Significance of a suitable question
The issue of media in everyday life of human beings is among the most pivotal. The question is that living in the post-industrial society, one needs to use information, as the main product of suchlike type of society. The time demands new prospects in terms of making out social features about mass media. In this respect it is vital to point out the issue of gender characteristics that are influenced by mass media. To make it clear, it is vital to provide a research on methodology applied to work out mass media influence on perceptions of gender.
The significance of this issue is rather felt in terms of contemporary demographic changes of the humanity. In this respect one should clearly evaluate the reasons for mass media increasing role in impacting perception of gender. Human beings should know the truth of suchlike analysis. This is why it is suitable to state the importance of highlighting the role of mass media for the gender characteristics of the society. The focal point for this issue is the facts that gender controversies are about to reach their equilibrium in a civilized society. On the other hand, the reasonable coloring of the analysis can be motivated by the importance of female part of the humanity in the mass media space.
Three research problems
The research problems that need to be analyzed follow the main topic for the analysis. In this case one should keep it in mind that narrowing such problems down would generate the interest of observers in the evaluation of approaches maintained. The three subordinate research problems to answer the social scientific question are as such:
- The scope of the research;
- Theoretical grounding of the problem;
- Statistic data and means for gathering them.
Looking through the specific character of the research it is necessary to outline the micro and macro economical readings as for the validity of the research. The social scientific analysis required for this kind of research should touch upon the scope of it, first of all. It is meant here that a researcher should lay more emphasis on the reliability of the main point for the analysis. Thereupon, such macroeconomic factors as employment rates, limiting inflation, levels of living are significant to estimate the society where mass media headquarters are located. It means that mass media in a definite area reflects peculiarities of its current development. In this case Perry and Perry (2009) admit that “the division into macro- and microeconomics is simply a matter of convenience, a way of dividing a huge amount of information to make it more amenable to analysis” (471). Density of the population and the character of the social array run into gender characteristics of the society. In this respect it is vital to make up calculations and opinion polls as per the frequency of watching TV news among male and female parts of the social reality.
The reliability of the study should be centered on the combination of qualitative and quantitative features of the research. The thing is that the research cannot go without data gathering and appropriate arrangement of the results. In this respect several methods might be used, namely: making up a questionnaire, scoping out ratings, drawing up diagrams and stating opinions accordingly. These procedures should be accomplished with social differentiation in the character of people asked. Thereupon, the research also touches upon data on the stratification characteristics between men and women. This idea sounds great especially when pointing out facts significant to evaluation of the society norms and standards. Perry and Perry (2009) comment on it as follows: “People everywhere are categorized according to some trait (sex, age, race, ethnic background, religion) and according to how much of the scarce resources (wealth, power, prestige) they possess” (154).
Individual reactions to media representation of gender are at a focus. Hence, the research leads to maintain and further work out precisely the role of gender in mass media. To figure it out, one should implement the methods of questionnaire and rating selection. This is an optimal approach to find out the validity of the whole research proved on its practical use. The idea is that the means for gathering data can make no difference, unless being proved practically. In this respect the theoretical constituent goes without saying as one on which the research is built up.
Discussion
In part, natural and physical sciences are thought of to be of great significance for the determination of the research. The focal point should prop up against up-to-dated researches taken from current studies on the problem. It also requires using more varied methodology. It means that applying scientific research is appropriate to this sort of studies. Gender prospects in mass media are one of the most exciting themes for contemporary sociologists. This point is emphasized through multiple case studies on social sciences. In this respect natural and physical sciences use methods of gathering data similar to one aforementioned in this paper.
Thus, the research represents a complete framework for identifying the essence of three research questions outlined. Hence, there is a ground to claim for the extent to which the research can be applied practically. This idea needs proper analysis, for it might be scientifically proved on examples. Fortunately, these examples can be extracted out of multiple cases of gender impacts across contemporary mass media.
The sharpness of data and methods used for physical and natural sciences should also consider the validity of gender perceptions related to mass media. The reason is that social sciences are far-reaching in terms of constantly changing dynamics of them. After collecting data it is high time one analyzed them particularly to the standards underlined for maintaining researches on social sciences. A sociologist should operate with the basic elements for making the best performance of the research that suits initial parameters. The algorithm for provision of the research presupposes the following steps:
- Designating concepts for the research. It means that a research should have a clear idea on which conceptual materials it is applicable to structure it. “Aspects of human interaction” are outlined to make the whole research look appropriately to the idea of gender perspectives in mass media (Perry & Perry, 2009, p. 5). It is to be transformed into a great set of terms that need to be identified in the study. Thus, the term apparatus might include such concepts as air, medium, public opinion, opinion polls, information agencies, etc.
- Theoretical explanation. In this respect implementation of different theories that fit the whole course of gender peculiarities throughout mass media impacts on individuals. Theories are helpful to explain formulation of different types of people’s behavior regarding their interactions in everyday life. In other words, it serves as sets of applicable conceptual and general variables to explain the effect of mass media influence on gender perceptions.
- Then a researcher should look through the literature on the topic. It is vital to fix points at which concepts of mass media and gender provide a unique and original theme to be researched. Otherwise, the whole significance of the research would come down to be in vain. The literature should be spiced with authoritative sources out of credible journals, books and web pages, as mass media is expressly seen on sites.
- Forming a hypothesis is another step. In this respect one should make up a prediction of the results in order to compare them with practical pones taken during the research process.
- Research design should presuppose step-by-step procedure starting from the concepts up to the hypothesis and research itself. Here a sociologist should take into account such features as objectivity and ethical neutrality of the research (Perry & Perry, 2009).
Conclusion
To conclude, it is vital to admit that the research stated in this analytical paper is outlined in terms of scientific approach toward its performance in characteristic features. The extent to which the social scientific perspective relies on methods appropriate to physical and natural sciences depends on the scope and particular details of it. The relation of perspectives in social sciences is straightforward to one concerning physical and natural sciences. In this statement the whole observation of methodological peculiarities can be shaped throughout the paper.
Reference
Perry, J. & Perry E. (2009). Contemporary society: An introduction to social science. Boston, MA: Pearson.