Week 14 Post 3: Group vs. Individual

3). Pick one other concept in the book that you feel needs further discussion?

Another concept I found interesting was individual versus group decision making and factors that relate to group productivity. Working in a large company I feel that there are definitely times where individual work is more beneficial and there are times where group projects are more efficient. My company rewards people for being individuals and for leading teams of people but I think sometimes it is harder for them to identify when group work is better. Our text offers good tips such as using groups when there is adequate time for group members to meet. Another good time is when the decision is complex.

Week 14 Post 2: Attraction Filter

2). What concept/s in this class have you found most interesting? What was it about that concept/s that you found interesting?

One concept I found interesting was Ducks Attraction filter. The filter is made up of cues that can eliminate partners as the relationships grow. There is the sociological or incidental cue where proximity or frequency of interaction can either turn the partner on or off. Then there is the preinteration cue, the interaction cue, and the cognitive cue. I like how it also reinforces the idea that a first impression is very important. I think it is really important people we are a very judgmental society where the first time you meet someone could very well be the last because we are all so busy we have to have such a good impression the first time to make time to meet again.

Week 14 Post 1: Ethnography

1). (Regarding Chapter 13) Which of the research methods listed in Table 13.3 seem the most interesting? Assume you want to study some aspect of deception. Frame a research question. Which method would you choose to answer the question. Why?

I always thought ethnography was a really fascinating way to research something. It sounds so hard to immerse yourself in a culture so different form your own, but I think it also stands to be one of the best ways to learn. For example, if you want to learn a new language it is often best to go to the country where the language is spoken. Ethnography is the same way. To study deception, I would pose the following research question: Do gang members hold themselves and each other to a personal set of values that would be put off by deception in their group. Do research this, you could immerse yourself in a gang culture and process interviews.

Week 13 Post 3 - Social Effects

3). Pick one concept from the assigned reading, that we have not already discussed, that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.

One concept from the reading that I found intriguing was the section on social effects and social challenges. The book mentioned how with every new technology there is a new set of social standards that needs to be learned. The example the book gave was cell phones. Now, it’s possible for us to be in a situation where we are fielding a very personal call in a very public place. For example, you’re in the grocery store buying food when your friend calls to tell you she broke up with her boyfriend. This is a situation we never would have needed to function in before.

Week 13 Post 2: Mediums

2). Do you agree with Marshall McLuhan that the medium is the message, i.e. that 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? Evaluate his idea that television is a cool medium.

I do agree with Marshall in that the channel through which a message is sent is just as important as the message. Some pedagogy researchers have found that some students are visual learners, and some are verbal learners. It could be the exact same information and it’s all about the presentation that gets people to retain the information or not. I also think that some forms of the medium have a big affect as well. For example, commercials. Somebody in the advertising business could tell you a lot more about it than me, but it’s pretty obvious that things like color scheme, actor appearance, and word choice has a lot to do with what messages people pay attention to.

Week 13 Post 1: Cyberspace Relationship

1). Have you made friendships that exist exclusively in cyberspace? If so, how are they different from f2f relationships? If you have not formed cyber relationships, why not?

Because I am not on Myspace or Facebook, I initially didn’t think that I had any cyberspace relationships. However, I recently joined Twitter and have been “following” one of my favorite DJ’s called woody. The Woody Show used to be on Live 105 in the mornings and I listened to it every day on my way to work. After so many months and years of listening to this guy talk every morning, you start to really feel like you know them. Unfortunately he was recently fired form the radio station so now I follow him on Twitter. He talks about the job hunt, his wife, his baby due in a couple months, all the things you would normally talk about with a friend. This kind of relationship is different than face to face because it’s completely one sided. He doesn’t know anything about me, so while the relationship is entertaining; it is not in any other way beneficial to me.

Week 12 Post 3: Telecommuting

3). Pick one concept from the assigned reading (not already discussed for this week) that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.

One concept I found interesting was telecommuting. This is basically working from home through a home computer with a VPN system to connect you to your workplace. Some advantages are that the company can save money by not providing work sites and they can offer jobs to candidates that may not be local residents. On the other side of the argument, it creates a separation between the employee and the workplace, and it can also prevent a person’s promotion because they may fall off their bosses’ radar. For me, as much as I like working from home, I have to say that I do think that it is not as productive and actually creates a tension between yourself and the people working in the office.