Research Methods Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Research Methods - Essay Example The influence of social network sites in Regents College University students Background and Introduction Considering that man is a social being, the desire to remain in contact with others and share thoughts as well as feelings have led to the invention of various social media platforms. The social network sites have made it possible for individuals to keep in touch, just by the click of a button. Thus, people can share files including their photographs, while also chatting in real-time with other people from different parts of the world. Students can discuss ideas and assignments over the social network sites, either with their colleagues or even their instructors. Thus, social network sites have helped advance communication and connectivity for people, students inclusive. Nevertheless, the social network sites and their activities have become so much addictive, that people spend most of their times there, forgetting to attend to other important issues. Social network sites are a ma jor cause of distractions to students, affecting their performance and grades. ... It has been pivotal in assisting students undertake their research and accomplish their assignments with great ease, compared to when they could be looking for information from the library books (Conley, 2011 n.p.). The advantage of students using the internet for their research is the fact that, it has a wide range of information, dating from the very old archival information, to recently done studies in different fields (Wankel, 2012 p36). In addition, the internet has provided social communication networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Second Life, LinkedIn, among many others (Marti?nez & Wartman, 2009 p73). Considering that such social networks are free and open for anyone to join, they have attracted millions of people, mostly the younger generation, who are mostly students. While such communication networks have allowed them to connect and keep in touch with others, they have caused the students a great deal of distraction, making them spend most of their time on those sites, at t he expense of concentrating in class work (Fewkes & McCabe, 2012 p94). Methodology Quantitative method of research was applied in the study, where questionnaires were prepared and distributed to students. The questionnaires sought to find the time that each individual student spends on the social network sites, every day. Additionally, the questionnaires were formulated to collect information regarding which particular times students visited the social sites, either during the day or at night. The questionnaire also collected information regarding the nature of activities that students undertake on the social sites, with a view to understand whether the activities were communication or research oriented. A sample of 20 students was selected from each class undertaking various

Autonomous intelligent agent topic tracking system Dissertation

Autonomous intelligent agent topic tracking system - Dissertation Example The researcher states that technology has forever changed the way journalists approach their careers, but there have those proverbial bumps in the road. For instance, Google found itself with a bit of quagmire following the 9/11 attacks on the Unite States. People were using keywords that they were hoping would put them right where they needed to be for the must up to date information. Unfortunately, Google as a search engine couldn’t meet the demands and a worse, the search engine just didn’t know what to do with these unfamiliar strings of words. For the first time, the internet failed people – both those hungry for news and those eager to get their columns in before deadline. A key component in the globalization of the world economy involves the transfer of intellectual material across borders. Access to new ideas and information is an important means of development in most economies. Today, thanks to the Internet, the flow of information is much easier; intel lectual ideas and property can be exchanged across borders almost instantaneously. Except perhaps in China where government officials block access not only to individual web sites, but to entire search engines. While China’s leaders recognize the value of the Internet as a tool for building economic competitiveness and technology capabilities, they have established what is known as the Great Firewall to filter what Chinese citizens can read on the Web, and effectively maintain the Communist Party’s grip on power.... Today, thanks to the Internet, the flow of information is much easier; intellectual ideas and property can be exchanged across borders almost instantaneously. Except perhaps in China where government officials block access not only to individual web sites, but to entire search engines. While China’s leaders recognize the value of the Internet as a tool for building economic competitiveness and technology capabilities, they have established what is known as the Great Firewall to filter what Chinese citizens can read on the Web, and effectively maintain the Communist Party’s grip on power. This paper discusses how China’s limitation on free access to the Internet influences the country’s ability to achieve meaningful economic progress. The CEO of AltaVista, one of the search engines banned by the Chinese government, noted that "censorship is not compatible with his vision of free global access to information" and has stated that he will not screen his siteâ €™s content to cater to Chinese officials. Yahoo Inc.’s Chinese portal in contrast has pledged to censor itself. This paper supports Yahoo Inc.’s decision and the contention that the current Chinese internet policy has helped the economy in achieving exponential economic growth. China’s policy in the context of technology during the last fifteen years has highlighted the undeniable reality of how a global power can adopt a need to use basis approach in strengthening internet limitations and censorship. Theorists have often felt that the main objective of adopting this policy is principally accounted for by the desire to strengthen national sovereignty and to enhance economic development. Obviously, these are two