Project 2: Sample Research Questions

The following project is also posted as a properly formatted word document here -> Project 2: Potential Questions

Rob Tow’s discussion of strategy, tactics and heuristics for research setup a new and interesting framework for considered the questions I wanted to research. His three-level top-down structure is an excellent way to consider how I could approach these questions. The structure offers the top level being the “grand strategy”; my overarching goals. This is followed by strategies that support this grand goal. These strategies are clear plans of action, testing, and research. All of these strategies focus their action on achieving the grand strategy. And at the primary level are tactics, the details which support the actions of the strategies. Tow points out the importance of first developing a grand strategy and then formulating the actions points and tactics rather than the other way around, which is commonly done.

Interested in how technology advances are changing media ecology and media economics I focused my grand strategy around the potential for significant changes. This was fueled by Tow’s discussion of filling the void, finding an opening with the vast separation of technology and communication and focusing your questions and design research to fill that void.

1) With the advent of media creation tools, Internet video streaming, video on demand technologies and mobile video devices will the television disappear?

2) Art and media are often centered on the visual aspects of human communication. People visit museums to experience visual culture and media. Can a museum setting that presents sound culture, sound experiences, and sound art be successful?

3) Major trade shows such as the National Association of Broadcasters Convention, Comdex, the Consumer Electronics Show, and Mac Expo have seen significant decline in attendance over the past few years. Recently major corporations including Apple and Avid Technologies have pulled out of participating in such tradeshows sighting the Internet as a better way to reach a customer base. How has Internet communication become more effective than personal contact communication?

More soon as I continue to flesh these out. Your comments and questions are appreciated!

Update

During this weeks Second Life meeting I was able to further explore one of my research questions to the class. I selected to pursue the question on presents and teaching sound culture. A different and difficult question that was close to me having finished some excellent sound culture courses that open my eyes to power of audio communication. Several questions were raised on the ability to sell idea research design concept to grant funding organizations. What would the outcome be? What are the values and intension of this type of research? Who would benefit? Why? Who would fund it?

All excellent questions and thoughts that reminded me of the need to always consider funding and support for certain research design. Despite the enjoyment of researching something that interests me (and that’s very important), one must think of the broader goals of such research. Not terribly discouraged I think I have turned my thoughts away from this question. In fact all f my questions. There is another design research question that has been sparked in my mind by our academic work in Second Life. The integration of an educational course within a social network.