A strong focus has been placed on Qualitative Research in the past few weeks of classes. We have learned an extensive amount on the subject, and as a result last weeks blog focus was Qualitative Research. Classmates blogged on a variety of topics that use Qualitative Research from sports to entertainment to politics. One blog post that I felt especially interesting was classmate Christina's. In her blog, she spoke on the issue of the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" law regarding homosexuals in the military. I had no idea that qualitative research, focus groups to be exact, were used to discuss the positives and negatives of repealing the the law. This made me realize that focus groups can be and are used for serious subject matters and not just to get opinions on whether or not a company should come out with a lawn mower that is complete with a cup holder.
Another blog that I read was classmate Katerina's. She blogged about how qualitative research is also used in social media; Facebook in particular. Katerina mentioned that the discussion section on Facebook pages was a good source to find out opinions and stories on different topics. As relevant as social media is in todays use of Public Relations, I would never have thought to use the discussion boards on Facebook for research. It was very eye opening because you never know who is reading what you post and using your posts in their research. Anyone can read what you write (most of the time) so be careful in what you post, or you may just end up in someone's study!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Qualitative Research
Qualitative research is used when the mass media observe what people say and do. Qualitative research is used because it is good at telling stories from the participants' perspectives. Blogs are written for the masses to read about what others say and do. Blogs are used to tell stories from the writers perspective. Do you see the same connection here that I do?
This type of research and blogging have become paired very well together since blogging has become more and more popular. According to the article "Entering the blogosphere" (this article, by the way, is very interesting and I highly suggest people look into reading it when you have the time) blogs have become "a valid addition to the researcher's toolkit." Blogs can be used in a number of different ways to help with qualitative research.
One example the article gives is comparing a blog to a diary. Diaries, for a number of years, have been used for research purposes. But, they have been hard to find because as we all know, diaries are meant to be kept private. Blogs, are like an open diary to the world. Our thoughts, opinions and daily routines are jotted down and are not hidden in the bedside table under lock and key. This gives researchers an easier way to conduct research without having to go through the hassel of attaining a diary.
Blogging offers a "new and exciting frontier for social research" it is going to become a great assest to researchers when conducting research of the qualitative type. Blogging and qualitative research are a match made in cyberspace heaven.
This type of research and blogging have become paired very well together since blogging has become more and more popular. According to the article "Entering the blogosphere" (this article, by the way, is very interesting and I highly suggest people look into reading it when you have the time) blogs have become "a valid addition to the researcher's toolkit." Blogs can be used in a number of different ways to help with qualitative research.
One example the article gives is comparing a blog to a diary. Diaries, for a number of years, have been used for research purposes. But, they have been hard to find because as we all know, diaries are meant to be kept private. Blogs, are like an open diary to the world. Our thoughts, opinions and daily routines are jotted down and are not hidden in the bedside table under lock and key. This gives researchers an easier way to conduct research without having to go through the hassel of attaining a diary.
Blogging offers a "new and exciting frontier for social research" it is going to become a great assest to researchers when conducting research of the qualitative type. Blogging and qualitative research are a match made in cyberspace heaven.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Classmates Thoughts
Looking at my classmates blogs about unobtrusive research made me realize how much we conduct this type of research on a daily basis, and how often people have no idea they are doing it.
I found Laura Valenti's blog on the subject particularly interesting. I enjoyed how she gave the example about Real Housewife Teresa Giudice. Teresa constantly updates her Facebook and Twitter letting her fans know where she is and what she is up to. This links back to my original blog topic on how blogging is a form of PR. She is putting her own name out there for publicity stunts and the people who are not "famous" follow. Outsiders are obsessed with the celebrity culture, and we refresh our Facebooks and Twitters just so we can get the current up-to-date status of each celebrity we follow. We are conducting unobtrusive research and we don't even now it. But like Laura said, this is our connection. Without these types of social media "the likelihood of being able to get in touch with a particular celebrity in order to find out certain information is slim-to-none."
Another classmates blog that I looked at was Jenn Quinlan's. Her blog on unobtrusive research focused on the 2007 Patriot's cheating scandal. I know very little about sports, and am not a huge football fan, but I do remember this happening; I am from Massachusetts after all. However, even after learning about unobtrusive research and knowing about this scandal I never would have paired the two together. But, that scandal was in fact, a form of unobtrusive research. Cameras were involved and ethics were brought up. It was interesting to read Jenn's blog on the subject and really notice how the two aspects relate to one another. Coaches were analyzing other teams plays and coaches methods but no consent to do so was ever given. The Patriots did not know that what they were doing was unobtrusive research but, in fact, it was. This just further solidifies how common this type of research is.
Therefore, whether it is in the subject of the entertainment and social media world, or the world of athletics, unobtrusive research can take place anywhere. Even as I write this blog, as I sit in the cafeteria with tons of other people, I wonder if unobtrusive research could be taking place right now. I would never even know, or would I? Now that I know so much about the topic is it possible that I could spot out the researchers, or does that just make me the researcher conducting even more unobtrusive research? It is a never ending process. Intriguing, isn't it?
I found Laura Valenti's blog on the subject particularly interesting. I enjoyed how she gave the example about Real Housewife Teresa Giudice. Teresa constantly updates her Facebook and Twitter letting her fans know where she is and what she is up to. This links back to my original blog topic on how blogging is a form of PR. She is putting her own name out there for publicity stunts and the people who are not "famous" follow. Outsiders are obsessed with the celebrity culture, and we refresh our Facebooks and Twitters just so we can get the current up-to-date status of each celebrity we follow. We are conducting unobtrusive research and we don't even now it. But like Laura said, this is our connection. Without these types of social media "the likelihood of being able to get in touch with a particular celebrity in order to find out certain information is slim-to-none."
Another classmates blog that I looked at was Jenn Quinlan's. Her blog on unobtrusive research focused on the 2007 Patriot's cheating scandal. I know very little about sports, and am not a huge football fan, but I do remember this happening; I am from Massachusetts after all. However, even after learning about unobtrusive research and knowing about this scandal I never would have paired the two together. But, that scandal was in fact, a form of unobtrusive research. Cameras were involved and ethics were brought up. It was interesting to read Jenn's blog on the subject and really notice how the two aspects relate to one another. Coaches were analyzing other teams plays and coaches methods but no consent to do so was ever given. The Patriots did not know that what they were doing was unobtrusive research but, in fact, it was. This just further solidifies how common this type of research is.
Therefore, whether it is in the subject of the entertainment and social media world, or the world of athletics, unobtrusive research can take place anywhere. Even as I write this blog, as I sit in the cafeteria with tons of other people, I wonder if unobtrusive research could be taking place right now. I would never even know, or would I? Now that I know so much about the topic is it possible that I could spot out the researchers, or does that just make me the researcher conducting even more unobtrusive research? It is a never ending process. Intriguing, isn't it?
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Unobtrusive Research
Unobtrusive measures are taken in order to conduct research without the participants knowing that they are being observed. Unobtrusive research goes on everyday, and sometimes we are conducting this research without even knowing. For example, there was an article in the QU Chronicle last year about fashion trends on campus. Throughout the article, it described the different styles of students and how it was a reflection of where they were from. As Quinnipiac's population is made up of predominately New York, New Jersey and New England students, those were the people who were the focus of the article. However, only five students were asked their opinions on state-to-state fashion trends. The writer of the article used those five students as a base to her platform. From there, she walked up and down dorm road, up to CAS and back, and looked around in the cafeteria to see if what the interviewee's had said was true amongst the campus. She collected enough data by observation to conclude that what was said was true; New Jersey students have more of a beachy style, Rhode Island students have preppy and athletic styles, and New York students like name brands. While this may not be the case for everyone, a good majority fell into these categories. She also found that no matter what state you may be from a commonality for all female students is the Northface and Ugg combination, which I 100% agree with, as I am a student who falls into that category.
This article was written with the help of unobtrusive research. I'm sure the students being observed had no idea what was going on, and it is possible that even the author herself had no idea that she was conducting this type of research.
An example like this can help the PR world because it can give designers ideas about the latest trends that their target audiences are interested in. What is worn the most is what will be produced, publicized and purchased the most.
I can also relate this back to my blogging topic which is how blogs are used as a form of PR. There are many bloggers that use unobtrusive research in order to write their next post. People who blog about fashion trends observe people everyday to see what styles are popular and what styles are not. Outsiders read these blogs and use the data collected to elaborate on their own personal wardrobe, thus giving publicity to the designers and trends that are focused on.This example proves that unobtrusive research can be used everyday without it even being known that it is used.
This article was written with the help of unobtrusive research. I'm sure the students being observed had no idea what was going on, and it is possible that even the author herself had no idea that she was conducting this type of research.
An example like this can help the PR world because it can give designers ideas about the latest trends that their target audiences are interested in. What is worn the most is what will be produced, publicized and purchased the most.
I can also relate this back to my blogging topic which is how blogs are used as a form of PR. There are many bloggers that use unobtrusive research in order to write their next post. People who blog about fashion trends observe people everyday to see what styles are popular and what styles are not. Outsiders read these blogs and use the data collected to elaborate on their own personal wardrobe, thus giving publicity to the designers and trends that are focused on.This example proves that unobtrusive research can be used everyday without it even being known that it is used.
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