This week, for our final post, we are to comment on two classmate's blogs. I can't believe how fast the semester went by. I also can't believe that I am almost a second semester senior. Ah!
Anyways, the first entry that looked interesting to me was Brittany's blog post on experimental research. In this entry, she wrote on flash mobs and what they are all about. Interestingly enough, there is an actual definition for a flash mob. According to Google, it is "a large group of people who assemble suddenly into a public place, perform and unusual and pointless act for a brief time, and then quickly disperse." It seems as if they are done in order to raise awareness about a specific topic or issue. This seems like such a cool thing. Also, these have been taking place all over the country at various college campuses and at other locations, like train stations.
Brittany then connected this to research because she mentioned that these all started as a means of social networking experiment. Brittany goes on to explain that this man, Bill, created this first idea by inviting his friends to some type of show, just something to do. But, it turns out that the main point of Bill's experiment was to see how many people he could get to come a show expecting one thing, that would turn into something completely different, a flash mob. His idea is that the people themselves, would become the show. What a cool idea! I had no clue this kind of stuff was going on.
I liked the way Brittany connected this to research by then mentioning that they use both observation and content analysis as a means of evaluating how "successful" the flash mob was in attracting attention or media coverage.
The next blog I read was Rachel's blog. I read her entry on a new experiment that Google is conducting. It seems like such a cool experiment. According to Rachel's entry, Google plans to "build and test ultra high-speed broadband networks" in a few "trial locations" across the country. The corporation is interested in having a trial period for delivering internet at speeds 100 times faster (than most Americans have access to) to "at least 50,000 and potentially up to 500,000 people." The goal is to "experiment with new ways to help make Internet access better and faster for everyone."
This seems so cool. I wonder how they will go about choosing which Americans they plan to test this on? The fact that Google even has the ability to do this, to just make the Internet faster, is crazy!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Experimental Research
This research method can be pretty interesting. Here, there is an actual experiment that is done on people with there being some treatment that respondents are subjected to and then the results are measured. There needs to be a control group that is compared to the experimental group. Why? Well with no starting group, there would be no way to make sure that only one variable is being tested.
There are two types of experiments that can be done. One is a blind study where participants don't know what group (experimental or control) they are in. The other is double blind where no one, including the researchers, knows which group people are in.
The main goal of an experiment is to isolate the independent variable in order to measure the results.
In regards to an experiment that was done in the real world, I found an article about an experiment that was done at a winery in France to test people's responses to genetically modified vines.
Of course this study has to do with wine, being that it takes place in France.
Basically, the article is about this group of French activists who went to this winery to destroy all of the GM vines. They argue that these GM crops have not been fully tested for safety.
However, as quoted in the article, this experiment was
It is interesting that although this at first seems like a scientific experiment, it actually has more to do with PR than you may have thought.
There are two types of experiments that can be done. One is a blind study where participants don't know what group (experimental or control) they are in. The other is double blind where no one, including the researchers, knows which group people are in.
The main goal of an experiment is to isolate the independent variable in order to measure the results.
In regards to an experiment that was done in the real world, I found an article about an experiment that was done at a winery in France to test people's responses to genetically modified vines.
Of course this study has to do with wine, being that it takes place in France.
Basically, the article is about this group of French activists who went to this winery to destroy all of the GM vines. They argue that these GM crops have not been fully tested for safety.
However, as quoted in the article, this experiment was
more about corporations and public relations than science. The vines GMO field test was more of a sociological experiment, to see how far a profession and a population were willing to perform tests designed to endorse the PGM [Genetically Modified Plants]...while more research is needed, GM vines hold the key to fighting off pathogens. Leading viticultural scientists agree.
It is interesting that although this at first seems like a scientific experiment, it actually has more to do with PR than you may have thought.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
The Survey Says...
Surveys. They are the most popular quantitative method of research used. Not only that, but they are also very popular in the academic world. Why?
They are cheap. Not only that, but you are also able to get a lot of responses rather quickly and the data is relatively easy to analyze. Not to mention, they are much easier to conduct than performing something like ethnographic research.
That is why when companies need to get a lot of data quickly, they usually conduct a survey.
I found an article from PR Newswire that talks about Europeans' interest and engagement with sports. The European version of the U.S. study (from 1994) will provide sponsors, leagues, and the media with valuable insights about the impact that sports has on consumers and the role it plays in their lives.
The initial results were based on 500 online interviews conducted in January 2010 in each of the following countries: France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK.
The article quotes Robert Fox who is Senior VP of Sport & Sponsorship research at TNS North America. He says,
Also quoted in the article is Artie Bulgrin, Senior VP at ESPN. He said, "The Sports Poll is unique in that it provides in-depth intelligence about the impact that sports has on the population with respect to involvement, media usage, and consumer behavior. The monthly Sports Poll tracking in the US helps us identify trends that ultimately affect media and advertising performance. We are enthusiastic about what we can all learn in Europe now."
They are cheap. Not only that, but you are also able to get a lot of responses rather quickly and the data is relatively easy to analyze. Not to mention, they are much easier to conduct than performing something like ethnographic research.
That is why when companies need to get a lot of data quickly, they usually conduct a survey.
I found an article from PR Newswire that talks about Europeans' interest and engagement with sports. The European version of the U.S. study (from 1994) will provide sponsors, leagues, and the media with valuable insights about the impact that sports has on consumers and the role it plays in their lives.
The initial results were based on 500 online interviews conducted in January 2010 in each of the following countries: France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK.
The article quotes Robert Fox who is Senior VP of Sport & Sponsorship research at TNS North America. He says,
"Companies have tools to measure specific aspects of their sports business, like television ratings and media exposure programs. These are important, but they do not tell the whole story... this study offers brands a 10,000-meter vantage point to assess their target markets across the entire sports landscape."This is interesting to see their reasons for using a survey to collect their data.
Also quoted in the article is Artie Bulgrin, Senior VP at ESPN. He said, "The Sports Poll is unique in that it provides in-depth intelligence about the impact that sports has on the population with respect to involvement, media usage, and consumer behavior. The monthly Sports Poll tracking in the US helps us identify trends that ultimately affect media and advertising performance. We are enthusiastic about what we can all learn in Europe now."
Here are some sample questions from the survey they used:
- Which sports offer the best opportunities to reach a specific target market?
- What is the true consumer profile of a sports fan? How intense is their fandom? To what extent does an emerging sport have potential to grow? Should my company be an early adopter?
- How does our property stack up against other sports? Who is paying most attention? Is my company in the right countries? What opportunities are we missing?
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