Research
introduction
what is research?
Research is a way to investigate a hypothesis, establish facts and possibly draw new conclusions from a given subject. As an example, the class was split into groups of 5 to investigate how students interpret the word 'education'. We used the source 'Word it Out' to generate a world cloud making the more frequently used words larger and the words used less smaller. This research tells us that the majority of the group of 5 thought of the words Teacher, Anxiety, Knowledge, Work, Effort and Revision.
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Why is research important in the media industry? |
The purpose of research in media falls into three catagroies; market research, audience research and production research, they are all essential in media production. Market research evaluates content exported to the audience, and what can be changed or kept the same to maintain customer loyalty. Media consumption patterns are also analysed as well as competitor analysis, competition, advertising placement and advertising effects. Audience research challenges producers to prove to their advertisers that their message will reach certain types and numbers of people. Focus groups are employed to investigate if the companies media is reaching their target demographic and if not, changes are made accordingly. Audience data, audience profiling, demographics, audience awarness and consumer behaviour and attitudes are all studied and effect what the company produce. The purpose of production research is to ensure the money is saved as productions cost a lot of money to make. Production research looks into staff, cast, eqipment, locations, health and safety, copyright and props. Making sure the product does not contain any copyright infringment is essential. It means companies must research into their competitors production work to ensure copyright laws are not broken.
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References:
Butt, A. (2013). Understanding the Nature and Purposes of Research in the Creative Media Industries & Techniques. Available: https://mediafort.wordpress.com/2013/05/15/understanding-the-nature-and-purposes-of-research-in-the-creative-media-industries-techniques/. Last accessed 28th Nov.
mediatexthack. (2013). Researching Audiences. Available: https://mediatexthack.wordpress.com/category/audience-research/. Last accessed 28th Nov 2016.
DJS Research. (2016). Media and PR Market Research. Available: http://www.djsresearch.co.uk/subLevels/subLevel/10/Media%20and%20PR. Last accessed 28th Nov 2016.
Unknown. (2012). The purpose of audience research, market research and production research. Available: https://kingb94.wordpress.com/2012/03/06/the-purpose-of-audience-research-market-research-and-production-research/. Last accessed 28th Nov 2016.
Butt, A. (2013). Understanding the Nature and Purposes of Research in the Creative Media Industries & Techniques. Available: https://mediafort.wordpress.com/2013/05/15/understanding-the-nature-and-purposes-of-research-in-the-creative-media-industries-techniques/. Last accessed 28th Nov.
mediatexthack. (2013). Researching Audiences. Available: https://mediatexthack.wordpress.com/category/audience-research/. Last accessed 28th Nov 2016.
DJS Research. (2016). Media and PR Market Research. Available: http://www.djsresearch.co.uk/subLevels/subLevel/10/Media%20and%20PR. Last accessed 28th Nov 2016.
Unknown. (2012). The purpose of audience research, market research and production research. Available: https://kingb94.wordpress.com/2012/03/06/the-purpose-of-audience-research-market-research-and-production-research/. Last accessed 28th Nov 2016.
Did we land on the moon in 1969?
The Apollo 11 mission was the first spaceflight that landing humans on the Earth’s moon. The take-off took place at 1:32 PM on July 16th 1969. Commander Neil Armstrong and pilot Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon on July 21st 1969 and were the first humans to step on it.
However, many people today believe the Apollo 11 mission was a hoax. One of the most popular ‘conspiracy theories’ surrounding the first moon landing is that the flag in this image. |
Many people ask the question, if there is no atmosphere on the moon, how is the flag rippling I this image? Roger Launius, of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum said "the video you see where the flag's moving is because the astronaut just placed it there, and the inertia from when they let go kept it moving." The rods holding the flag out horizontally were also bent by the astronauts causing the flag to look as if it is rippling in the wind.
Another common ‘conspiracy theory’ asks why in all the images taken on the moon on July 21st 1969, there are no stars and space appears to be just black? This can be answered easily; the stars are simply too faint to appear at such a short exposure. Many images of starry nights on earth appear dull because the exposure, ISO and shutter speed have not been set correctly for stars do show in the image. Some astronauts even said they couldn't see stars from the moon because the sun is so bright. Ed Mitchell, Apollo 14 turned his back to the sun, allowed time for his eyes to adjust to the dark, then he saw stars.
In order to reach the moon, the astronauts had to pass through the Van Allen radiation belt. This is held in place by the Earth’s magnetic field and in 1969, no human had passed through it before. Conspiracy theorists believe that the levels of radiation would have killed the astronauts however, NASA have countered that argument assuring the public that the spaceship was layered with aluminum on the interior and exterior and the astronauts passed through the belt extremely quickly meaning they were exposed to very small doses of radiation.
Another common ‘conspiracy theory’ asks why in all the images taken on the moon on July 21st 1969, there are no stars and space appears to be just black? This can be answered easily; the stars are simply too faint to appear at such a short exposure. Many images of starry nights on earth appear dull because the exposure, ISO and shutter speed have not been set correctly for stars do show in the image. Some astronauts even said they couldn't see stars from the moon because the sun is so bright. Ed Mitchell, Apollo 14 turned his back to the sun, allowed time for his eyes to adjust to the dark, then he saw stars.
In order to reach the moon, the astronauts had to pass through the Van Allen radiation belt. This is held in place by the Earth’s magnetic field and in 1969, no human had passed through it before. Conspiracy theorists believe that the levels of radiation would have killed the astronauts however, NASA have countered that argument assuring the public that the spaceship was layered with aluminum on the interior and exterior and the astronauts passed through the belt extremely quickly meaning they were exposed to very small doses of radiation.
References:
Fox, J. (2012). 10 Reasons the Moon Landings Could Be a Hoax. Available: http://listverse.com/2012/12/28/10-reasons-the-moon-landings-could-be-a-hoax/. Last accessed 17/10/16.
Than, K. (2009). APOLLO 11 HOAX PHOTOS: 8 Moon-Landing Myths -- Busted. Available: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/07/photogalleries/apollo-11-hoax-pictures/index.html. Last accessed 17/10/2016.
Rundle, M. (2014). 11 Proofs That the Apollo Moon Landings Were NOT Fake. Available: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/07/18/apollo-11-fake-proof_n_5599372.html. Last accessed 16/10/2016.
Shaw, S. (2014). Proofs That the Moon Landing Happened. Available: http://uk.askmen.com/top_10/entertainment/top-5-proofs-that-the-moon-landing-happened.html. Last accessed 16/10/2016.
Northcott, D. (2015). Why is there no blast crater under the lunar module? Available: https://www.quora.com/Why-is-there-no-blast-crater-under-the-lunar-module. Last accessed 17/10/2016.
Woollaston, V. (2015). Professor Brian Cox and Buzz Aldrin slam Twitter conspiracy theorists who doubt the Apollo 11 mission. Available: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3170726/If-think-moon-landing-fake-need-new-brain-Professor-Brian-Cox-Buzz-Aldrin-slam-Twitter-conspiracy-theorists-doubt-Apollo-11-mission.html. Last accessed 16/10/15.
Fox, J. (2012). 10 Reasons the Moon Landings Could Be a Hoax. Available: http://listverse.com/2012/12/28/10-reasons-the-moon-landings-could-be-a-hoax/. Last accessed 17/10/16.
Than, K. (2009). APOLLO 11 HOAX PHOTOS: 8 Moon-Landing Myths -- Busted. Available: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/07/photogalleries/apollo-11-hoax-pictures/index.html. Last accessed 17/10/2016.
Rundle, M. (2014). 11 Proofs That the Apollo Moon Landings Were NOT Fake. Available: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/07/18/apollo-11-fake-proof_n_5599372.html. Last accessed 16/10/2016.
Shaw, S. (2014). Proofs That the Moon Landing Happened. Available: http://uk.askmen.com/top_10/entertainment/top-5-proofs-that-the-moon-landing-happened.html. Last accessed 16/10/2016.
Northcott, D. (2015). Why is there no blast crater under the lunar module? Available: https://www.quora.com/Why-is-there-no-blast-crater-under-the-lunar-module. Last accessed 17/10/2016.
Woollaston, V. (2015). Professor Brian Cox and Buzz Aldrin slam Twitter conspiracy theorists who doubt the Apollo 11 mission. Available: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3170726/If-think-moon-landing-fake-need-new-brain-Professor-Brian-Cox-Buzz-Aldrin-slam-Twitter-conspiracy-theorists-doubt-Apollo-11-mission.html. Last accessed 16/10/15.
Secondary Research
what is it? |
Secondary research is the gathering and evaluation of pre-existing research into a topic. This process involves collecting data from either the originator or distribute of primary research.
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Tzvetan Todorov’s Theory of Narrative | via internet
Tzvetan Todorov is a literal critic who, in 1969, developed the traditional theory of narrative that could be applied to any film, in which it moves in chronological order with one act following the other. Todorov suggested that traditional narratives are structured in five stages:the narrative starts with an equilibrium; a disruption of the equilibrium by some action; a disruption is recognised and a quest to restore equilibrium begins; an attempt to repair the disruption; resolution occurs and equilibrium is reinstated. He also suggested that characters in the narrative should change in some form that would be concluded by the resolution.
'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' is a good exmple of a film that follows Todorov's theory of narrative.
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References:
BBC. (2016). What is narrative?. Available: http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zqdhrdm/revision/3. Last accessed 20th Nov 2016.
Wilson, K. (2013). Narrative Explained. Available: http://www.mediaknowall.com/gcse/keyconceptsgcse/keycon.php?pageID=narrative. Last accessed 19th Nov 2016.
BBC. (2016). What is narrative?. Available: http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zqdhrdm/revision/3. Last accessed 20th Nov 2016.
Wilson, K. (2013). Narrative Explained. Available: http://www.mediaknowall.com/gcse/keyconceptsgcse/keycon.php?pageID=narrative. Last accessed 19th Nov 2016.
TZVETAN TODOROV’S THEORY OF NARRATIVE | VIA BOOKS FROM LIBRARY
The books I read in the college library explain how Todorov's narrative threory can be applied to any narrative; fictional or factual, and has to have a structure concluding with an outcome.
References:
BBC Writers . (2014). What is narrative?. Available: http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zqdhrdm/revision/3. Last accessed 01/12/16.
Bond, J. (2012). The Todorov Narrative Theory within Bond. Available: https://dtugby10.wordpress.com/the-todorov-narrative-theory-within-bond/. Last accessed 01/12/16.
BBC Writers . (2014). What is narrative?. Available: http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zqdhrdm/revision/3. Last accessed 01/12/16.
Bond, J. (2012). The Todorov Narrative Theory within Bond. Available: https://dtugby10.wordpress.com/the-todorov-narrative-theory-within-bond/. Last accessed 01/12/16.
PRIMARY RESEACH
what is it? |
Primary research is information gained first hand, carried out to answer specific issues or questions. This information can be gained through questionaires, surveys or interviews with individuals or small groups. Primary research is generally harder to gain than secondary research, because primary invovles the collection of data that does not already exist. Primary research is often undertaken after the researcher has gained some insight into the issue by collecting secondary data.
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My questionnaireConducted for class members on what they know of the codes and conventions of Film Noir, Western and Period Drama. My results show that many of the students starting creative media are new to the conventions of genres, and therefore have answered some questions incorrect. However after analysing the results, the survey shows the majority of the class are familiar with how the time period is set inPeriod Drama, how a Film Noir is lit, and the conventions of Western. This is becuase question 6,7 and 8 were had the most correct answers.
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primary REsearch Evaluation
I think face to face interviews work better than questionnaires because the person you are asking can give a more detailed answer and stay focused so the interview continues until completion. Also the interviewee is unable to provide false information such as incorrect gender, age or race which is possible if they take an informal questionnaire. A face to face interview can also give more information because the interviewee will give their own opinion and options that are no chosen for them to answer.
Face to face interviews I believe are the best way to gain primary research because your interviewee may give you answers you may not have thought of if you had created an online questionnaire. However, surveys can be more practical because many interviewees may want to give quick answers as they do not have a lot time to take the survey. I created a survey within my class on what they know about the codes and conventions of Film Noir, Period Drama and Western films. I think I would have gained more information if I had conducted face to face interviews because I would be formally interviewing each class member gaining a better understanding of their opinion and knowledge on the subject.
Face to face interviews I believe are the best way to gain primary research because your interviewee may give you answers you may not have thought of if you had created an online questionnaire. However, surveys can be more practical because many interviewees may want to give quick answers as they do not have a lot time to take the survey. I created a survey within my class on what they know about the codes and conventions of Film Noir, Period Drama and Western films. I think I would have gained more information if I had conducted face to face interviews because I would be formally interviewing each class member gaining a better understanding of their opinion and knowledge on the subject.
INFOGRAPHICS
research project
Open publication - Free publishing
research Project EVALUATION
The class was set the task of researching a charity Comic Relief donate to. Individually, we had to produce a magazine that featured information we had gathered through primary and secondary research surrounding the charity. The magazine will form the backbone of a 5 minute factual documentery on the chosen charity Comic Relief have helped.
To chose a charity I had to access the grants page of the Comic Relief website, where I could view all the charities they donate to. This website also told me how much money is dontaed to each charity per year and where the charity is based. From this I could narrow down my search for a specific charity, as I wanted to chose one based near where I live, so I searched the page for 'Berkshire' and Thrive was one of only a few charities I could find. After browsing through the Thrive website, I found Social and Horticultural therapy a really interesting and modern way people deal with mental health and decided it was the charity I wanted to research. Being Berkshire based also means I coiuld visit the Thrive gardens when making the factual doctumentry.
Before I started researching Thrive, I had to plan how I was going to reasearch the charity. This meant deciding where I was going to get my information from and how. I chose to gain most of my information and secondary research from the Thrive website. I also decided I would be emailing the Thrive team to answer anything I couldnt get from the website (primary research) and also investigate Social and Theraputic Horticulture and whether it is beneficial.
Secondary research is the gathering and evaluation of pre-existing research into a topic. This process involves collecting data from either the originator or distribute of primary research. It is a cost effective way of gaining information second hand and can give the researcher ways to gain primary research before it is conducted. For my secondary research, I visited the Thrive website to gain information on why the charity was set up, what they do, who they help, and what Thrive have planned for the furture. I also downloaded a pdf issued by Loughbrough University that discussed evidence and messages from research into Social and Theraputic Horticulture. I feel my secondary research was successful as I gained a better understanding of what Thrive actually do to benefit others and I knew how to show that in my magazine. However, I feel I could have drawn information from more resources, and furthermore included more information in my magazine. I think the main reason I did not use as many sources as I would have liked is because Thrive is not a huge charity so there is not much information outside of their website which contains the majority of information I needed for my magazine.
Primary research is information gained first hand, carried out to answer specific issues or questions and is important because it gives a higher level of control over how my information is collected as well as focusing on issues specific to the researcher which is more efficient than secondary research. For my primary research I contacted Thrive's information email asking them if they would answer a few questions surroudning the charity. I think this was sucessful as I gained information I couldn't from their website, however it put the primary research part of my research project on hold as Thrive did not reply as quickly as anticipated so my magazine could not progress. I believe if I had emailed Thrive at the start of the research project I would have gained the information sooner and the magazine would be completed earlier, giving me more time to make improvements. Primary research is any data collected by the researcher whereas secondary is data gathered by other researchers. When they are used together, the researcher can test the validity of their own research by analysing secondary data which can also back up primary data.
Infographics are the most powerful way to attract backlinks in 2016. They are effective because they are 30 times more likley to be read than a text article and are percieved as way more effective than companies not distributing information with little or no visuals. I feel my infographic on the moon landing displayed my research in an engaging way as it included images and split the text up so information is eaier to process. However, the infographic still contains a lot of writing which makes it less appealing to look at. My infographic on Torodov's Narrative theory on the other hand I believe contains the correct balance of text to graphics. I think this infograpgic turned out better because it was my second attemot at creating one and I tried out a different programme. For my furture infographics I would like to use the same programme as the Todorov infographic as I can embed them on my Weebly page.
I am happy with how my research is displayed and I think my Joomag is visually attractive . The information is displayed clearly, however there does not seem to be consistant theme throughout the magazine. If I were to make the magazine I would have established a theme relevant to the topic intsead of picking a Joomag templete and working from there. Each page looks professional but they do not look as if they are from the same magazine which I do not like.
During this unit I have learn how to collect primary data; using surveys, interviews or observation, as well as what types of questions can be asked. I have also learnt how to create infographics using programmes such as Vennage and Easly, and create a magazine using Joomag. Researching Thrive has also taught me the benefits of Social and Theraputic Horticulture, and how well people with dementia, mental health problems, heart disease are getting on so well with Thrives programmes.