Giving credit: Week Seven

The experts over at the Pew Internet & American Life Project certainly have their work cut out for them and I can relate.

They posted this article regarding their word choice for a particular survey question in an effort to explain why they chose those words and to present the challenges associated with measuring social media. It certainly makes for an interesting read and I was left yearning for a solution to the difficulties in researching new, rapidly changing media.

This summer, Professor Alisa Agozzino and I were working on a research paper about Twitter, and I was to research the history of the service and how it applies to the Millennial generation.

At first, I figured it would be simple enough to track down a timeline and then look up a bit of research on Millennial characteristics and how they relate to Twitter. The timeline was relatively straightforward. Finding Millennial characteristics was relatively straightforward. Relating Millennials to Twitter was freaking tough.

I realized very quickly that finding that sort of information was difficult because primary research is still going on. New media is, well, new. Researchers are still trying to figure out the phenomenon behind it, which means that those of us looking for secondary research are left hanging for the time being.

While it's frustrating to wait, it's either that or do the research myself, and quite frankly, I don't think I know how to do that effectively yet, nor do I have the resources to do so. Yes, I've had classes that I've thoroughly enjoyed where I've done some primary research, but I'd be so nervous that I'd overlook a certain aspect or target the wrong demographic or interpret the results wrong or something. I think it would require a large team of people to grasp the concept of efficient and accurate research.

In the meantime, I encourage the researchers at Pew to soldier on in their endeavors to bring us telling information about this ever-changing, dynamic media. I can't wait to read the next article on their findings.