I understand the concept of research as taking the time to educate oneself about a topic using various types of evidence and informative resources, so that your knowledge of the topic is as accurate as possible. A principal theory that can be associated with the research learning goal is a term called the “spiral of silence”, developed by German communication and survey researcher Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann. Essentially, it highlights that people are less likely to speak out and give their opinion if they believe their views aren’t widely shared or publicly displayed often. Such a concept directly affects research because it can lead to things like biases in data reporting, a fear of certain topic selections and its reputation, and failure to inform balanced decisions. Controversy and the collection of different, unique viewpoints is what continues to educate people and help them expand their knowledge, further emphasizing the importance of research in even the most delicate of topics and themes.

A piece of work that significantly demonstrates successful research is a report I wrote in COMM 207-208: Introduction to the Communication Discipline. I chose to write my report on playing video games as a form of escapism and its resulting effects. Our professor did a wonderful job at providing us with multiple resources on where to find research materials, and it really strengthened me as a person to have engaged in both primary and secondary research, qualitative and quantitative as well. It was especially rewarding to have created my own survey that was taken by over 80 anonymous individuals who were at least 18 years of age and regularly played video games at least three to four times a week. My survey had a variety of fill-in-the-blank (demographics), multiple choice, and short answer questions to make sure I had a variety of research results. Connecting back to my theory mentioned above, I made sure to talk about both sides of this argument so that each perspective was acknowledged and taken into account for my report. Video games in regards to mental and physical health is a very controversial topic, and I made sure to talk about both sides to affirm that those who felt differently were still validated and brought to light. 

As a result of what I’ve learned in terms of this learning goal, more than anything I’ve held onto the importance of being as unbiased as possible when researching a topic. If you’re arguing for a specific viewpoint, still begin by acknowledging both sides so that your research doesn’t come off as ignorant and self-centered. Looking forward to the professional world, having solid research skills will really help me in problem-solving situations, enhance my overall critical thinking, and encourage myself and others to explore new ideas and perspectives to expand mindsets. As an actress, I engage in research every time I am cast in a theatre show and even some films, because it’s important I educate myself about the time period and standards of the settings. It’s important to me that I represent my characters as accurately as possible, and I can only do so by taking the time to research and educate myself on the given circumstances.