Unit 3: Research

Research Journal: Internet Research

Section 1: LO1 Understand the nature and purposes of research

Purpose of research:

Production Research

Type of Research:

Secondary

Type of data generated:

Quantitative

Purpose: Analyse competitor’s articles and decide the conventions of my articles based on common trends I see on theirs. I will gather a range of articles (at least 10) and work out which conventions are common throughout.

Method: I will go onto the website of my competitors and copy their articles into my Photoshop document. Then I will analyse them and decide which aspects of the articles are appropriate for my magazine. I will work out how many columns of text to use, how many words per article, what to include on the front cover and how many pictures to use per page.This was production research because it allowed me to outline common characteristics of other magazines and incorporates them into my magazine. This will directly influence the way I produce my magazine.This is mainly quantitative data because I am drawing conclusions on how to produce my magazine based on assumptions derived from analyzing other front covers. The research is not 100% factual, which means it can not be called qualitative. There is a degree of qualitative data in this as I was working out how many images per page. This is a certain value which can not be disputed. Some of the analysis was numerical, like when I was counting the number of columns on the page. This is factual and cannot be disputed.This is secondary research because I am going on the internet and using sources which I did not make. This includes magazine front covers. I am working on the number of images per page, which is primary research, however.Explanation: Initially, I will gather over 10 front covers from two magazines. With these front covers, I will determine what common traits to see on a front cover are. I discovered that every front cover has one predominant image. This may because it is difficult to focus on a range of difficult images. Alternatively, having a range of pictures could be seen as a positive thing as the cover has the ability to cater to more people’s interests. A caption is also given to the image, which is usually in very large font, and bold. This ensures that people understand the relevance of the image. Not having a caption could be good as it will instill a sense of curiosity within the reader. The caption is usually rather enigmatic, for example “zombies”. This caption, which was used on National Geographic magazine, makes the reader want to buy the magazine to see why this ‘scary’ caption has been used.

I also analysed the number of columns per page on National Geographic magazine. This allowed me to realize that three columns is their preferred number. This is assumedly because it means that people can break up the magazine up into more ‘readable’ pieces. If people are busy, like my target market, then they may only have time to read one column, before they are busy again. Later in the day, they can come back to the article and read the remaining articles.

I also analysed the number of images per article. I realized that the most common number of images was one per article. There was not an evident, strict rule in National Geographic as one article did not have an image, seven had one, three had two and one article had three images.

The majority of the articles were about current issues, for example one article was about “a scientist’s tiny discovery”. This title is relevant, and mysterious. This gives the article an appeal

as people will be intrigued by the ambiguity of the title. If the title explicitly reveals the content of the article then the reader may completely dismiss it. If they are unsure, they will pick up the magazine, at the very least, which may cause them to find an article which interests them.

This research method is better than doing a focus group because it does not require any more people than myself. I can create more objective conclusions when it comes to deciding the appropriate number of columns on the page. A focus group would only gather me a selection of biased perspectives. A focus group is more concerned with the consumer, which might make it better as the consumer’s opinion is what, ultimately, matters. This only provides me with assumptions I can make when analysing existing magazine front covers and articles.

PASS MERIT DISTINCTION-Purpose of each piece of research is outlined:

Audience Research Market Research Production Research

-Methods and sources are stated: Primary Secondary Qualitative Quantitative

-Why this method has been chosen: Audience Research Market Research Production Research

-Examples given-Terminology, spelling, punctuation and grammar are mostly correct

-Detailed explanation-Comparisons made-Points are justified-Terminology, spelling, punctuation and grammar are used confidently

Current Grade:

Section 2: LO2 Be able to apply a range of research methods and techniques

https://ki eranmarrable.wordp ress.com/2 015/10/06/i nternet-research/

Section 3: LO3 Be able to present results of research

Conclusions and Evaluation: I discovered that front covers usually have one main image on them. As a result, I will use one main image on my front cover which will in related to my feature article. The image will be accompanied by a caption which will try to be as mysterious as possible. This will act as a ‘click bait’ style title, aiming to entice people to buy the magazine to see what it is in reference to.

Following this piece of research, I have decided that I will have a minimum of one image accompanying each article. This gives a visual association with each article. One large clump of text can appear boring and laborious to read; whereas images can add interest to the article. It also means that people who are flicking through the magazine quickly can get a rough idea of the content of the article without having to read the article. My target audience is

teenagers, who are not interested in reading reams of text. An image can make the articles more ‘readable’.

I have also realized that it is important to write about current, relevant issues. If issues are relevant then people feel like that they may be directly involved with the content and have an obligation to read it. If, for example, there is a sudden event regarding war, then questions regarding why two countries are at war would be of interest to the reader. This is a technique used my many magazines, of varying genres. One of which is ‘Match’ magazine, which focuses on the previous week’s football events.

I also analysed the amount of humour used in National Geographic magazine. I realized that only small puns were used. For example in an article about wind turbines in a cow’s field had the title ‘Power Till the Cows Come Home’. My magazine is more in the comedy genre than this magazine, however it does display to me that even serious readers have a liking for comedy. The title of the article was humourous; however, the content of the article was serious, educational and informative. This is what I shall do with my magazine. I will ask questions, which initially sound ridiculous like ‘why have we not come up with anything better than sliced bread?’. I will answer the questions with severity by stating that the first bread-slicing machine was created in the 19th century, and so on. People read magazines to gain a piece of knowledge, which I understand. This is why the articles themselves will aim to be as informative as possible, whilst retaining an element of informality.

Bibliography:

National Geographic Magazine Front Covers: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/Popular Science Front Covers: http://www.popsci.com/Sliced Bread Origination Date: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sliced_bread

CriteriaPASS MERIT DISTINCTION-Results are presented-Basic relevant information is given about your findings

Detailed evaluation od results-Visual aids and graphics are used to provide information-Quotation from and referencing of sources will be generally good-Bibliography is complete and accurate

-Visual aids or graphics will provide information clearly and will be explicitly linked to the content of the evaluation-Findings will be clearly derived from the evidence and will be supported by sound argument-There will be consistently precise quotation from and referencing of sources.

-Terminology, spelling, punctuation and grammar are used confidently

Current Grade