Survey Research

Awkwardly enough the research methods listed on Table 13.3 that seem most interesting is the survey research. I am someone who is a logical thinker and information based when it comes to decisions. So surveying is something that is very analytical for me. A question I word form off of the methodology would be, “what is the reason for drinking and partaking in drugs in high school?” Like I said previously I would choose this method because it seems like it would be the most analytical out of them all. Based off of facts and is very basic when it comes to gathering information. On the other hand, the method of Conversation Analysis would be too difficult for me when it comes to analyzing. That for me is over analyzing if that makes sense. Same goes for Content Analysis, it is a little too analytical for me. It requires you to find things within the context.

Finally, the end of the semester and what I enjoyed!

Throughout this course I have learned a lot of very different things on communication that I never thought I would have. The concepts covered I would have never even thought of, which amazes me. One thing in particular that caught my eye this semester in this course was the filtering theory proposed by Steve Duck. After reading about the filtering theory I realized how I judge people and the process I undergo in my head when making friends and forming relationships. I find it so interesting also because it is so interesting to think about the natural thought process. Another concept I found intriguing was the analyzation of facial expressions, unintentional and intentional. I find it so interesting for the same reason as the previous concept, it is just fascinating to see how people act intentionally and unintentionally. The brains process of things naturally is one of the things that has fascinated me most in school.

Media, NOW!

One thing this chapter covers is the media, and I feel the only reason for the media is for everyone's desire for the quick paced life. Everything from text messaging, instant messaging, commercials, emails, cell phone apps, information resources, and even social networking. If it isn't going to instantly gratify anyone they will they will not pay attention. If they do choose to pay attention, they will probably pay attention for short period of time due to everyone's desire for instant gratification. If you would compare today's news and information sources to a couple decades ago it would be two different worlds. Back in the day news was either delivered through the radio or newspaper and comparing that to today's sources it is probably one hundred times slower. I feel like it is beginning to affect kids in school because I know as a student I wanted everything to happen instantly, I couldn't sit there and listen to the teacher read the book or slowly go over something. Everything other than media for people is becoming a necessity to have instant gratification.

Marshall McLuhan

I do agree with Marshall McLuhan that the medium is the message, the format or logic of a medium is as important as its content and, in fact, determines what content will be broadcast through that channel. It involves just about most of your senses when watching television, (all except feel to the touch). Like the textbook said, reading periodicals, the information is in an orderly fashion whereas with television its all in one instant effect, and you have to process it to the best of your abilities. Just how he says, television is a mosaic logic. However while watching this medium people may have selective processing and only process things they wish or how they wish, not always easy in an orderly fashion like other methods. I do believe over time with the mass amount of people watching television they expect everything to be instant and that is one of the contributing factors to everyone wanting instant everything. Everything now days is about instant gratification, even the media takes approach to that. Quick commercials, text messaging, etc.

Internet Relationships...

It might be weird to say but yes I have made friends that exclusively live in cyberspace. When I was a kid in middle school and high school I played a lot of online video games. In those video games you are able to create friends list with people that you met online and you can either build a greater relationship, play together online, or whatever else you wish. I had one friend I met playing online one night. I added him to my friends list and for a while we would just play together online. After a while we started chatting outside the online realm through email or texts. Over time we became really good friends but after a while we both grew up and stopped talking. Mostly it didn't work because I was never able to see him due to the fact that he lived across the United States. What I learned from that relationship online was that it is nothing like a f2f relationship. It requires much more time and effort and I hate to say it was too much for me when I looked back on what I had done. I haven't formed one since then.

Friendships in the Workplace

One of the topics in this Chapter is the discussion of work place relationships, friends and romantic. I have learned over several different personal experiences that dating in the workplace is something that should not ever be done, regardless on the situation. I did it once and it was weird because the person I was dating wanted to express public affection in the work place and I found it very inappropriate because we were there to complete a task not have personal time. Granted the work place was one that was very relaxed I just had standards when it came to being professional. In the long run she was turned off because the way I was acting and I had to explain to her that it was just weird to me. I have also learned on several different counts that it may be hard to work with someone if you have become very close with them on a personal level. Friendships can sometimes get in the way of things. One specific instance something has occurred in the workplace that wasn't tolerated and the employee that was doing it thought that I was friends with them. I still had to notify someone on the actions, and in the long run he was upset because he thought I had his back.

Connection

This weeks topic of communication was rather different discussing the topic of organizations being tied to the environment, which at first made no sense and now it sort of does. Educational institutions are tied to the environment in a sense of helping people, educational wise. The ethical obligations that are present between city and university would be looked at as to what the students are going to give back in the long run. Knowledge? More well informed place to live? Applying what they have learned to their community and environment? The book also states colleges are intertwined with cities on a communal level. If the college expands, it puts pressure on the environment in terms of energy, transportation, housing needs, and communication in terms of emergency. When I say communication in terms of emergency I mean the school needs to respond properly in conjunction with the city to make sure everyone is safe.