Assessment
Task 2: Report
Overview
This assignment asks
you to
- pick one topic from the three
options detailed below; - formulate one original research
question related to the topic of your choosing; - to answer your research
question, pick one methodology from the two options detailed
below; - conduct a small data collection
and data analysis; - write the results of your
research project in a report following the structure that
is detailed below.
How
to Write Your Report
All the reports must
have a standard structure comprised of 6 sections:
- Introduction. The introduction will contain
a literature review, where you will summarize key scientific articles
on the topic (max 300 words). Please start summarizing the relevant
readings that I suggest in the topics description (see next page). - Research question. This section is very brief,
and it will contain a small paragraph where you will introduce and
formulate a research question that you will address in your report
(max 100 words). To formulate well your research question, please read
the slides presented in Topic 3.1. - Methods. In this section you will
explain how you conducted your research (max 300 words). Please
follow the instructions in the slides in Topic 3.1. For example: –
if you analysed the content of a website, you will have to explain
when you did it, how long it took, what type of data you collected,
how much data, how you collected it, how you analysed it; – if you
interviewed a friend or a family member, you will have to explain
when you when you did it, how long the interview took, what type of
data you collected (e.g. did you take notes?), how much notes, how
you analysed it. - Results. In this section, you will
report the main findings of your research. What did you discover? How
do your results answer your research question? You can present the
results in any logical order that you think is best to provide a
complete response to your research question (max 300 words). - Discussion. In this section, you will
discuss your original research findings and compare them with
existing literature on the topic. Do your research findings support
existing theories that you read in the readings? Do they contradict
existing theories? Are they similar to other research findings that
you read in the readings of this unit? (max 300 words). - Generative AI critical
reflection. In this section, you will critically discuss how you used Gen
AI to complete the assignment, and your will reflect critically on the
responses you initially obtained from Gen AI tools. Ensure you address
these topics: how was the first response you obtained from Gen AI? How was
it biased or limited? How did you improve it? (max 300 words).
Please carefully read the guidelines
that I have prepared
for you.
Each section must have
separate headings and you must provide a precise word count after each section.
The total word count must not exceed 1,600 words. There is no 10% leeway above
the word length. You will have to give your report an original title. Your
research question can be a good option for the report title.
PLEASE NOTE After choosing one
topic, please narrow down your report to one research question that focuses on
one specific case study. Do not address the topic in general terms. You will
have to find one specific and narrow case and context that allows you to respond
to your research question.
Please read carefully
the slides in Topic 3.1: it contains important information to develop a good
research question and to conduct your research in an appropriate and ethical
way.
Topics Description – Pick One Topic
Topic
1. Online misogyny.
Online
misogyny is a broad concept, which may involve the direct threat of violence
but also other forms of harm such as psychological, professional or
reputational harm. Online misogyny can involve direct forms of harm (such as
name calling, harassment or unwanted sexual advances) but also indirect forms
of harm, which involve making digital technologies a less equal, less safe, or
less inclusive space for women. If you choose this topic, you are encouraged to
focus on one of the many manifestations and effects of online misogyny and to
consider manifestations of online misogyny in the broader social and political
context. Suggested readings. Please start with the four readings suggested in
Topic 4.4.
Readings in Topic 4.4.
Douglass, C.
H., Wright, C. J., Davis, A. C., & Lim, M. S. (2018). Correlates of
in-person and technology-facilitated sexual harassment from an online survey
among young Australians. Sexual health, 15(4), 361-365. (mandatory)
Zetterström
Dahlqvist, H., & Gillander Gådin, K. (2018). Online sexual victimization in
youth: Predictors and cross-sectional associations with depressive symptoms.
European journal of public health, 28(6), 1018-1023. (mandatory)
Jaki, S., De
Smedt, T., Gwóźdź, M., Panchal, R., Rossa, A., & De Pauw, G. (2019). Online
hatred of women in the Incels. me forum: Linguistic analysis and automatic
detection. Journal of Language Aggression and Conflict, 7(2), 240-268.
(elective) you can download the file HERE
Vallerga, M.,
& Zurbriggen, E. L. (2022). Hegemonic masculinities in the ‘Manosphere’: A
thematic analysis of beliefs about men and women on The Red Pill and Incel.
Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy. (elective)
Topic
2. Online misinformation.
Online
misinformation is generally defined as false, misleading or deceptive
information that circulates in digital platforms. It can include made-up news
or scientific articles, deceiving images and videos, false information,
conspiracy theories and scam advertisements in various forms. Online
misinformation can address a large variety of topics including for example
health, climate change, political leaders and elites, war, etc. If you chose
this topic, you are encouraged to focus on one specific manifestation of online
misinformation, narrowing it down to one topic and one digital platform.
Suggested readings: Please start with the four readings suggested in Topic 5.4.
Readings in Topic 5.4.
Mahl, D.,
Schäfer, M. S., & Zeng, J. (2022). Conspiracy theories in online
environments: An interdisciplinary literature review and agenda for future
research. New Media & Society, 14614448221075759. (mandatory)
Pertwee, E.,
Simas, C., & Larson, H. J. (2022). An epidemic of uncertainty: rumors,
conspiracy theories and vaccine hesitancy. Nature medicine, 1-4. (mandatory)
Swire-Thompson,
B., & Lazer, D. (2019). Public health and online misinformation: challenges
and recommendations. Annual Review of Public Health, 41, 433-451. (elective)
Enders, A.
M., Uscinski, J. E., Seelig, M. I., Klofstad, C. A., Wuchty, S., Funchion, J.
R., … & Stoler, J. (2021). The relationship between social media use and
beliefs in conspiracy theories and misinformation. Political behavior, 1-24.
(elective)
Topic
3. Online hate speech.
Hate speech
is a broad concept that includes includes a range of verbal or non-verbal
manifestations of hatred against a people belonging to visibly different groups
defined by perceived racial or ethnic identity, religious identity, sexual
orientation, gender identity, disability, among others. Examples of non-verbal
forms of hate speech can be gestures, words or symbols, bestial depictions of
members of minorities, hate symbols, among others. In digital platforms, hate
speech can be communicated via memes, images, videos, and other user generated
content. Some forms of hate speech—for example, incitement to hatred, Holocaust
denial—might be regulated by criminal law in certain jurisdictions, by civil
law, or not regulated at all. If you choose this topic, I encourage you to
focus on one specific form of hate speech (e.g., a meme) against one specific
target group (e.g., a religious minority). Suggested readings: Please start
with the four readings suggested in Topic 6.4.
Readings in Topic 6.4.
Commission
for Countering Extremism report on extremism in England and Wales. 2019.
Challenging Hateful Extremism. (mandatory) Available here
Williams, M.
L., Burnap, P., Javed, A., Liu, H., & Ozalp, S. (2020). Hate in the
machine: Anti-Black and anti-Muslim social media posts as predictors of offline
racially and religiously aggravated crime. The British Journal of Criminology,
60(1), 93-117. (mandatory)
Müller, K.,
& Schwarz, C. (2021). Fanning the flames of hate: Social media and hate
crime. Journal of the European Economic Association, 19(4), 2131-2167.
(elective)
Vergani, M.,
& Link, R. (2021). A Conceptual Framework to Map Responses to Hate Crime,
Hate Incidents and Hate Speech: The Case of Australia. Social Policy and Society,
1-18. (elective)
Pick One Methodology
To address
the research questions, pick one methodology from the two options detailed
below:
Methodology
1. Thematic analysis of digital content (e.g., a website, social media
content).
A thematic
analysis is a descriptive presentation of qualitative data. This methodology
involves collecting and coding a sample of materials to look for the variety of
themes emerging from the data. t requires familiarizing yourself with the
content to identify and analyse patterns and recurring themes and their
meaning.
Methodology
2. Qualitative interviews of online users.
If you want
to understand how users of digital platforms experience, use and understand
content, you can choose to conduct one or maximum two qualitative interviews of
a friend or a family member who has knowledge or direct experience of the topic
that you are investigating. You can find a detailed guide of how to conduct
thematic analysis and qualitative interviews in Topic 3.1 (Week 3) and in the
Assessment page (Table of Content => Assessments => Assessment 2).
Please make sure you
read all the instructions to conduct interviews and thematic analysis before
completing the assignment.
Your task
Weighting: 40% of overall unit mark
Word Count: 1,600 words excluding references.
This is the maximum. There is no 10% leeway above the word length.
Format: Please submit as a Word compatible document
(e.g. .docx) or PDF. Make sure your essay is double spaced and includes page numbers. Please
include a cover sheet including your name, student ID, unit code, report title
and word count.
Referencing: Please use an author-date (in-text) referencing system.
This can be APA7, or Chicago Author-date.
Style: Please use Australian English spelling (e.g. organisation not
organization) and single quotation marks for all direct quotes (except a quote
within a quote).
Reading: Use at least six academic (scholarly) references – that
is, work written by someone at a university. I strongly encourage you to start
from the readings of the relevant Week of Module 2. To supplement the six
scholarly references you are required to use, you can include additional
relevant supporting evidence from other sources, including newspapers,
magazines and government reports. You must reference everything you source.