Sep 05 2010
Framing Questions: Week One
1.) Chapter one outlines different types of knowledge and ways of knowing. One such was of knowing is scientific knowledge which is defined as, “Learning through systematic and accurate observation of evidence in such a way that it can be verified independently and objectively.”
In relation to a users knowledge interactive media and how to use such media, how does scientific knowledge play a role at all? Or do interactive media users learn solely from experience and authority, (i.e. Learning by listening to someone else’s comments.)?
2.) It seems qualitative research leaves a huge amount of room for bias. How can this be avoided? How can qualitative research be conducted in a way that the results can be trusted? How can large-scale generalizations be made using qualitative research?
3.) Chapter three discusses quantitative and qualitative research methods. While these research styles are very different, why are they both not used when researching elements of media? It seems as though choosing one research method would leave out half of the information concerning a topic. If both styles were used, then the researcher would have knowledge not only about measurements, statistics and numbers, but also people’s opinions concerning why these measurements, statistics and numbers exist. Is it not better to know both “why” and “how many”?