Assessing Assessments

My research paper still requires a book resource for evidence.

I do not believe I have assessed my resources effectively. I need to discuss more about why they are an authoritative source or not.

Resources Reflections

1) How did you find your resources?
Using key terms I searched on:
Google
Nytimes

2)How has research altered your original idea?
Research has caused me alter my idea due to the difficulty caused by the lack of information.

Research Topic

I've decided to change my research topic

from:
Facebook is a great social networking tool does it provide hackers or thiefs with a database for your information?

to:
Young adults looking to date utilize Facebook instead of online dating websites as a tool for learning about and communicating with each other.

to:
College Students who utilize Facebook as a tool for dating reduce their privacy by providing sexual predators with a database of their personal information.

Blog Assessment

This blog compares Facebook to other dating services. The blog's main page is updated with discussions on various news articles and the posting is very informal. The blog is helpful because the author is a Facebook user who outlines the features of the website. He discusses Facebook's role and importance to dating.

http://www.imperishableinheritance.com/2005/facebook-and-dating/

Personal Interview Assessment

I chose to interview Al because he is legit and uses Facebook.

Me: Hey, I was wondering if you have ever used an online service?
Al: Yes, Persian Wife Finder is legit.

Me: Haha, do you have a Facebook account?
Al: Yes, I do.

Me: Do you ever add girls because you think they are hot?
Al: Totally, only if they're smoking.

Me: Have you used Facebook's poke feature?
Al: No, sounds like its for getting attention or something.

Me: Have you ever met with a girl because you talked to her on Facebook.
Al: Definitely, back in the days AIM had that on lock.

Me: Have you ever added your girlfriend as a friend on Facebook or changed your relationship status?
Al: Yes.

Me: Fantastic, thank you.
Al: Word, peace.

This interview should be useful because it demonstrates the fact that people in various relationships use Facebook as a tool to communicate with each other. My interviewee was helpful because it confirmed and demonstrated my thesis.

Newspaper Article Assessment

This newspaper article discusses a new Facebook application for an online dating service entitled Are You Interested. Instead of discussing what goes on in the real world outside Facebook; users are informing each other on the the social networking website about applications such as Are You Interested. The article details this new application and how it competes with rival dating websites. The newspaper article has accurate information and cites where it received its numeric data. The article clearly demonstrates how powerful Facebook is and how it competes with unrelated websites. The newspaper article is authoritative because it demonstrates its facts with evidence.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/20/business/businessspecial2/20date.html?_r=1

Journal Article Assessment

This article was published in a journal entitled "Computers in Human Behavior" by a group of professionals working in the Department of Sociology at Temple University. It describes how Facebook causes people to act in a personal online environment. This article demonstrates that people mold their online identity to fit relationships with others. This article was written by experienced professionals who clearly did proper research and examination before it was published. The journal that this article was published in is only to be used for educational purposes. The article references many various sources and cites all of them.

http://astro.temple.edu/~bzhao001/Identity%20Construction%20on%20Facebook.pdf