lanka

the identity of homosexuality within Sri Lanka. Deliberate purposive sampling

is employed to discern fervent LGBT+ users of Facebook, Instagram, and
Twitter, via social media platforms and web forums. The study's quantitative

facet employs a self-administered online survey, incorporating closed-ended

inquiries to ascertain demographic particulars, and to gauge the frequency and
intensity of LGBT+ individuals' social media engagement in Sri Lanka.

Furthermore, the qualitative arm of the study employs semi-structured
interviews to glean profound insights into the utilisation of social media by Sri

Lankan LGBT+ individuals to articulate and bolster their identities. Drawing

from extant literature and study themes, interview questions are fashioned. To
ensure linguistic adeptness and respondent ease, interviews are conducted in

participants' native tongue, recorded, and transcribed verbatim for meticulous
scrutiny.

The amassed data extracted from the survey and interviews will be scrutinised

individually, and subsequently integrated to offer a comprehensive

understanding of the role played by social media in amplifying the identity of
homosexuality in Sri Lanka. Quantitative data shall be subjected to descriptive

statistics, delineating the prevalence and vigor of social media use by Sri

Lankan LGBT+ individuals. In tandem, qualitative data will be methodically
examined through thematic analysis to unearth emergent patterns and insights

concerning the utilisation of social media to foster LGBT+ identities within
Sri Lanka. This mixed-methods inquiry holds the promise of a nuanced

exploration into the dynamic interface of social media and identity
propagation of homosexuality. By encapsulating the frequency, intensity,
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