| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Performance | the ability to adopt alternative identities for the purpose of improvisation and discovery |
| 5 core concepts | All media messages are constructed. Media messages are constructed using a creative language with its own rules. Different people experience the same media message differently. Media have embedded values and points of view. Most media messages are organized to gain profit and/or power. |
| Media Messages | Most media messages are organized to gain profit and/or power. |
| Deconstructing media messages: Questions to ask | Who created this message? What creative techniques are used to attract my attention? How might different people understand this message differently? What values, lifestyles and points of view are represented in, or omitted from, this message? Why is this message being sent? |
| Principles of Media Consumption | Be skeptical of absolutely everything (Lego Ball/ Myth Busters). Although skepticism is essential, don't be equally skeptical of everything ["Trust meter"] (Wall Street Journal/ Anonymous blog post). Go outside your personal comfort zone. Ask more question (Trust but verify). Understand and learn media technique (Create sites, post blogs). |
| Credibility of information on Internet | Anyone can publish anything on the Net: -Lack of traditional "gate-keepers" -Easy to create site that looks professional, credible and objective but actually is biased -Credibility study by Consumer Reports -Example: Google search "martin luther king" -Bias may be OK in some instances -- as long as you are aware of it [Need for increased levels of skepticism, investigation] |
| Evaluating Internet Research Sources | Credibility, Accurateness, Reasonableness, Support |
| Credibility: criteria to consider | Author's credentials, Evidence of quality control (e.g. peer review), Metainformation (information about information |
| Credibility: be skeptical if | Anonymity, Lack of Quality Control, Negative Metainformation (bad reviews), Bad grammar or misspelled words |
| Accurateness: criteria to consider | Timeliness, Comprehensiveness, Audience and Purpose |
| Accurateness: be skeptical if | No date, Generalizations, Outdated (old date), One-sided view |
| Reasonableness: criteria to consider | Fairness, Objectivity, Moderateness, Consistency |
| Reasonableness: be skeptical if | Insulting language, Overclaims, Overstated claims of significance, Conflict of interest |
| Support: criteria to consider | Source documentation, Corroboration, External consistency |
| Support: be skeptical if | Lack of sources, No corroboration from other sources |
| How to find sources: Search Engines: Now vs. then | -Google uses PageRank, which takes into account both the number of links into a particular site and the number of links into each of the linking sites. -Previously, search engines relied on programmer-supplied keywords and the text of the page, so produced less valuable results. |
| Constructing Searches | -Narrow your search Use "advanced search" in search engines (ie Google) or try Google Scholar See Library FAQ for more information -Use the right terms -Beware of sponsored links |
| Sources (vs Search Engines) | -Mailing lists and newsgroups -Online established news sources (e.g. CNN.com) -Reports by established institutes (e.g. Pew Internet) -Commercial internet research sources (ie Jupiter) |
| Order of credibility | -Top: Peer-reviewed academic journal articles -Bottom: Personal homepages |
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