Theme 3: Research and theory // Comments

Please see the following comments:

1. http://denise-theoryandmethod.blogspot.se/2015/09/theme-3-research-and-theory-22.html?showComment=1443527573784#c6466310877627447445
   
   
2. http://meglia.blogspot.se/2015/09/post-theme-3.html?showComment=1443527992019#c2997374710066384685
   
   
3. http://securepathofscience.blogspot.se/2015/09/theme-3-research-and-theory-reflection.html?showComment=1443528370979#c2120386821026440235
   
   
4. http://theorymethodmediatech.blogspot.se/2015/09/theme3-research-and-theory-after.html?showComment=1443528647489#c5792022359289259103
   
   
5. http://dm2572fan.blogspot.se/2015/09/post-theme-3.html?showComment=1443528900552#c4110072787603429105
   
   
6. http://oscarlimback.blogspot.se/2015/09/theme-3-research-and-theory-after.html?showComment=1443529277878#c4804296684657474074
   
   
7. http://paullinderoth.blogspot.se/2015/09/theme-3-research-and-theory-after.html?showComment=1443529573998
   
   
8. http://tamfmtol.blogspot.se/2015/09/theme-3-post-research-and-theory.html?showComment=1443529882601#c902918256857772857
   
   
9. http://duckyduckyducky.blogspot.se/2015/09/post-seminar-3_28.html?showComment=1443530171077#c5925689766972747202
   
   
10. http://mashasthoughts123.blogspot.se/2015/09/seminar-3-reflection.html?showComment=1443530498159#c817109080822229392
    
    

Theme 3: Research and theory // Reflection

As an introduction to the lecture, we figured out that a common use of the word theory implies that something is unproven or speculative which is better characterized by the word hypothesis.  A theory is a set of proposition that aims to identify objects and their relation to each other. Furthermore, a theory is an abstract entity that aims to describe, explain and enhance understanding of the world and in some cases to provide predictions of what will happen in the future and to give a basis for intervention and action. Theory is something we construct it does not exist by itself. Knowing is about seeing. Theory is about the connections between phenomena, and explaining WHY, HOW and under WHAT circumstances acts, events, structures, and thoughts occur. Scientific theories attempt to explain the causal logic between cause and event. This is why theory ca be contrasted with praxis or practice. However, it is important to note that this distinction can be put in question, as theory is a form of practice and practice also always has a theoretical dimension. Due to these findings, you can say that truth is related to the state of knowledge right now. Truth is relative.

Furthermore, we discussed the question “What is men?” during the lecture. In our group, we brainstormed the following keywords: Technology; Cognition/mind; Very developed species; Feelings; Curiosity; Language; Culture; Social interaction/empathy; structured time/space. In class, we came to the following findings: A combination of the human bodies and consciousness; High developed species; Create and think;  Homo faber; High requirement of spiritual energy; Morality; Right/wrong; Know how to lie; Feigning; Living towards death; Egalitarian; Sexual. Furthermore, we mentioned Post-humanism, which is basically our keyword technology.

In the seminar, we discussed in small groups different aspects of the lecture and started with the different theory types Analysis, Explanation, Prediction, Explanation and Prediction (EP), and Design and Action mentioned in the paper. Furthermore, we tried to explain theory in our own words and came up with a differentiation of theory and hypothesis. To us, theory is an attempt to explain the causal logic between cause and event. But there is a difference between scientific and philosophical theory. We figured out that hypothesis is a statement or guess for research purpose which tries to explain two variables. In addition to this, we discussed that you can find truth for a hypothesis through falsification. In class, we stated that theory is what is practice not. In addition to this, we mentioned Thomas S. Kuhn, who “was an American physicist, historian, and philosopher of science whose controversial book ‘The Structure of Scientific Revolutions’ was influential in both academic and popular circles, introducing the term ‘paradigm shift’, which has since become an English-language idiom.”* A paradigm shift is a phrase to describe a change or "revolution" in the basic concepts of a scientific discipline.

All in all, I have understood the term theory better after the seminar since it was easier to get because of the simplified explanation even though my approach before the lecture was on the right track. Nevertheless, I would have find it useful if we would have discussed the chosen papers and focused a bit more on the questions since I am still not sure if I have classified my paper correctly regarding the characterization of theory types. Indeed, we discussed the different types briefly and tried to find an answer by comparing our papers with each other but we were still not sure if we were right.

  

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Kuhn

Theme 3: Research and theory

I believe that the journal IEEE MultiMedia is important for media technology research since its technical information covers a broad range of issues in multimedia systems and applications and provides a forum for researchers and practitioners to present new findings and discuss experiences with multimedia systems and applications. The journal’s subjects are Communication, Networking & Broadcasting as well as Computing & Processing. It has an impact factor of 1,694.

From IEEE MultiMedia volume 22, I choose the article “Social Media, Democracy, and Democratization” published by Daniel Gayo-Avello in 2015. The paper is about the confluence of social media with political action. Since Gayo-Avello calls it “a complex field raising important questions”, the paper addresses the blending of social media and politics. First, Gayo-Avello states that not all social media users are similar. He differentiates between media elites, such as politicians and journalists, and non-elite users, such as common citizens. To support his theory, Gayo-Avello states why political discussions in social media are not always rational due to e.g. the generally lack of strong arguments and coherency. Therefore, the article “Social Media, Democracy, and Democratization” states that promises of social media to boost political engagement and democracy are still unfulfilled. Accoring to Gayo-Avello, social media is the product of communicative capitalism, and the goal is not to boost political action. He suggests to continually work on information provenance in social media and credibility assessment.

Briefly explain to a first year university student what theory is, and what theory is not.

A theory is an abstract scientific model or concept that tries to explain a part of reality. Furthermore, a theory could be a way of thinking, that tries to solve problems without inclusion of practice.

  

Describe the major theory or theories that are used in your selected paper. Which theory type (see Table 2 in Gregor) can the theory or theories be characterized as?

In the paper “The Nature of Theory in Information Systems”, Gregor describes five different theory types: Analysis, Explanation, Prediction, Explanation and Prediction (EP), and Design and Action. In Gayo-Avello’s “Social Media, Democracy, and Democratization”, he describes what the problem is and how, why and when it occurred. At the end, Gayo-Avello suggests on how to improve the prospects of political action in social media. According to the table it would probably be the number five “Design and Action”.

  

Which are the benefits and limitations of using the selected theory or theories?

A benefit of the theory “Design and Action” is that it “Says how to do something”. The theory gives explicit prescriptions. The limitation of the theory on the other hand is that it lacks scientific data which mean that the theory can’t apply on every similar case and make a generalization.