Barbara Burke - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Barbara Burke
Irish Communication Review, 2020
Widespread use of Artificial Intelligence in all areas of today's society creates a unique proble... more Widespread use of Artificial Intelligence in all areas of today's society creates a unique problem: algorithms used in decision-making are generally not understandable to those without a background in data science. Thus, those who use out-of-the-box Machine Learning (ML) approaches in their work and those affected by these approaches are often not in a position to analyse their outcomes and applicability. Our paper describes and evaluates our undergraduate course at the University of Minnesota Morris, which fosters understanding of the main ideas behind ML. With Communication, Media & Rhetoric and Computer Science faculty expertise, students from a variety of majors, most with no prior background in data science or computing, reviewed the scope of applicability of algorithms and became aware of possible biases, 'politics' and pitfalls. After discussing articles on societal attitudes towards technology, explaining key concepts behind ML algorithms (training and dependence on data), and constructing a decision tree as an example of an algorithm, we attempted to develop guidelines for 'best practices' for use of algorithms. Students presented a 'case analysis' capstone paper on an application of machine learning in society. Paper topics included: use of algorithms by child protection services, 'deepfake' videos, genetic testing. The level of papers was indicative of students' strong interest in the subject and their ability to understand key terms and ideas behind algorithms, societal perception and misconceptions of use of algorithms, and their ability to identify good and problematic practices in use of algorithms.
SOCIETY. INTEGRATION. EDUCATION. Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference, 2017
This study is part of a research project on a learning partnership between undergraduates of ViA,... more This study is part of a research project on a learning partnership between undergraduates of ViA, Latvia and UMM, USA. During the joint media course in Spring 2016, students participated in Skype discussions, completed shared assignments and reflected upon their learning experience. The transcripts of these activities form the body of qualitative data. We employ the perspective of Ethnography of Communication (Hymes 1962, Philipsen 1997) and Cultural Discourse Analysis (Carbaugh, 2007) in order to answer the following research questions: (1) what is the nature of the studied technology-mediated learning discourse, and (2) how do the constructed meanings around the use of technology contribute to the variety of cultural norms in play? We propose to understand the studied discussion sessions as a ritual practice (Turner 1980, Philipsen 1992, 1997)--the correct performance of which the participants instantly co-construct and negotiate when employing locally-adopted norms associated wit...
Irish Communication Review, 2020
Widespread use of Artificial Intelligence in all areas of today's society creates a unique proble... more Widespread use of Artificial Intelligence in all areas of today's society creates a unique problem: algorithms used in decision-making are generally not understandable to those without a background in data science. Thus, those who use out-of-the-box Machine Learning (ML) approaches in their work and those affected by these approaches are often not in a position to analyse their outcomes and applicability. Our paper describes and evaluates our undergraduate course at the University of Minnesota Morris, which fosters understanding of the main ideas behind ML. With Communication, Media & Rhetoric and Computer Science faculty expertise, students from a variety of majors, most with no prior background in data science or computing, reviewed the scope of applicability of algorithms and became aware of possible biases, 'politics' and pitfalls. After discussing articles on societal attitudes towards technology, explaining key concepts behind ML algorithms (training and dependence on data), and constructing a decision tree as an example of an algorithm, we attempted to develop guidelines for 'best practices' for use of algorithms. Students presented a 'case analysis' capstone paper on an application of machine learning in society. Paper topics included: use of algorithms by child protection services, 'deepfake' videos, genetic testing. The level of papers was indicative of students' strong interest in the subject and their ability to understand key terms and ideas behind algorithms, societal perception and misconceptions of use of algorithms, and their ability to identify good and problematic practices in use of algorithms.
Palgrave Communications, 2018
Advocates of new media-especially social networks, blogs, and photo/content sharing sites-argue t... more Advocates of new media-especially social networks, blogs, and photo/content sharing sites-argue that these tools create transformative impacts on society. Recently, around the world younger activists in popular democracy movements, uprisings, and protests, feeling disengaged by traditional forms of political discourse, have debated their positions on new media, and have used digital media to communicate, organize, and coordinate protest activities. While some media scholars suggest this is an indication that young people are active in creating a public sphere constructed by social media, there is still little real-world evidence that the technological potentials are widely realized. To address this gap, this comparative case study aims to reveal how some "ordinary" young people are using social media in response to political issues, investigating: if social media create a new kind of dynamic arena for their public activism; which factors may stimulate the young to activism; and whether their motivation is powerful enough to resist the status quo. Describing and analyzing qualitative interview data from a study of Turkish students and a parallel collection of data from US students, we construct an explanation of their communicated understandings of their differences and similarities in opportunities for political actions. Our findings indicate: there are many similar technical capacities; some similar topics are seen as political; and there are different understandings of what is and is not for public discussion among their personal collections of contacts and friends, with varying levels of real-world connections. This analysis is important in terms of understanding the ways uses of media technologies may be affected by different cultures, political and social conceptualizations and online communication patterns.
In teaching introductory courses using television equipment, we find that cultural studies intere... more In teaching introductory courses using television equipment, we find that cultural studies interests can be meshed with basic skillsoriented production classes in useful ways. Utilizing an on-going discussion strategy emphasizing that students are evaluating, criticizing, and interpreting, as well as producing cultural products, the activities we describe articulate the reflexive nature of media and culture. Furthermore, in asking students to investigate and explore ways media both construct and reflect their understanding of culture, students are guided to begin a life-long process of critical thinking.
Journal of Communication Inquiry, 1992
This paper draws a link between the construction and maintenance of American myths and identities... more This paper draws a link between the construction and maintenance of American myths and identities and the nature of mass communication sys-tems in the United States. In it, we discuss some generally recognized but arguable limitations of and possibilities for the use of existing ...
Sociological quarterly, 1997
Numerous analysts have argued that American media presentations of international events tend to f... more Numerous analysts have argued that American media presentations of international events tend to fall in line with the policy interests of the U. S. government (Gans 1980; Paletz and Entman 1981; Parenti 1993; Qualter 1985; Wallis and Baran 1990). From the end of World War I1 ...
In teaching introductory courses using television equipment, we find that cultural studies intere... more In teaching introductory courses using television equipment, we find that cultural studies interests can be meshed with basic skills- oriented production classes in useful ways. Utilizing an on-going discussion strategy emphasizing that students are evaluating, criticizing, and interpreting, as well as producing cultural products, the activities we describe articulate the reflexive nature of media and culture. Furthermore, in asking students
Expanding on previous research done by Çiğdem Yasemin Ünlü (2013), this study compares and contra... more Expanding on previous research done by Çiğdem Yasemin Ünlü (2013), this study compares and contrasts audience reception/ interpretation/ responses to representations of characters, motives and violence in an the American television drama series, Breaking Bad, which is also broadcast in Turkey. Television content, especially award-winning popular dramas, is increasingly globally offered; although the consequences of this spread of technologies and ideas require further examination. Especially, dramas with violent content have become more popular. For the purpose of replication of data collection, the ten semi-structured interviews of US students of this new project mirrored Ünlü's interviews of Turkish student-viewers previously conducted. The US interviews were evaluated using qualitative, descriptive methods. The dominant themes of the two sets of interviews were then analyzed and compared, with particular attention devoted to the ways the two groups of audience members varied in their construction of understandings. Our findings, with regard to the two group's explanations of the motives for the main character's transformation, his relationship to the violence he inflicts on others, and the moral codes of society shown by the program indicate that some themes of globally-distributed television fare are more widely-accepted while others are not. Furthermore, because some interviewed viewers of the series in both countries associate themselves with the character Walter White, they construct justifications for his choices. Lastly, our research participants readily conclude that depictions of physical, psychological, economic and social violence are all considered narrative necessities of the TV show.
Irish Communication Review, 2020
Widespread use of Artificial Intelligence in all areas of today's society creates a unique proble... more Widespread use of Artificial Intelligence in all areas of today's society creates a unique problem: algorithms used in decision-making are generally not understandable to those without a background in data science. Thus, those who use out-of-the-box Machine Learning (ML) approaches in their work and those affected by these approaches are often not in a position to analyse their outcomes and applicability. Our paper describes and evaluates our undergraduate course at the University of Minnesota Morris, which fosters understanding of the main ideas behind ML. With Communication, Media & Rhetoric and Computer Science faculty expertise, students from a variety of majors, most with no prior background in data science or computing, reviewed the scope of applicability of algorithms and became aware of possible biases, 'politics' and pitfalls. After discussing articles on societal attitudes towards technology, explaining key concepts behind ML algorithms (training and dependence on data), and constructing a decision tree as an example of an algorithm, we attempted to develop guidelines for 'best practices' for use of algorithms. Students presented a 'case analysis' capstone paper on an application of machine learning in society. Paper topics included: use of algorithms by child protection services, 'deepfake' videos, genetic testing. The level of papers was indicative of students' strong interest in the subject and their ability to understand key terms and ideas behind algorithms, societal perception and misconceptions of use of algorithms, and their ability to identify good and problematic practices in use of algorithms.
SOCIETY. INTEGRATION. EDUCATION. Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference, 2017
This study is part of a research project on a learning partnership between undergraduates of ViA,... more This study is part of a research project on a learning partnership between undergraduates of ViA, Latvia and UMM, USA. During the joint media course in Spring 2016, students participated in Skype discussions, completed shared assignments and reflected upon their learning experience. The transcripts of these activities form the body of qualitative data. We employ the perspective of Ethnography of Communication (Hymes 1962, Philipsen 1997) and Cultural Discourse Analysis (Carbaugh, 2007) in order to answer the following research questions: (1) what is the nature of the studied technology-mediated learning discourse, and (2) how do the constructed meanings around the use of technology contribute to the variety of cultural norms in play? We propose to understand the studied discussion sessions as a ritual practice (Turner 1980, Philipsen 1992, 1997)--the correct performance of which the participants instantly co-construct and negotiate when employing locally-adopted norms associated wit...
Irish Communication Review, 2020
Widespread use of Artificial Intelligence in all areas of today's society creates a unique proble... more Widespread use of Artificial Intelligence in all areas of today's society creates a unique problem: algorithms used in decision-making are generally not understandable to those without a background in data science. Thus, those who use out-of-the-box Machine Learning (ML) approaches in their work and those affected by these approaches are often not in a position to analyse their outcomes and applicability. Our paper describes and evaluates our undergraduate course at the University of Minnesota Morris, which fosters understanding of the main ideas behind ML. With Communication, Media & Rhetoric and Computer Science faculty expertise, students from a variety of majors, most with no prior background in data science or computing, reviewed the scope of applicability of algorithms and became aware of possible biases, 'politics' and pitfalls. After discussing articles on societal attitudes towards technology, explaining key concepts behind ML algorithms (training and dependence on data), and constructing a decision tree as an example of an algorithm, we attempted to develop guidelines for 'best practices' for use of algorithms. Students presented a 'case analysis' capstone paper on an application of machine learning in society. Paper topics included: use of algorithms by child protection services, 'deepfake' videos, genetic testing. The level of papers was indicative of students' strong interest in the subject and their ability to understand key terms and ideas behind algorithms, societal perception and misconceptions of use of algorithms, and their ability to identify good and problematic practices in use of algorithms.
Palgrave Communications, 2018
Advocates of new media-especially social networks, blogs, and photo/content sharing sites-argue t... more Advocates of new media-especially social networks, blogs, and photo/content sharing sites-argue that these tools create transformative impacts on society. Recently, around the world younger activists in popular democracy movements, uprisings, and protests, feeling disengaged by traditional forms of political discourse, have debated their positions on new media, and have used digital media to communicate, organize, and coordinate protest activities. While some media scholars suggest this is an indication that young people are active in creating a public sphere constructed by social media, there is still little real-world evidence that the technological potentials are widely realized. To address this gap, this comparative case study aims to reveal how some "ordinary" young people are using social media in response to political issues, investigating: if social media create a new kind of dynamic arena for their public activism; which factors may stimulate the young to activism; and whether their motivation is powerful enough to resist the status quo. Describing and analyzing qualitative interview data from a study of Turkish students and a parallel collection of data from US students, we construct an explanation of their communicated understandings of their differences and similarities in opportunities for political actions. Our findings indicate: there are many similar technical capacities; some similar topics are seen as political; and there are different understandings of what is and is not for public discussion among their personal collections of contacts and friends, with varying levels of real-world connections. This analysis is important in terms of understanding the ways uses of media technologies may be affected by different cultures, political and social conceptualizations and online communication patterns.
In teaching introductory courses using television equipment, we find that cultural studies intere... more In teaching introductory courses using television equipment, we find that cultural studies interests can be meshed with basic skillsoriented production classes in useful ways. Utilizing an on-going discussion strategy emphasizing that students are evaluating, criticizing, and interpreting, as well as producing cultural products, the activities we describe articulate the reflexive nature of media and culture. Furthermore, in asking students to investigate and explore ways media both construct and reflect their understanding of culture, students are guided to begin a life-long process of critical thinking.
Journal of Communication Inquiry, 1992
This paper draws a link between the construction and maintenance of American myths and identities... more This paper draws a link between the construction and maintenance of American myths and identities and the nature of mass communication sys-tems in the United States. In it, we discuss some generally recognized but arguable limitations of and possibilities for the use of existing ...
Sociological quarterly, 1997
Numerous analysts have argued that American media presentations of international events tend to f... more Numerous analysts have argued that American media presentations of international events tend to fall in line with the policy interests of the U. S. government (Gans 1980; Paletz and Entman 1981; Parenti 1993; Qualter 1985; Wallis and Baran 1990). From the end of World War I1 ...
In teaching introductory courses using television equipment, we find that cultural studies intere... more In teaching introductory courses using television equipment, we find that cultural studies interests can be meshed with basic skills- oriented production classes in useful ways. Utilizing an on-going discussion strategy emphasizing that students are evaluating, criticizing, and interpreting, as well as producing cultural products, the activities we describe articulate the reflexive nature of media and culture. Furthermore, in asking students
Expanding on previous research done by Çiğdem Yasemin Ünlü (2013), this study compares and contra... more Expanding on previous research done by Çiğdem Yasemin Ünlü (2013), this study compares and contrasts audience reception/ interpretation/ responses to representations of characters, motives and violence in an the American television drama series, Breaking Bad, which is also broadcast in Turkey. Television content, especially award-winning popular dramas, is increasingly globally offered; although the consequences of this spread of technologies and ideas require further examination. Especially, dramas with violent content have become more popular. For the purpose of replication of data collection, the ten semi-structured interviews of US students of this new project mirrored Ünlü's interviews of Turkish student-viewers previously conducted. The US interviews were evaluated using qualitative, descriptive methods. The dominant themes of the two sets of interviews were then analyzed and compared, with particular attention devoted to the ways the two groups of audience members varied in their construction of understandings. Our findings, with regard to the two group's explanations of the motives for the main character's transformation, his relationship to the violence he inflicts on others, and the moral codes of society shown by the program indicate that some themes of globally-distributed television fare are more widely-accepted while others are not. Furthermore, because some interviewed viewers of the series in both countries associate themselves with the character Walter White, they construct justifications for his choices. Lastly, our research participants readily conclude that depictions of physical, psychological, economic and social violence are all considered narrative necessities of the TV show.