For my research today in class, I used two databases which were the PsycINFO database and the Social Science Journal (ProQuest) database. To find these databases, I went to Galileo and typed each of them into the search bar and clicked on the link. First I used the PsycINFO database. I used the search terms gun control and media to find information on my research topic. Once the search was complete, mostly periodicals and a few academic journals popped up. It brought up topics that discussed different articles dealing with gun control. It also brought up debates about the gun laws and legislation. While browsing through the different topics I noticed a lot of articles that contained research that had been conducted on guns such as things like ownership and crime rates.  Next I used the Social Science Journal (ProQuest). I used the search terms guns and media influence. This database also showed research that had been conducted on guns. Most of the information from this database was published by criminologist and criminology departments. I noted one major difference between Academic Search Complete and the other databases we used today in class. Academic Search Complete uses more academic journals whereas the other databases contained a great amount of research that had been directed in periodicals with tables and debates. I would use Academic Search Complete when I need more scholarly information on certain reports. Since I am a criminology major, I would see myself using PsycINFO and the Social Science Journal (ProQuest) to use when I am writing papers to find proper research articles.

I did not know what filter bubbles were until after watching the video and I learned that it is basically an invisible editor. I think filter bubbles has it pros and cons. I think they can be very beneficial when searching for certain things on the internet but can also be a hazard. In my opinion, filter bubbles are a bad thing because it shows us what it thinks we want to see, not what we need to see as mentioned in the video.  

Some problems filter bubbles might cause me for my academic research would be not finding relevant information. Sometimes when I search on Google for certain things, I rarely find information that is relevant on the first page.  When I do find information, it sometimes may not be sufficient information.

I think the suggestions for getting out of the filter bubble are great. I took the time to read through the 10 ways to pop your filter bubbles. While reading, I found myself underlining most of the tips that were offered to get rid of filter bubbles. After reading, I decided I would try at least one of the ways. I used number five which was turn off targeted ads, and tell the stalking sneakers to buzz off. Every time I log on to the internet, there are always ads that pop-up and it is so annoying. I use Google Chrome, so after I installed Google’s ‘Keep My Opt-Outs’ extension for chrome I haven’t had random advertisement pop-ups.

Last week we talked about different sources that we could use for research topics. Four sources that I remember talking about in particular last week were books, magazines, periodicals, and newspapers. In newspapers and magazines you mainly find articles. Newspapers and magazines were also a more popular source than a scholarly source. Newspapers and magazines were more of a scholarly source because they are reports. Reports can be biased and told from the reporter’s perspective which can persuade you to think a certain way. On the other hand, periodicals and books are more scholarly than popular. Most time when you look at books and periodicals you see a lot of words and hardly any pictures. To most readers that are a turn off because it seems like it may be boring and uninteresting. One thing that I remember mostly about periodicals is that it had a lot of tables and charts. This shows that it is more scholarly because it actually contains proof that research has been conducted in order to write the periodical. You can use these types of research to answer questions in many different ways. For instance if I was writing a report I would probably use an article from a magazine. If I were writing a research paper I would use a more scholarly source such as a book or periodical.

The topic that I have chosen for this project is how does the media influence society and how does it affect the society. The topic my group chose for this project is how does media affect the public? The topic I chose relates to the topic because it describes the media’s influence. In other words how the media gets inside our head and cause us to respond in a specific way. I developed this question because from not finding sufficient information on my previous topic which was how does the media affect the topic of immigration. As I was on the library catalogue looking for books for my previous topic, I noticed that there were several books on the media’s influence and how society is affected. I decided I would just change my topic. I found some new information on the internet for my research topic. As I was picking information from my book, I have learned new things about the media that I did not already know. After not being able to find enough information on my previous topic or books that had relevant information, I had to completely revise my research topic. In relation to my topic, I will be discussing the media’s influence on society. I will talk about pros and cons of media influence. I will also talk about how the media’s influence causes the society to respond certain  ways about a topic or how it causes us to change our perspective due to the media’s point of view.

Most of the skills that I have learned in this class I can apply to any of the classes I’m taking. Learning how to cite resources correctly in research papers is most definitely a skill that I can and will apply in my English 1102 class. Before I got to this class, I did not know how to find books in the library I always had to ask a librarian. After completing the library ethnography project I learned how to find books on my own. I am now learning how to use the library catalogue which is very helpful because it allows me to find books without going to the library. These two skills are very valuable to me because some of my classes require me to use books from the library. These skills are also a great assistance to me in the project that I am working on for this class. I feel that the skills I have learned in this class will help me with future classes such as the ones that pertain to my major. I know I will probably be writing a lot of research papers in the future and the skills that I am learning in this class are teaching me how to write them correctly and how to find reliable resources. 

MLA Citation: McCombs, Maxwell E. Setting the Agenda: The Mass Media and Public Opinion. Cambridge,UK: Malden, MA:Polity,2004. Print.

The source is exactly what the title says, it talks about how the media affects public opinion. This book goes into detail about how the media uses different tactics in order to grab the attention of the public. One example that was listed in the book, was how in the newspaper the things that are listed on the cover page are attention grabbers. Once you have read the title, this pulls you in and makes you want to purchase it. I believe that this is a credible source because it can be cited, it is an actual book and not something that I found on the internet. There is no hidden advertisement, the information is current and up to date. Lastly, this book is relevant to my research question. This source helps me to answer my research question because it gives me the inside scoop on the media. It shows the various ways the media gets at the public and how the public interprets what the media spreads.

Most of the books in my high school library were pretty easy to find because the library wasn’t as big as the Ingram Library. In my high school library, the books were also easy to find because the genres were listed on the each shelf with the call numbers listed as well. The only time I would usually ask for help was if I was looking for something in particular that I could not find.  I would also ask for help when I couldn’t seem to find a book that was relative to what I was searching for. Before I gained knowledge on how to find books in the Ingram Library, I was not really sure how to find the books that I needed.  If I did need a book, I would always go to the help desk and they would give me the call number so I could see where to find the book. After gaining knowledge on how to find books in the Ingram Library, I do not have to ask for help anymore. I know now that I can go to the computer and log on to the Ingram Library website and search for books on the catalogue. 

Library Ethonography Assignment

http://www.slideshare.net/briannab1093/library-ethnography-project-16297211