Blogging throughout the semester was a new and fun experience. I had always known what blogging was, and had followed a few blogs, but never had one of my own. The topic of my blog from week to week was how blogging has become a form of public relations in its own way. With research conducted on my own and lessons learned in class, it is clear that social media as a whole is taking over as a form of public relations. Knowing this, and knowing that the use of social media will continue to rise, it has been beneficial to start blogging as I will most likely use it in my future as a PR professional. That being said, as a final post, I will comment on two of my classmates blogs and how they could use their blogs within their future careers.
Classmate Jordana has had a series of blogs focusing on The American Cancer Society. Her blog is very well put together; the writing, the visuals, and even the background color are all great PR tactics. They represent the organization as a whole and draw the attention of the reader causing the reader to remember that the blog is about The American Cancer Society. If Jordana were to work for this organization, or any non-profit, blogs are a great way to spread the word and garner more attention. Interactive blogs like hers keep readers coming back for more which continues to promote the things the society does.
Classmate Mara also had a very visually appealing blog with a focus on PR campaigns across the globe. Her blog was well written and had a strong focus on her topic that carried throughout the semester. Along with PR Research, I also take International PR, so it was a interesting to look at Mara's blogs about global campaigns and compare it to campaigns we have learned about in class. Blogging about PR in other countries is a great form of PR since PR is so different abroad. Blogs bring about an awareness that everyday people can use to educate themselves on worldy matters.
As I wrap up my final post of the semester, I hope you have enjoyed reading my thoughts because it has been a very fun way to share them.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Experiments
Experiments within Public Relations research are important because they give a different type of result than focus groups, surveys or any other type of research. Experiments are becoming more popular within public relations because they are "the most accurate indicator of causality in the behavioral sciences" (Hendrix & Hayes, 2010)." Experiments are often used in public relations "to determine which forms of communications or messages may be most effective with selective audiences (Hendrix & Hayes, 2010)."
The article from the Public Relations Review that I used in my weekly assignment has a direct relation to not only the reason of use for experiments quoted above, but also to the topic of my blog from week to week: blogging as a form of PR. The article did an experiment to find whether or not PR practitioners would start to use blogs and other forms of social media to accommodate their publics, or if they would just assume stick with the format of the company's they work for. In the experiment different scenarios were created for participants to read, and then they were instructed to fill out a questionnaire. The results proved that yes blogging and social media are becoming major factors within PR, but as of now, they are not a top priority when actually conducting PR. Professionals are more likely to use methods that have a longer history in the field than to jump into somehting so new just because it would more easily accommodate publics.
However, as we have learned in class, experiements can have sources of invalidity. Maybe there were some sources of invalidity within this experiment and blogging will become more of a go-to method when conducting public relations.
The article from the Public Relations Review that I used in my weekly assignment has a direct relation to not only the reason of use for experiments quoted above, but also to the topic of my blog from week to week: blogging as a form of PR. The article did an experiment to find whether or not PR practitioners would start to use blogs and other forms of social media to accommodate their publics, or if they would just assume stick with the format of the company's they work for. In the experiment different scenarios were created for participants to read, and then they were instructed to fill out a questionnaire. The results proved that yes blogging and social media are becoming major factors within PR, but as of now, they are not a top priority when actually conducting PR. Professionals are more likely to use methods that have a longer history in the field than to jump into somehting so new just because it would more easily accommodate publics.
However, as we have learned in class, experiements can have sources of invalidity. Maybe there were some sources of invalidity within this experiment and blogging will become more of a go-to method when conducting public relations.
Hendrix, Jerry A., and Darrell C. Hayes. Public Relations Cases. Boston, MA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2010. Print.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Survey Research
As I have mentioned in previous blogs, blogging has become increasingly popular. It has not ony become an outlet for people to share thoughts and opinions, but it has also become a social media. What is so great about blogging, is that anyone can do it. Not only can anyone blog, but anyone can read a blog; it's just a matter of stumbling across one on the internet. To some, this poses a problem. As bloggers become more well-known and their blogs become more creative, the issue of privacy is brought up because many bloggers write (or rant) about family, friends, and the companies they work for. Some bloggers are careful about using only first names in their blogs about the people they blog about and some bloggers even go as far as keeping their own identities a secret. In a survey conducted back in 2004, 492 people responded to a questionnaire asking about privacy issues and blogging. Out of the 492, 486 completed the online questionnaire well enough to use for data analysis. Some of the results were:
- the great majority of bloggers identify themselves on their sites: 55% of respondents provide their real names on their blogs; another 20% provide some variant of the real name (first name only, first name and initial of surname, a pseudonym friends would know, etc.)
- 76% of bloggers do not limit access (i.e. readership) to their entries in any way
- 36% of respondents have gotten in trouble because of things they have written on their blogs
- 34% of respondents know other bloggers who have gotten in trouble with family and friends
- 12% of respondents know other bloggers who have gotten in legal or professional problems because of things they wrote on their blogs
- when blogging about people they know personally: 66% of respondents almost never asked permission to do so; whereas, only 9% said they never blogged about people they knew personally.
- 83% of respondents characterized their entries as personal ramblings whereas 20% said they mostly publish lists of useful/interesting links
Respondents for this survey were not randomly picked like other surveys are. This survey was announced through mailing lists within MIT and was also published on well-known blogs written by people who the author of this survey knew. The rest of the results along with a study populations complete with charts and graphs can be found on the website provided by the link above.
Surveys are very useful. They can be used anywhere for any topic to help find results to a question. Even on the issue of privacy within blogging as this form of media becomes more than just an online diary.
- the great majority of bloggers identify themselves on their sites: 55% of respondents provide their real names on their blogs; another 20% provide some variant of the real name (first name only, first name and initial of surname, a pseudonym friends would know, etc.)
- 76% of bloggers do not limit access (i.e. readership) to their entries in any way
- 36% of respondents have gotten in trouble because of things they have written on their blogs
- 34% of respondents know other bloggers who have gotten in trouble with family and friends
- 12% of respondents know other bloggers who have gotten in legal or professional problems because of things they wrote on their blogs
- when blogging about people they know personally: 66% of respondents almost never asked permission to do so; whereas, only 9% said they never blogged about people they knew personally.
- 83% of respondents characterized their entries as personal ramblings whereas 20% said they mostly publish lists of useful/interesting links
Respondents for this survey were not randomly picked like other surveys are. This survey was announced through mailing lists within MIT and was also published on well-known blogs written by people who the author of this survey knew. The rest of the results along with a study populations complete with charts and graphs can be found on the website provided by the link above.
Surveys are very useful. They can be used anywhere for any topic to help find results to a question. Even on the issue of privacy within blogging as this form of media becomes more than just an online diary.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Classmates Blogs 3
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!
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 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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