Monday, January 27, 2020

Social Networking And Uncertainty Reduction Theory Psychology Essay

Social Networking And Uncertainty Reduction Theory Psychology Essay The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between social networking and uncertainty reduction theory having the focus on how this theory is related to social attraction and uncertainty reduction in a social media situation. Previous research suggests that as uncertainty decreases the threshold of information increases. Results suggest that (popular media personnel are a large rold in womens media usage, social comparison tendencies, and body image). A discussion of findings in comparing social networking and uncertainty reduction follows the results.   Ã‚   With the advancing technology of the Internet, members of the community are being exposed to social networking. It was four years ago that I remember Facebook becoming a thing of the future and MySpace a thing of the past. The data doesnt deny that Facebook has come to dominate social networking in the US and over took Myspace in 2009 (Owyang, 2010). With the advancement of social networking, the Uncertainty Reduction Theory is becoming more applicable to everyday life as well as everyday encounters. For example, imagine walking into an unfamiliar situation then suddenly becoming filled with uncertainty about the people that surround you as well as the area that you are in. With this example, you are likely to become more reserved and not as willing to open up to your peers unless they do so first. It is this case for the social networking in an unfamiliar world otherwise known as the world wide web.    While researching this topic, I came across the phenomenon of social networking and uncertainty reduction. In doing the research, I found repeatedly that with the increase of communication between strangers, uncertainty decreases. However, I also found that Charles Berger, Uncertainty Reduction Theorist, developed 8axioms to describe how uncertainty reduction unfolds.   Although extensive research has been done on Bergers theory, there are many doubts about his views on uncertainty and the methodology in which he goes to reduce it. With the development of social networking being on the rise and the relationship to the amount of information that is revealed, there is a need for further research on these topics. Therefore, the purpose of this paper it to explore the relationship between social networking and uncertainty reduction theory. The paper will be organized around a discussion of relevant literature, methods, study results, discussion, and future research. Literature Review   Ã‚   This project covers two variables: social networking and uncertainty reduction. Many surveys have been conducted to further discuss the online statistics on these two variables. The following topics will report on previous findings on these two variables. With the phenomenon of uncertainty reduction, there are two different ways of describing the theory: either by the eight axioms or by describing it as passive, active, or interactive as forms of seeking information from the other person. Positive or negative reinforcement of certain behaviors can have an impact on other people who are witnessing these behaviors and their reinforcements whether it is positive or negative aid in the increase or decrease of uncertainty. Rationale With the increasing popularity of social networking as well as the convenience, there is a need for further research on social networking and uncertainty reduction. With the growing problem of Internet safety, further research is needed to be done on how to meet new people online in a safe fashion. Therefore, this research project examines the relationship between social networking and the amount of information that is revealed in an online setting. Research Question R.Q. 1: What is the relationship between uncertainty reduction and strangers meeting online. R.Q. 2:   What is the threshold of information revealed in an online setting opposed to an in person? Methodology The goal of the present investigation is to explore the relationship between social networking and uncertainty reduction theory. The study is organized around a survey questionnaire. The methodology will be organized around a discussion of participants, measures, procedures, and analysis. Participants The participants were comprised of 100 male and females ages 19-25. A convenient random sample of 40 participants came from online surveys while the other 60 were randomly passed out around the University of Tennessee-Knoxville library and Communication Classes. Measures After determining the questions for the survey, a likert-type scale was used to have a uniform guide for the scale used ranging from 1-5 and 1 being Strongly Disagree to 5 being Strongly Agree. The survey questionnaire was comprised of 15 questions centered on the following topics: Facebook, MySpace, and Chatroulette. To ensure that the answers were closed-ended, neutral questions. To measure the amount that each participant spends social networking on the specified sites, Facebook, MySpace, and Chatroulette, questions were tailored around asking the amount of time spent chatting or video chatting. However, to measure the participants uncertainty in an online setting, questions were designed to reveal the amount of information that each participant revealed in each given setting. For a view of the complete survey questionnaire, please refer to Appendix A. Procedure Surveys were sent out online and handed out in person at the Universitys library. The participants were first informed that the survey was completely voluntary and they would in no way be tied to their responses. After agreeing to complete the survey, the participants were given a survey of 17 questions and of the 17, one asked age and the other asked biological sex. The other 15 questions were close-ended, neutral questions to measure the amount of social networking and uncertainty reduction. The 40 participants that were asked in an online setting were asked through a posting on Facebook so their participation in the survey was completely voluntary. The remaining 60 were randomly approached in the University library and asked for their corporation and a few minutes of their time to fill out the survey questions. Analysis   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In analyzing the participants answers to the survey questions presented, a likert-type scale was used. In using the likert-type scale, using a scale of 1-5 having 1 be Strongly Disagree, 3 being Neutral, and 5 being Strongly Agree. The survey questions were divided into 3 different categories which pertained to Facebook, MySpace, and Chatroulette. In choosing to separate the survey questions into 3 different categories, I found that I could differentiate between the amount of information that is shared for the 3 types of social networking cites listed. I found that by using the closed-ended questions from a neutral standpoint helped in putting the data into similar groups to find a correlation across the participants responses. Results The goal of the present investigation is to explore the relationship between social networking and uncertainty reduction.The following information reports on the results of the study. The results are based and answered on the research questions. The survey questions were placed into three different categories for evaluation. The three groups are Facebook, MySpace, and Chatroulette. Questions 1-5 report on Facebook and the trust developed in an online setting, 6-10 report on Chatroulette and the amount of information each participant revealed to a stranger only if they did so first, and 12-15 report on MySpace and if they reveal more information to strangers online or face-to-face. The themes and patterns found pertaining to Facebook were as follows: The themes and patterns found pertaining to Chatroulette were as follows: The themes and patterns found pertaining to MySpace were as follows:    Discussion The goal of the present investigation was to explore the relationship between social networking and uncertainty reduction theory. This study posed two research questions regarding social networking and the amount of personal information given to a random stranger to see if there was a direct correlation in the amount of information revealed by the online stranger.   The following information reports on the patterns and themes found in participants responses to close-ended, neutral survey questions. A major theme Participants responses regarding social networking among the three categories given showed ___ variation. Most participants revealed that they Study of Limitations and Future Directions   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are several limitations that pertain to this study. The participants were predominately male in a 60/40 ratio. With these results it could be misleading because women typically reveal more information than do guys and having a participant bank of mostly males could affect the findings. Also, I found that in doing my poster presentations as well as handing out survey questions, some people were unfamiliar with Chatroulette and what it does.   However, after explaining the concept, most people were very interested in giving it a try. Another limitation is that all participants were found in the same city. Possibly if participants were gathered from different geographic locations, they would be more familiar with the Chatroulette concept. Also, participants ages ranged from 19-25 where as someone younger may be more technologically advanced or more seasoned in the online advances.    While this study of social networking and uncertainty reduction was only a survey, I feel that if this study were to be replicated, doing an exploratory analysis would help because it is looking at a qualitative perspective. This way by interviewing each participant, you could ask more specific questions if they were unfamiliar with one of the concepts. Appendix A Social Networking and Uncertainty Reduction Theory Survey By receiving this survey, you are participating in a study involving the purpose to better understand peoples behavior in finding information about their views on social networking sites and the amount of information they reveal to online strangers. For the following items please answer with the best of your ability. Do you identify as:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   à ¢- ¡   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Male à ¢- ¡   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Female What year were you born? __________ Directions: Please indicate the answer that best indicates how you feel about Facebook and online strangers. 1.) I typically enjoy meeting new people online.    Strongly Disagree  Ã‚  Ã‚   1   Ã‚  Ã‚  2  Ã‚  Ã‚   3  Ã‚  Ã‚   4   Ã‚  Ã‚  5  Ã‚  Ã‚   Strongly Agree 2.) I usually meet new people through Facebook. Strongly Disagree   Ã‚  Ã‚   1   Ã‚  Ã‚  2  Ã‚  Ã‚   3  Ã‚  Ã‚   4   Ã‚  Ã‚  5  Ã‚  Ã‚   Strongly Agree 3.) Typically when I meet new people face-to-face, I reveal personal information if they do so first.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Strongly Disagree   Ã‚  Ã‚   1   Ã‚  Ã‚  2  Ã‚  Ã‚   3  Ã‚  Ã‚   4   Ã‚  Ã‚  5  Ã‚  Ã‚   Strongly Agree 4.) I am skeptical of meeting people in an online setting.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Strongly Disagree   Ã‚  Ã‚   1   Ã‚  Ã‚  2  Ã‚  Ã‚   3  Ã‚  Ã‚   4   Ã‚  Ã‚  5  Ã‚  Ã‚   Strongly Agree 5.) I almost always trust the information that I receive online from strangers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Strongly Disagree   Ã‚  Ã‚   1   Ã‚  Ã‚  2  Ã‚  Ã‚   3  Ã‚  Ã‚   4   Ã‚  Ã‚  5  Ã‚  Ã‚   Strongly Agree Directions: Please indicate the answer that best indicates how you feel about Chatroulette and online strangers. 6.) I usually meet new people through Chatroulette.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Strongly Disagree   Ã‚  Ã‚   1   Ã‚  Ã‚  2  Ã‚  Ã‚   3  Ã‚  Ã‚   4   Ã‚  Ã‚  5  Ã‚  Ã‚   Strongly Agree 7.) I typically never trust any information given by a stranger online.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Strongly Disagree   Ã‚  Ã‚   1   Ã‚  Ã‚  2  Ã‚  Ã‚   3  Ã‚  Ã‚   4   Ã‚  Ã‚  5  Ã‚  Ã‚   Strongly Agree 8.) I typically reveal personal information such as name, age, and biological sex in the initial interaction.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Strongly Disagree   Ã‚  Ã‚   1   Ã‚  Ã‚  2  Ã‚  Ã‚   3  Ã‚  Ã‚   4   Ã‚  Ã‚  5  Ã‚  Ã‚   Strongly Agree 9.) I typically reveal personal information such as a picture, e-mail address, or a phone number in the initial interaction.   Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Strongly Disagree   Ã‚  Ã‚   1  Ã‚  Ã‚   2   Ã‚  Ã‚  3  Ã‚  Ã‚   4  Ã‚  Ã‚   5   Ã‚  Ã‚  Strongly Agree   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   10.) I prefer to get information from the stranger I meet online before I reveal any information about myself.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Strongly Disagree   Ã‚  Ã‚   1   Ã‚  Ã‚  2  Ã‚  Ã‚   3  Ã‚  Ã‚   4   Ã‚  Ã‚  5  Ã‚  Ã‚   Strongly Agree 11.) I prefer to meet strangers online through video chatting.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Strongly Disagree   Ã‚  Ã‚   1   Ã‚  Ã‚  2  Ã‚  Ã‚   3  Ã‚  Ã‚   4   Ã‚  Ã‚  5  Ã‚  Ã‚   Strongly Agree Directions: Please indicate the answer that best identifies how you feel about Myspace and online strangers. 12.) I usually meet new people through MySpace.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Strongly Disagree   Ã‚  Ã‚   1   Ã‚  Ã‚  2  Ã‚  Ã‚   3  Ã‚  Ã‚   4   Ã‚  Ã‚  5  Ã‚  Ã‚   Strongly Agree 13.) I almost always question the information I receive from the online stranger.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Strongly Disagree   Ã‚  Ã‚   1   Ã‚  Ã‚  2  Ã‚  Ã‚   3  Ã‚  Ã‚   4   Ã‚  Ã‚  5  Ã‚  Ã‚   Strongly Agree 14.) I have faith in the information that I receive from the online stranger.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Strongly Disagree   Ã‚  Ã‚   1   Ã‚  Ã‚  2  Ã‚  Ã‚   3  Ã‚  Ã‚   4   Ã‚  Ã‚  5  Ã‚  Ã‚   Strongly Agree 15.) Typically when I meet new people face-to-face, I reveal personal information.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Strongly Disagree   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1   Ã‚  Ã‚  2  Ã‚  Ã‚   3  Ã‚  Ã‚   4   Ã‚  Ã‚  5  Ã‚  Ã‚   Strongly Agree

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Colonialism and Imperialism in Heart of Darkness and A Passage to India

It is best to analyze the works, Heart of Darkness and A Passage to India, applying the historical and cultural conditions of the society in which they were produced. The relations between groups and classes of people that imperialism sets up, and that these two works explore, starkly reveals the contradictions within capitalism in a way that a similar piece of fiction set within one culture and dealing with characters from that culture alone cannot. Prior to the analysis however, I would like to give a brief, pertinent explanation of the Marxist approach to the analysis of literature and of the terms I will be using. After years of study and research, Karl Marx published the first volume of his monumental Das Kapital in 1867. In it Marx presents his theory of the materialist conception of history in which the economic base of a society gives rise to and interacts in a dialectical way with the societal superstructure of culture, law, religion and art. Among other things, Das Kapital traces the historical development of industrial capitalism as arising out of feudalism, predicts capitalism's further evolution, and sets forth theories of class structure and class struggle. It also critiques the methods by which industrial capitalism organizes the means of production so that capital and labor are separated and held by distinct and antagonistic groups within the society. This separation overwhelmingly benefits the holders of capital, politically and economically, to the corresponding detriment of those who sell their labor. Though this is by no means an adequate summary of Marx' ideas and contribution s, my aim is to provide this simple theoretical framework within which to focus on more particular elements of Marxist theory. Fo... ...ieve that imperial rule, if inevitable in the short run, was an inglorious enterprise that deformed both those who ruled and those who submitted" (153). I believe that Joseph Conrad and E. M. Forster were two such artists and that the two works in question reflected their growing awareness of imperialism as an "inglorious enterprise" whether this was consciously expressed by the author(s) or not. This study will also attempt to tease out the ways in which each work both supports and subverts the imperial mission and its ideology and I will also speculate to a certain extent as to how these contradictions in the works reflected contradictions in the society in which they were written. Works Cited: Conrad, James. Heart of Darkness and Other Tales. Great Britain, BPC paperbacks ltd. 1990. Forster, E.M. A Passage to India. Neew York: Harcourt Brace, 1984.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Aaliyah: an Angel Back to Heaven

Aaliyah: An Angel Back to Heaven When I was younger, I looked up to my older sister a great deal. Anything that she did, I wanted to do. She was like my hero, or that cartoon character ever child wanted to go up and be like. When my sister and I were growing up, we listened to a lot of music and watched a lot of cartoons, but only because she wanted to. My sister, Christine, had a favorite rapper and singer. Now her rapper choice I thought was great but he wasn’t my favorite. Christine, or sometimes Tine, favorite rapper was Tupac Shakur.Though we did not agree on the same rapper, we did however, agree on our favorite singer together. We both chose an artist by the name of Aaliyah Dana Haughton. The first time I heard her music I fell in love. Aaliyah D. Haughton was born on January 16, 1979 in Brooklyn, New York. She was one of the best recording artist of her time. I loved her voice and her style. She wasn’t the girly type of R&B singer that was mostly seen. She had h er own style and that is one of the things I loved about her. Another thing I loved about her is that her song spoke truth and had real meaning.She didn’t just make a song to try to make a hit. Aaliyah related to the emotions of her fans and connected people with her. Because of this, she was loved by so many different types of people. Though Aaliyah was a beautiful and talented artist, she did not get to have a long life legacy. After shooting her last video, â€Å"Rock the Boat†, in the Bahamas, she got on a plane and left to head back to the U. S. On Augusta 25, 2001, that plane did not make it to the United States. Because they were in a rush to get back home, because they finished the video shoot early, they had to get on a smaller plane with all of their luggage.Instead of landing on an airway back in the states, the plane crashed approximately 200 meters away from where it took off. The plane crashed killed everyone aboard, including my favorite singer Aaliyah. My sister came home and turned on the television. That’s when I saw it. I saw the plane burnt to black ash and people cleaning up the debris. The headline flashed, â€Å" Aaliyah killed in plane crash. † I was so heart broken. I couldn’t believe she was gone. I felt like I lost apart of me. Ever since that day, I never had a favorite singer. I felt like that place was reserved for her.People around the world knew she was special. They said she was just an angel here for a short time. She had to be sent back to heaven. This tragedy made a great impact on my life. It made me realize that even at a young age, commayou could leave this world. I have three older sisters but I only spent time trying to get close to one. That was my sister Christine, who I looked up to the most. After this accident, I started to bond more with my other two sisters. With this I also begin to bond more with my nieces, nephews, parents, and my younger cousins.Though Aaliyah was not a part of my own family, I felt like she was a family member I lost. She did more than entertain with her music. She was a role model for me. I loved her poise, her style, the way she talked, and just even the things she was about. Even though I did not know her personally by meeting her, I felt like I knew a great deal about her from her music and the things I use to read about her. Even though I was only eight years old when Aaliyah died, it impacted my life a great deal. Though I did not get to meet her personally, her death made me realize things at a young age.Of course I knew that everyone was to die, but that would happen when they were real old. It never occurred to me that young people died everyday until her death. Even at a very young age, it made me realize, though it had been preached in church, that everyday is not promised. When I started to bond with my family more, there were less problems and more laughter. I even helped my mother’s and father’s side of the family bond more. This has changed my life greatly, because I have such a great support system now. Though her death was a tragedy, it brought joy into my life and my family.

Friday, January 3, 2020

Issues Faced by Air Asia in its Advertising - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1810 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Advertising Essay Type Analytical essay Did you like this example? TABLE OF CONTENTS Content Page 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Key Issues and Problems 2.1 Misleading Advertisements 2.2 Offensive Advertisements 3.0 Reasoning and Analysis 4.0 Conclusion 5.0 References 6.0 Appendices 1.0INTRODUCTION 2.0KEY ISSUES AND PROBLEMS Some of the major issues and problems faced by AirAsia in its advertisements are discussed below. 2.1Misleading Advertisements Misleading advertisement is unethical because it distorts and misrepresents a product. This means that the actual product is not the same as what it was advertised. For example, a product is advertised to have a particular feature, but in actual fact, that feature does not exist. Most often, advertisements are able to mislead consumers in terms of prices and such is the case for AirAsia Berhad. Operating under the well-known taglines of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Lowest fares only @ airasia.comà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  and à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Now Everyone Can Fly,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  AirAsia offers cheap flights to consumers of over 85 destinations. The company is always coming up with new promotions to allow customers to fly at a very low price to locations both locally and internationally. Drive along a highway and you might co me across red billboards promoting AirAsiaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s latest à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“all-in fareà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  flight from Kuala Lumpur to overseas such as Gold Coast, Osaka, Perth, Shanghai, Seoul and Tokyo at a price of RM 299. Now, consumers would think that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“all-in fareà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  means the rate charged has included tax charges, baggage charges and all other necessary charges, but AirAsia has a totally different view on that. Customers were often greeted with surprises of extra charges when they checked in. AirAsia misled the consumers by advertising their flights rate without showing the total cost which should include all taxes, duties, fees and other mandatory charges. AirAsia has been advertising low headline prices exclusive of mandatory charges and taxes for more than a decade. It hides the actual cost; not making it clear to customers that there might be other extra charges applicable to the advertised RM 299 for example. This makes price comparison difficult for customers as the advertised rates are not the final actual rate. It is just a marketing gimmick to attract more customers with the rather à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"low ratesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢. Therefore, a number of consumers will automatically assume that AirAsia is the cheapest and more reluctant to find out more about the flight rates of other flight companies. As a result, they tend to make bookings or decisions they more often than not, regret. In fact, the price is slightly cheaper at AirAsia but that is before AirAsia add on the counter check-in charges. Apart from that, AirAsia also charges RM5 of convenience fees on credit cards usage if customers are paying payments online via credit or debit card, which by right no merchants have rights to impose such charges. However, it seems as though AirAsia has taken to charging all kinds of services in every possible ways. After adding up all the other charges, the total flight price spent by consumers is almost and sometimes more expensive than other airlines in the industry. Now, that is not a low cost flight fare, as AirAsia proudly claimed to be. On top of that, the rate is only applicable for one-way trips and consumers are often charged higher for return tickets which, AirAsia failed to reflect in its advertisements. Because of this same reason, AirAsia was found guilty under the Australian Consumer Law for not displaying all relevant information of the airfares prices inclusive of all taxes, duties, fees and other mandatory charges à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“in a prominent way and as a single figureà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  (Wee, 2012). AirAsia should show accurate price information to the consumers in such a competitive industry because consumers are price sensitive. Due to the breach of law, AirAsia was imposed a fine of AUD 200,000. Another downside of flying with AirAsia is that it is inconvenient to travel with senior citizens because they have to walk a long way to the plane as the company does not have a erobridges and a charge of RM 60 will be imposed for the use of wheelchairs (Nik, 2014). 2.2Offensive Advertisements Ethical advertising should be positive and optimistic and does not exploit stereotypes based on gender, age, race and so on (Vaux, n.d.). Marketers may get carried away when brainstorming for innovative advertisement ideas and such is the case for Tune INSURE, an AirAsia insurance product that insures passengers from medical to lost or damaged baggage to compensation for delayed flights of more than two hours. One of its advertisements contains a tagline: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“You want your momma, because youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢re in a hospital with lousy nurses.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  This had stirred anger among the medical practitioners, mostly nurses, as the tagline is offensive and it gives a bad impression to the nursing profession (Png, 2014). Moreover, this advertisement can be found at the back of the seats of AirAsiaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s planes and is viewed by all p assengers. It gives an impression that Malaysian nurses are à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"lousyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ among the foreign passengers. An online petition had been signed by 1226 people, urging for the advertisement to be taken down and a public apology from AirAsia. In Philippines, there was a public uproar with AirAsia Zestà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s radio advertisement that downgrades the portrayal of women. In that particular advertisement, AirAsia Zest promoted its ticket sales by comparing it to a woman. The advertisement features two male voices, discussing and comparing how the ticket sale was à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“cheaper and more enjoyable than an attractive woman with long legs, small waist and smooth skinà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  (Sen. Cayentoà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Official Website, 2014). Senator Pia Cayento had urged AirAsia Zest for a public apology over the offensive à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"anti-womanà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ advertisement (Luci, 2014). Advertisements that prey on human emotions are also consi dered unethical (Vaux, n.d.). For example, an advertisement that instills fear into consumers if they donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t purchase and consume the product is an unethical advertisement. Another type of unethical advertisement that is widely used especially in the Western countries since a decade ago is those advertisements that rely on sexual appeal to attract its target audience. While this practice is not seen in Malaysia, there are a few of AirAsiaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s advertisements that use a hint of such element in their advertisement, though not as explicit as the commercial advertisements in the Western countries. In a particular advertisement, a man is shown being à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"servedà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ with plates of meal by 5 air-stewardesses with a tagline à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Careful, theyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢re hot!à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  The meaning behind the tagline is to send the message that AirAsia serves hot meals and hot deals (low flight tickets) to its passengers. Howeve r, some may interpret it the wrong way as the stewardesses were dressed in their tight red uniform and skirts hiked up. This not only highlights the unethical virtues of the company, it also portrays an unprofessional and bad image to the air-host/hostess profession. 3.0REASONING AND ANALYSIS Below are the reasoning and analysis regarding the discussed unethical issues and problems faced by AirAsia in its advertisements. 3.1Misleading Advertisements AirAsia promotes its flight package without reflecting the total fares by excluding all the taxes, duties, fees and other mandatory charges. It is fair to say that this particular conduct of AirAsia is unethical because it conceals the actual price information in its marketing purpose advertisement. Generally, most of the potential passengers thought that the advertised airfares depict the final actual fare for the flights they are paying for; which means that the advertised fares would have included all the necessary expense s payable for the flight. However, this is not the case for AirAsiaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s advertised fares. The flight fares advertised in newspaper and other promotional media only reflects the flight fare, but not the final monetary value that the passengers need to pay for their flight. In such a case, these advertisements indirectly mislead the public and thus affecting their cost-benefit analysis on which airline they will patron. Besides, the psychological pricing strategy of setting a low flight fare tends to misdirect the public that AirAsia is the cheapest air transport provider in Malaysia. The fact is AirAsiaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s flight rates advertised only shows the gross amount payable, not the net. Nonetheless, most of the customers tend to be attracted by the low price promotion rather than think rationally on whether it is possible or economically feasible for AirAsia to actually provide such a low cost flight package compared to other airlines; as the saying goes, it is too good to be true. At the same time, AirAsia also charges RM5 of transaction fees on bank card usage if the customers are made payment online. As what we think, it is considered reasonable for AirAsia to surcharge RM5 per transaction on the passengers purchase online. This is because AirAsia attempts to incur additional expenditure on the card-based transactions for the bank processing fees if the passengers do not actually bear on these costs. Similarly, most of the information technology shops nowadays also implement this policy that additional costs (e.g. 3%) will be charged on the customers who make payment by bank cards. Thus, it is fair for AirAsia to fee the online purchasers RM5 nett, regardless of the transaction amount on the flight fare. In most of the circumstances, it might seem lower than the surcharge computed based on specific percentage because the invoice price for the flight fare attempts to be quite high in nature. In addition, the promotional packages, introduced by AirAsia, attempt to be only for one-way trips and the passengers are most likely to be charged higher for the return tickets. This scenario appears to be unethical for the airline-based company to do so because majority of the potential passengers will be definitely returned to their origin after their holiday or business visits. Thus, it is necessarily for AirAsia to reflect this critical information in its advertisements to avoid mutual misunderstanding, if and only if, it does the promotion on only one-way flights. In contrast, AirAsiaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s act might be considered ethical if egoism applied. From the AirAsia perspective, it is a marketing approach to charge low in order to attract more consumers taking their flight instead of its competitorsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢. This business model has indirectly complied with the low-cost budget airline principle that gives everyone the opportunity to take a flight. Meanwhile, the increase in the company revenues atte mpts to maximize the companyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s value (i.e. self-interest), and thus increasing in shareholdersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ wealth. They might claim that there is no fraud intention, but their public advertisement is just ambiguous and unclear. The consumers have the rights to query AirAsia management or employees while performing their transactions. 3.2Offensive Advertisements 4.0CONCLUSION 5.0REFERENCES 6.0APPENDICES Figure 1: One of AirAsiaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s misleading advertisements for not including taxes and charges in advertised air fares. (Source: https://weechookeong.com/2012/12/18/australian-court-fined-airasia-a200000-for-misleading-advertisements/) Figure 2: AirAsiaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s offensive advertisement placed on the back of its aircraft seats that belittled nurses. (Source: https://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/advertisement-belittling-nurses-slammed-fernandes-apologises)  © All Rights Reserved Chua, K. J., Heng, K.O., Logeswaran, S., Lim, W.P., Siau, L.S. Tong, Y.C. (Students of UTAR, FAM) Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Issues Faced by Air Asia in its Advertising" essay for you Create order