Posts Tagged: research proposal

Title: Cultivating Critical News Literacy in Adolescents

Studying the affects of social media on the analytical skills of adolescents is what I hope to explore more this semester. This is a subject that I feel is important since children are now growing up during the time of facebook posts and bloggers they might be unable to differ fact from opinion. Let alone having well developed analytical skills to critique already established news outlets.

It has been said of the generation born in the late ‘80s grew up with the Internet. While I remember my father bring home our first personal computer and typing papers in elementary school, I feel that what we experienced as a generation isn’t as revolutionary as what children today are facing when it comes to the Internet and what they will face in the future. While some of us grew up with the Internet during the “dot .com era”, younger generations now see the Internet as a fact of life rather than a luxury, which can affect not only how they perceive the world but also how it perceives them on social networking sites.

As a research topic, there are multiple theories that will assist in the exploration of this focus; such as interpretative theory, critical theory, and normative theory. Methods will include positivism, empirical research, the scientific method, the use of surveys, and communication science.  These theories and approaches will help me in my research because of what each one represents.

Interpretative theory: subjective interpretation of meaning from words or symbols themselves as well as their context, combined with the scholar’s own interpretations of similar and different texts and contexts. This will help will help explore a child’s developed sense of semiotics, thus valuing how much news value he or she receives from a social networking or news site.

Critical theory: analysis that seeks to reform media systems that contribute to the influence of a dominant social class by promoting that group’s ideas ahead of others, which makes media organization part of the society’s power establishment and defenders of the status quo. This theory will help teach children the value of thinking critically of news and the importance of journalism.

Normative theory: An attempt to describe not how things are, but how they should be according to some ideal standard of social values.  This is where the credibility of traditional news outlets and how children perceive them will be explored.

My methods of positivism will allow me experiment my theories out on children as to understand why they may or may not be fascinated by social media. Through this I will be observing the child’s interaction with an approved social media site.  Quantitative (empirical) research will help me establish questions by providing background knowledge.  Then surveys will be used to gather feed back of children’s reactions and literacy of social networks versus news outlets. All the methods could compile some type of communication science to see the overall interaction.

The ages of kids I plan to observe are students in the fourth grade. I have been asked previously to assist with a exercise on interviewing and writing articles and hope to later studying their analytical skills for this paper.

The Birth of Citizen Journalism

The concept of citizen journalism is a relatively new phenomenon that has played a new role in how citizens interact with the media. No longer is the average citizen a receiver of nightly television broadcasts but is now an active participant in how the news is shaped. In the past few years it has become increasingly clear that the use of social networks and user generated content is now the first link in the media’s distribution of news. I wish to explore and examine the potential this new social trend has.

In the last few years I have seen how the tactics of civil rights groups adapted and changed across the globe. The change is the struggle to counteract measures imposed by governments that have little regard for human rights. In viewing the 2008 documentary “Burma VJ” I watched as how the videographer named “Joshua” shot footage from a concealed Canon camera, and uploaded edited content onto a yahoo account for Radio Free Burma based in Denmark. This method helped capture the exact actions taken during the September 2007 protests by the Burmese government as thousands of protestors took to the streets of Rangoon. In addition to the Burmese opposition using this technology as similar scenario played out on the streets of Tehran in July of the previous year.

The opposition party of Mir-Hossein Mousavi disputed President Ahmadinejad’s reelection by staging a mass protest in the Iranian capital. In response the government ordered a crackdown of all telecommunications centers to disrupt personal cell phone communication as well as text messages directed to outside sources. In a move that stunned the world, the opposition groups turned to social networking sites as well as the micro-blogging site twitter. The Iranian authorities attempted to shut down the nations web services and restart them at lower bandwidths, only to find that the very computer literate activists often used open web proxy servers to get around net sanctions. The conclusion of these examples of social unrest was that anti-authoritarian opposition was digitally mobilized, yet could not be sustained without outside help. It is here that I wish to begin my research.

I hope to examine these two instances while keeping in mind how the citizen journalist theory applies to both. In each instance I will cite the methods that succeeded, what did not succeed, and how the international community could have further assisted them in fighting for their civil rights. This topic will be a sociological case study that will be conducted through virtual ethnography. The theory of Media Determinism will be invaluable as societal norms of communication depend on the means to which individuals collaborate. Keeping in mind that the uses of social networking in these instances are seemingly a utilitarian approach, I will analyze samples of tweets and messages relayed through sites sent out by these activists. I will also examine the government responses to the actions of opposition groups. As this is a new field I hope to uncover new theories and possibilities as to how the public can further exercise its self-determination through our interconnected age.

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Videogames: More Than a Game

“I’m making games about things that I have personally found interesting and want to communicate.”- Shigeru Miyamoto (Mario Creator), Kotaku interview

Since 1977, Miyamoto has been hard at work in the videogame industry; his most famous creation being the iconic videogame character Mario. I chose to start with this quote from him because it reflects the theme behind one of the major communication theories; namely that of Walter Fisher. According to Fisher “all meaningful communication is a form of storytelling or giving a report of events and so human beings experience and comprehend life as a series of ongoing narratives, each with their own conflicts, characters, beginnings, middles, and ends” (Wikipedia; (I will find the real source late; please do not comment)). Fisher’s statement is known as narrative paradigm theory. When narrative paradigm theory is applied to Miyamoto’s quote, it leads me to question if others in the videogame industry have something to say with the videogames they have created over the years.

I am a gamer. Hence I have played through a number of games and I can say that my favorite games usually contain a story of some kind. With regards to story telling, videogames are no different than films, novels, or even art. All of these mediums and more have something to tell those who consume, view, analyze, etc whether it is something about the artist, society, the work itself, or any number of things. Despite all of the rich content within; anytime a game makes the news, it is usually because either a) there is something controversial around it (Grand Theft Auto: San Andres, Bully) or b) there was an act of violence that was somehow connected to a videogame (Columbine). What I do not see is a review of the new art style a game is utilizing (Okami, Shadow of the Colossus) or an analysis of the characters or the story being told in the game.

There is so much that goes into a videogame that they are essentially more than just “games”. However, it does not appear that society can get past the word game when the topic of video games comes up.  However, if one were to strip down a videogame to its bare essentials, it could arguably be considered an interactive movie. Thus, for my project, I will be applying Fisher’s narrative paradigm theory to videogames and see what stories are trying to be conveyed through them.

To complete this project, at least two methods will be applied the first being literature review on what research has already been done regarding the treatment of videogames as communication mediums. When I say communication, I mean what message it is determined that the game in question was conveying, be it positive or negative.

In addition to the literature review, there will also be a survey distributed to voluntary participants. While withholding the true nature of what the content of the survey is, participants will be asked to analyze a synopsis of the plot and characters of a novel, play, movie, or videogame; the details will also be withheld. When asked to analyze these synopses, participants will be instructed to identify if the synopsis is from a novel, play, movie, or videogame and, if they can, to identify title of the medium selected. Participants will also be asked to pick out any underlying themes, messages, etc that they see in the synopsis. The responses to this survey will be coded and then analyzed to look for trends regarding how the synopses were identified and how the participants interpreted what they read.

Rationale/motivations: For my research topic, I want to examine the ways in which interactive elements are changing the face of narrative journalism. Traditionally, mainstream news publications have shied away from this particular genre, mainly due to time and space constraints. However, the exploding presence of online media presents an unprecedented platform for narrative journalism to thrive. More specifically, interactive graphics such as video, slideshows, illustrations, etc., have the potential to effectively supplement the narrative stories in an online forum. Web sites such as Slate magazine are quickly gaining popularity as they embrace narrative journalism with interactive graphics. I think it will be fascinating to explore the effectiveness of interactive elements in modern narrative journalism, as well as the ways in which interactivity has the potential to enhance a traditional narrative.

I wanted to choose a topic closely related to the field of journalism, since my undergrad degree is in this field. I’m extremely interested in the changing face of journalism, but I wanted to find a topic beyond the cliché of “news is moving online.” Narrative journalism is a more specific area that interests me, and I like the fact that interactivity is probably more crucial to this sector than standard news stories. I also think this would be a great concept to lead into my Capstone for the spring, since I initially wanted to find something that was journalism-related… this just puts a more unique spin on it.

I’ve already found an interesting collection of recent studies on the subject that I’d like to more closely consider. One study, for instance, examines the “journalistic paradigm” as narratives move from the news room to online forums. The study ultimately found that interactive media resulted in more complex, layered narratives. It also implies that there is now a changed process of newsgathering for these online narratives. Another study looks at the ways in which online writing and accompanying interactivity affect the way that readers process the information. I want to compare a wide variety of studies such as these in order to pinpoint the specific ways that interactivity is changing the field of narrative journalism.

Engagement with social theory: In the broadest sense, this topic relates to human communication theory on several levels- interpersonal and societal. Some more specific theories this topic relates to include the narrative paradigm theory and the uses and gratification theory.

Methods: I’m going to base my research largely on previously conducted research. I’ve already found a substantial collection of noteworthy scholarly studies. Additionally, there is a multitude of reliable news sources that have recently published stories that can supplement the research studies. Ideally, I would like to include some of my own research to provide a “mixed methods” collection of data, but this is something I’m still considering.

Outcome/novelty: I hope that the outcome of my research thesis will highlight the specific reasons why interactive media are enhancing narratives through the lens of specific theories, as well as the ways in which these media are changing the narrative journalism field as a whole. After gathering more preliminary research, and noting the related theories that have already been projected, I think the specifics of the potential “novelty” of my thesis will arise.

Rationale/Motivations
With the emergence of the Internet came a flood of information that, frankly, I don’t think we were all ready for. Companies frantically created an online presence and have evolved over time to become more interactive (some just in an effort to “keep up with the Jones’).” I seek to uncover why companies and individuals should be cognizant of the signals they’re sending to consumers through their online presence.
With every design, piece of content, photograph, tweet, and status update, a signal is delivered. I want to understand how audiences internalize those signals so companies can better focus on reaching their target audience.

I’m interested in this topic for a number of reasons. Here are the two primary reasons:

First, I’ve learned first-hand from someone in the interactive communication industry that developing a personal online brand is key to drawing attention from potential employers. But how much of our online brand (i.e. our online selves) is an accurate reflection of who we are? How much can you really learn about someone by the way they tweet or write their LinkedIn profile?

Second, I might pursue the interactive communications/advertising sector myself, so I’m interested in why some online brands are more appealing to others and what the key influencers are. More specifically, I want to understand why and how audiences engage with online brands and upon which signals they build their perceptions.

Engagement With Social Theory I’ll be drawing from the work of Judith Donath and the Berkman Center for Internet & Society, just to name a few.

My first step will be to research the process of identity, both in terms of one’s personal identity (i.e. brand) and a company’s online presence. I want to dissect the strategy behind those online signals. Donath said, “Signaling theory…shows how the cost of many seemingly extravagant displays is no wasteful expenditure, but useful for ensuring the reliability of the display as a signal.” But what makes a signal honest? What are the methods signal receivers use to sift through the dishonest signals to find the true meaning?

Twenty-first century technology has given all of us a keen BS detectors. I’d like to know what signals trigger that alarm. I also want to understand why some signals are more reliable than others.

Methods
For my secondary research, in addition to the sources mentioned above, I’ll investigate research that focuses on the following topics:
• The history of online branding
• What makes people trust one brand over another (specifically, what about their web presence seems more honest)
• What about the company/organization captures audiences
• What about the design/content of a site means to the consumer (i.e., what’s a turn-off and what’s a hook)

I may also conduct primary research via social media networks (facebook, twitter) and interview people in marketing/advertising leadership positions.

Outcomes/Novelty
This topic is considered novel because the avenues and technologies by which we communicate and present ourselves online is always changing. At the conclusion of my research, I’d like to be able to give insight to companies and individuals on what their brand may be signaling to target audiences.

Social Media, Privacy and Youth: How Online Sharing Could Impact Future Generations

Research Description

With recent debates involving social networking giant Facebook and its privacy features, it’s not surprising that social media has become a focus for discussion, analysis and research, especially in regards to online sharing and information privacy. While much of this recent research has spotlighted the general uses and impacts of social media in addition to touching upon the current privacy issues, one area that is relatively unexplored is how social media and its privacy regulations will shape and impact future generations as they mature into digital-savvy adults. The purpose of this research paper will be to explore the concept of social media’s long-term impacts on today’s youth in relation to privacy and online information sharing.

Understanding how social media and privacy will influence future generations is an important question to consider as society continues to go digital. With more conversations taking place online, friendships developing virtually and the idea of learning about a person via profile, it’s more important than ever to understand how these developments will shape the next generation of decision-makers and society leaders. Exploring the next generation’s understanding of privacy and long-term effects of social media will better prepare influencers to ensure that youth’s privacy and personal information is protected now, before it is too late.

In regards to social media, privacy and youth, this paper hopes to support the idea that today’s youth lacks the understanding of privacy issues surrounding social media sites; therefore, today’s youth is unable to recognize and process the long-term effects of sharing private information. Private information can be classified as name, address, phone number and photos, among other qualifiers. This paper further hopes to discuss that since children lack the understanding regarding privacy features, they are unable to develop an analytical thinking process before sharing information through social networking sites.

Considering the statements above, this paper intends to investigate the following questions:

Is today’s youth, defined as children ages ten to eighteen, aware of and understand the privacy issues surrounding social networking sites and the long-term effects of sharing private information?

The question of long-term effects is an important aspect to consider regarding this topic. This paper assumes that based on previous research studying current users and the consequences of sharing private information, it can be inferred that it is imperative for children and young adults to comprehend the potential life-altering repercussions that may result from sharing information through social networking sites. However, discovering if today’s youth understands and is aware of privacy issues is not enough to determine if this will affect how they use and behave with the medium. Therefore, a second question must be proposed:

Does the knowledge, or lack thereof, of social media privacy regulations affect how youth, defined as children ages ten to eighteen, use, interact and behave with social media?

Using a different angle to re-examine previous research, this paper will begin to explore the ideas of social network privacy issues and long-term impacts in relation to today’s youth. This research will break-ground within an unexplored topic and help predict the future of social media and the next generation’s attitudes and beliefs towards the medium.

Methodology

This research paper will consist of a literature review with content analysis. By looking at recent research, ranging from social media use to long-term effects to youth’s interest in medium, a new insight on how this media will impact upcoming generations will be discussed. By dissecting relevant research with a different angle, new results and correlations will appear. In addition to the research component, this paper will also include interviews with social media experts who will discuss where social media is today in regards to privacy, where we can expect it to go and how this will impact future generations.

Since this paper will be based in literature, expert interviews and suggested theory, there will be no formal communications science component. However, in order to understand where to start such an experiment this foundational research will prove pivotal in directing future studies regarding the subject matter.

Conclusion

Social media is forever changing the way people communicate, which includes the next generation, even at young ages. For many children, social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn have always been a part of their background noise. In other words, social media is not new or novel for them like it has been for current mature audiences. Children are growing up knowing how to inherently use these mediums and their usage will start at younger ages, but the question remains – do they use social networking sites wisely? In order to do so, children need to be educated on privacy regulations surrounding social media and the long-term implications this usage will have on their futures. This research paper is designed to explore this concept and draw conclusions about the knowledge youth carries in regards to social media and privacy as well as the knowledge of long-term impacts through online information sharing.

Title:
Paying the price for information: a study of participatory journalism affecting the cost of content

Question:
How is the value of information impacted when journalistic authorities allow participatory journalism from ordinary community members with no journalistic certifications?  How does this citizen-produced content affect the argument of cost of content?

(Authority vs participatory journalism vs cost of content)

Purpose:
As a method of increasing interactivity between news agencies and their audiences, participatory journalism has emerged as a technique allowing ordinary citizens to play the part of journalist.  However, questions have been raised concerning the value of this amateur content since it does not come from a trusted commentator.  While this brings the audience into a two-way discussion with certified journalists and other interested citizens, it also places strain on the proposed idea of paying for online content.  Online media is the only medium that is currently free of charge to the world at large.  Newspapers, magazines, television and satellite radio all arrive to their audience at a fiscal price.  News agencies across all sectors have grappled with the idea of bringing more interactivity to their online content and determine a solution for profit gain from the information they bring to society.

Understanding the value of content will affect the profitability of media outlets.  Are interactivity and engaging with an audience to gain readership for your medium more important than the financial benefits of a media agency?   Separate arguments and studies have been made regarding participatory journalism and cost of content.  The next step needs to determine how these two factors play off each other and what is best for society.

Social Theory Engagement:
Users and Gratification Theory
Through online media, users are able to take an active role in choosing and using content.  Society has abandoned the days of passive knowledge intake due to the interactive nature of the Internet.  Blumler and Katz’s Users and Gratification Theory suggests that the media users take an active part in the communication process and are goal-oriented in their media use.  They seek out a media source that best fulfills their needs.  Uses and gratifications assume that the user has alternate choices to satisfy their need.  Adding in the factor of payment to gain access to information will alter a users motivation toward their choices.  Also, the user’s opinion of amateur content plays a part in their media decision.

Political Economy and Propaganda Theory
The media holds control over the information about which society learns.  They decide what news should and should not be published based upon their opinion of its newsworthiness.  Advanced by Herman and Chomsky, the political economy and propaganda theory proposes how propaganda and elite favoritism function in mass media.  This model seeks to explain how audiences are propagandized and how consent for various economic, social and political policies are “manufactured” in the public mind. Participatory journalism is an avenue of news generation all its own that strips news agencies of this control.

Methods:
For this research, I will draw information from a variety of disciplines such as economic and social science journals, consumer behavior studies, and possibly media agency experiences or reader opinions.  I will focus more on the academic research that has already been investigated.  However, I find it important to add examples of first hand experiences since this is an issue currently being wrestled with in regards to both audience and media outlets.

Novelty and outcomes:
Arguments have been made about the topics of participatory journalism and the idea of paying for content as separate issues.  I would like to see if there is a correlation between the two debates.  I believe the value placed on amateur content affects the potential of paid online content.  If a citizen views participatory journalism as an inaccurate information generator that can’t be trusted, in a sense this citizen will not pay to engage with this form of content.  However, who is to say that online content merits any type of monetary price regardless of authority.   I would like to bridge the gap between authority and cost.

Proposed Title: A Comparison of Interactivity in Nonprofit and Government Web Sites

Motivations

For my capstone project, I want to incorporate my design skills into helping a nonprofit/government entity to create a web site. I was thinking specifically of contacting the Orange County Animal Shelter to determine their interest in having me redo their site. Currently their web site is really elementary and simple. I think it could benefit greatly from some interactive features.
The Animal Shelter is an interesting organization because it is funded by the government but has more of a nonprofit feel to it because of its mission to help place animals in homes. It employees county employees but also requires help from community volunteers, much like a nonprofit organization. Because of this blurring of the organizational lines, I feel that I should research which kind of interactive site I should use to model my capstone after. Would it be more effective to use the government model or the nonprofit model? This is assuming that interactivity is different on government sites than on nonprofit sites.
In order to create an effective web site, I first need to research to see how other nonprofits and government agencies are using interactivity on their sites. It is important to analyze and critique other sites so that I can use the best features available.

Theory and Literature Review

One popular theory that seems to reoccur in my review of the current literature on the subject is the idea that nonprofits should use their websites as a marketing or public relations tool. This brings up the question of awareness and education; how aware is the audience of the organization and how educated are they about its cause?
My project might be a little different, since I am dealing with an organization that most people are aware of already. I would think that the Orange County Animal Shelter’s main purpose online would be to get more animals into loving homes, rather than simply to educate the public about their mission.
In reviewing literature about government agencies and interactivity, the theory of e-government appears repeatedly. The general consensus is that users are frustrated with their e-government experiences and that government entities are not utilizing the web in the best way. Recent articles discuss the opportunity to improve transparency via the web.
The theory of the digital divide is also one that could be analyzed in a study such as this. The digital divide says that people of different income levels, age, and race have an effect on how people are able to use technology. Usually, middle class, white Internet users have more familiarity and accessibility to technology than lower-class minority users. This brings up the question of how easy or involved the interactivity on a site should be?

Method

Originally, I thought that in order to complete this research project, I would need to do a content analysis of several government and nonprofit agencies. However, after receiving feedback from Dr. Lackaff, I think I will need to read the previous research on the topics and come up with my own theoretical framework for the type of site I want to build. Dr. Lackaff said that I can “rely on previous empirical research to develop your argument about these quasi-governmental sites.”
From examining previous research, I think that government agencies will need to use simple features because one of the main complaints is that their sites are difficult to use. Therefore making sure that the interactive features on government sites are easy-to-use and understand should be the priority. Nonprofits need to use interactivity in order to communicate its mission to their audience. The features included should present one clear, concise message to the user.
It is also important to measure how users perceive sites. Therefore I would like to hold a focus group to gauge which types of interactivity people find most useful on sites. This will allow me to develop new theories and ideas about how to incorporate interactivity into government/nonprofit sites.

Outcomes
As previously stated, since the animal shelter is a kind of quasi-nonprofit organization, the research that is conducted here will allow organizations of similar structure to create effective, useful, and efficient web sites. Research already exists about e-government and interactivity in nonprofits, however by comparing and merging the effective features from each one, my project will allow for organizations to create interactivity that is efficient, useful, creative and strategic on their web sites.

For my research paper, I am very interested in the location-based services and how they can be applied specifically to marketing and advertising. The ability to directly target potential customers in a certain area is obviously a very appealing aspect for many companies and with increasingly advanced mobile phones, there are many more ways to leverage this technology.

Foursquare, of course, is the “hot” application right now. It has already garnered over 3 million users and has companies, like Starbucks and American Eagle, utilizing it to offer promotions to those who “check-in” with the software.

However, Facebook and Twitter are getting into the game as well and this opens up even more possibilities. Facebook’s Places application has only been rolled out recently but I see the potential power of having a pre-built network of Facebook friends that you can find, and offer suggestions to, in your area. It also encourages business owners to establish “places” in which they can advertise directly to users in the area, especially those who have previously “Liked” their businesses.

My motivation for studying such a topic would be that the idea of location-based marketing not only personally interests me also is being heralded as a game changer in, not only marketing world, but to social theory as whole. Steve Hall, creator and editor of industry blog Adrants was quoted as saying,

“With the ability to target people only when they are within purchasing distance, brands will be able to come that much closer to targeting nirvana. Offers can be made only to those meeting certain location (and even demographic) requirements, reducing waste and actually saving a brand a lot of money by minimizing its old school spray-and-pray mass marketing techniques. In a nutshell, mobile will, once and for all, make it possible for a marketer to target without waste.”

I plan on pursuing a career in advertising and this technology will clearly be a critical part of the job that I want to be familiar with.

As it develops and spreads, this technology will reshape many current social theories and even open up a whole new set of potentially controversial issues such as the idea of having businesses and peers being able to literally “track” us and know our location anytime that we carry our mobile phones. With social networks, our lives have clearly become much more public but would this people-tracking technology and direct marketing finally cross the line?

My methods for studying this topic will be to first research the location-tracking system itself. I want to learn much more how it works and how it has been used in the past. I also want to look more into which applications (Foursquare, Facebook, etc.) are utilizing the technology and what they are planning for the future. I want to conduct some in-depth case studies on certain companies, such as Starbucks, that are leveraging the location-tracking apps for marketing purposes and evaluate their success. I also want to try to predict how it will be used for future marketing endeavors and how people will react as it continues to spread.

Hopefully, in the spring I can use my research to develop a location-based marketing campaign for a client as a part of my Capstone project.

As you can see, this topic would be fascinating to learn more about because of the immense impact it has on the sociological and marketing worlds.

Fan Disconnection: Interactivity and Social Media in Motorsports

Racing is something that has been a part of my life since I was little. I have grown up around Nascar all my life. I have also been racing since I was 16 years old. As I dive deeper into Interactive Media and what I want to do with the rest of my life, I am beginning to go back to my roots. I know that after I graduate from the iMedia program that I want to work in some form of racing. Therefore, I have begun to question the sport of racing from a marketing and social media perspective.

As I have been thinking about this research project I have been considering my true passion of racing. As we talk more and more about social media and interactivity in class, I have been thinking about racing in general from a social media stand point. I have realized that there is a true lack of social media in the racing world compared to other sports. For example, many other athletes tweet about their lives personally and professionally. Not many Nascar drivers or racecar drivers in general, if any, tweet on a regular basis. I think that fans need to have that connection with the drivers, and they are simply not getting it. I have formulated the hypothesis that the lack of fan interaction from many different angles, including social media, is why Nascar and other racing are struggling at this point.

Through my research, I hope to answer the question as to why social media is not used as much within motorsports as it is in other sports? Does this have an impact on motorsports fans? Is this disconnection what is causing the sport to lose fans? All of these questions bring interesting insights and value to the topic. If something is not done to challenge the way that fans perceive the sport, I am fearful that Nascar and other racing will begin a downward spiral. People are simply not as interested in the sport as they used to be. There has to be some reason for this, and I am determined to figure it out.

I also want to touch on interactivity in my research. How do motorsports fans interact with social media, websites, and brands? How much attention do fans pay to the marketing and branding that goes on within the sport? Ultimately, with answering all of these previously mentioned questions, I hope to provide new insight to the topic of social media in motorsports and to expand on the ideas of marketing, interactivity and social media.

The method of collection is an important part in the research process. My research will be based partly on previous research in social media and marketing in other sports and partly on my own research. I plan to conduct interviews of both interactive media professionals and professionals within motorsports. I also want to formulate a focus group to allow me to get the opinions of fans of the racing world.

There are so many different angles that I could take with this research. I hope that as I am conducting the research, my topic will become even more narrowed and insightful. This topic is a true passion of mine and I hope that it will add value to the sport of racing and impact the way that professionals in the sport think about the fans.