Nvivo is a qualitative data analysis software that is apparently going to make my life easier but thus far I’ve found out that it won’t run on my mac, costs $200 and is only installed on four machines on the entire University of Ottawa campus. Nonetheless, I’ve recalled all the books from the library on the program and have set out to try and figure out how to parse my data into the program. Thus far I have had no luck. I am desperately hoping to find someone who actually knows how to use the program!

So yeah, if you know Nvivo and want my undying love (or some reasonable facsimile) please let me know!

Please be patient as always because the audio is a bit slow to load.

Enjoy!

****please note the audio is fairly slow to load so please be patient****

Let me know what you think!

Here is a copy of a research paper I wrote for my directed study last semester – this is my first time opening up my scholarly work to anyone outside of my profs, friends and parents so please be somewhat gentle. That’s not to say that I don’t want your impressions and ideas – far from it – I’d love to hear what you think about my arguments, how you think I can improve the existing arguments, what you think I was crazy for leaving out etc … just try not to make me cry!

And of course I didn’t write this without help – thanks to my stable of editors/tormentors: Ellen, Mom, Dad, Dave and Steve! It wouldn’t be anywhere near as lucid without you guys!

Thanks,

Caitlin

My question is – how does one rate influence on Twitter? I know there is Tweet Grader but I’m not sure it gives me a reliable enough way of measuring someone’s influence, amplification and impact. I need to be able to pick the Top twenty commentators on a subject – any suggestions on how to figure that out? Presumably there is a way to look at a user’s number of followers, combine that with how many people they follow plus the amount of times their posts are re-tweeted to get an idea of their influence. A further thing to think about is to understand someone’s influence on Twitter do you need to then track the RTs of their RTs? Presumably this tool already exists!

Please and thank you for your help with my methodological woes!

IEML (Information Economy MetaLanguage) is a regular language that provides new methods for semantic interoperability, semantic navigation, collective categorization and self-referential collective intelligence. (taken from: IEML website)

Hopefully my WordPress skills will develop but for now I apologize for all the weird, non-visually pleasing formatting. Also, presumably, my blogging skills will develop. This is a first for me (which seems weird too!) but I was of the impression that there were more than enough blogs out there and that my voice would not add any new content, but now that I am spending my days reading, writing and researching I figured I could add something of value to the discourse.

For now this blog will most likely focus on my musings surrounding what other people are saying in the often fiery, always interesting, debate on the future of the newspaper. Although I’m a bit of a goldfish so there will definitely be other things appearing from time to time!

p.s. I don’t really have a problem. Well maybe I do – I think it’s my thesis