mrpoutd2511

[mrpoutd2511]

Hi Ashley!

Great choice of survey! I remember the 16 personalities test being really popular. You stated that the test was very accurate in identifying your personality, do you think that it is this accurate for most people?

I was wondering if you thought a large number of questions might negatively impact the answer a participant may get? For example, I would get bored halfway through the questionnaire and may start reading the questions less carefully and accidentally pick answers that were incorrect for me. I also feel like I do not always have a good understanding of where I should put my answer on a scaled question and thus tend to stay more towards the middle.

I loved reading your post and thought it was very thorough and well done.

- Molly

Blog Prompt 8 (OUTD-2511): Online Quiz Review

16Personalities Personality Test

https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test

The 16Personalities test determines an individual's personality type by providing statements and having the person agree or disagree with those statements. 16Personalities uses "five personality aspects that, when combined, define the personality type," (2022). These aspects are mind, energy, nature, tactics, and identity, and "these aspects should be seen as a two-sided continuum, with the 'neutral' option placed in the middle," (16Personalities, 2022).

The combination of letters you get that relate to the personality aspects determines your personality type. The personality types are:

How well are the questions written?

In this personality test, there are no questions but rather statements that you must agree or disagree with. Your degree of agreement or disagreement can be chosen on a scale. An example of a statement and the response method can be seen below:

16Personalities (2022).

These are all of the “questions”/statements included in the test:

“You regularly make new friends.”

“You spend a lot of your free time exploring various random topics that pique your interest.”

“Seeing other people cry can easily make you feel like you want to cry too.”

“You often make a backup plan for a backup plan.”

“You usually stay calm, even under a lot of pressure.”

“At social events, you rarely try to introduce yourself to new people and mostly talk to the ones you already know.”

“You prefer to completely finish a project before starting another.”

“You are very sentimental.”

“You like to use organizing tools like schedules and lists.”

“Even a small mistake can cause you to doubt your overall abilities and knowledge.”

“You feel comfortable just walking up to someone you find interesting and striking up a conversation.”

“You are not too interested in discussing various interpretations and analyses of creative works.”

“You are more inclined to follow your head than your heart.”

“You usually prefer just doing what you feel like at any given moment instead of planning a particular daily routine.”

“You rarely worry about whether you make a good impression on people you meet.”

“You enjoy participating in group activities.”

“You like books and movies that make you come up with your own interpretation of the ending.”

“Your happiness comes more from helping others accomplish things than your own accomplishments.”

“You are interested in so many things that you find it difficult to choose what to try next.”

“You are prone to worrying that things will take a turn for the worse.”

“You avoid leadership roles in group settings.”

“You are definitely not an artistic type of person.”

“You think the world would be a better place if people relied more on rationality and less on their feelings.”

“You prefer to do your chores before allowing yourself to relax.”

“You enjoy watching people argue.”

“You tend to avoid drawing attention to yourself.”

“Your mood can change very quickly.”

“You lose patience with people who are not as efficient as you.”

“You often end up doing things at the last possible moment.”

“You have always been fascinated by the question of what, if anything, happens after death.”

“You usually prefer to be around others rather than on your own.”

“You become bored or lose interest when the discussion gets highly theoretical.”

“You find it easy to empathize with a person whose experiences are very different from yours.”

“You usually postpone finalizing decisions for as long as possible.”

“You rarely second-guess the choices that you have made.”

“After a long and exhausting week, a lively social event is just what you need.”

“You enjoy going to art museums.”

“You often have a hard time understanding other people’s feelings.”

“You like to have a to-do list for each day.”

“You rarely feel insecure.”

“You avoid making phone calls.”

“You often spend a lot of time trying to understand the views that are very different from your own.”

“In your social circle, you are often the one who contacts your friends and initiates activities.”

“If your plans are interrupted, your top priority is to get back on track as soon as possible.”

“You are still bothered by mistakes that you made a long time ago.”

“You rarely contemplate the reasons for human existence or the meaning of life.”

“Your emotions control you more than you control them.”

“You take great care not to make people look bad, even when it is completely their fault.”

“Your personal style is closer to spontaneous bursts of energy than organized and consistent efforts.”

“When someone thinks highly of you, you wonder how long it will take them to feel disappointed in you.”

“You would love a job that requires you to work alone most of the time.”

“You believe that pondering abstract philosophical questions is a waste of time.”

“You feel more drawn to places with busy, bustling atmospheres than quiet, intimate places.”

“You know at first glance how someone is feeling.”

“You often feel overwhelmed.”

“You complete things methodically without skipping over any steps.”

“You are very intrigued by things labeled as controversial.”

“You would pass along a good opportunity if you thought someone else needed it more.”

“You struggle with deadlines.”

“You feel confident that things will work out for you.”

There are a lot of “questions” in this test, but I think that is important because it means it is trying to be thorough to get the most accurate answers. Additionally, I think the “questions” are well written because they can easily be answered as a yes or no, and the “questions” are not confusing. Also, the “questions” can be applied to a very wide audience. The “questions” are not catered to a specific audience, such as a specific religion, gender, race, etc,.

What are some strengths and weaknesses?

Strengths:

Many “questions”.

Straightforward “questions”.

Easy response method.

Not catered to a specific audience.

Accurate answer for what your personality type is.

Visually appealing.

Provides a very detailed answer for your personality type and includes examples of famous people who have the same personality type.

Weaknesses:

Some may find the test to be too long.

If you do not know yourself well, it can be difficult to answer some of the “questions”.

My Results

This test was actually extremely accurate for identifying my personality type. It identified my personality type as INFP-T (Mediator).

According to 16 Personalities, “although they may seem quiet or unassuming, Mediators (INFPs) have vibrant, passionate inner lives. Creative and imaginative, they happily lose themselves in daydreams, inventing all sorts of stories and conversations in their minds. These personalities are known for their sensitivity - Mediators can have profound emotional responses to music, art, nature, and the people around them. Idealistic and empathetic, Mediators long for deep, soulful relationships, and they feel called to help others. But because this personality type makes up such a small portion of the population, Mediators may sometimes feel lonely or invisible, adrift in a world that doesn’t seem to appreciate the traits that make them unique,” (2022).

This is just the introduction for the Mediator personality type. 16 Personalities goes way further in depth explaining the personality type. They identify strengths and weaknesses, romantic relationships, friendships, parenthood, career paths, and workplace habits. To continue, one of my favorite parts of this test is that it shows you famous people who have the same personality type as you. These are some of the people that I share a personality type with:

References

16Personalities. (2022). Free Personality Test. 16Personalities. Retrieved March 20, 2022, from https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test

[mrpoutd2511]

Hi Jill,

Excellent response! I agree with your thought that you feel you are still confused about how to form a research question well, this is something that I can find quite overwhelming. I also feel that despite now reaching the end of this course there are still many things that I don’t know. Research Design is such a giant thing to learn about. I’ve found it daunting a lot of the time.

In regards to things you know for certain about yourself as an outdoor recreation researcher: I was wondering how you would make sure your passion don't lead to bias?

I found that I had similar areas that I need more time to develop like you. I wonder if the feeling of needing to improve in interviewing and writing surveys could have been fixed with more opportunities for practical application of these skills throughout the course.

Congrats on completing the final blog post I found it very interesting to read.

- Molly

09/10. What I Know and What I Have Yet to Hone.

These three things I know for certain about outdoor recreation research:

1. Ethics are paramount and ethical outdoor recreation research surrounding youth can be tricky. Any research involving vulnerable persons requires extensive planning and REB review. According to chapter 3 the text, children are considered vulnerable persons. They are not fully capable of making a decision since they don’t fully understand the implications of being involved in research. In terms of REB, “it is unethical to involve such vulnerable people in research unless a researcher meets two minimal conditions: (1) a legal guardian grants written permission, and (2) the researcher follows all standard ethical principles to protect the participant from harm” (Neuman & Robson, 2018). 

2. There are many dimensions to outdoor recreation and so much there is to research - every paper I read leads to more questions. As I review literature for our final project in this class and I write my term paper for Foundations of Outdoor Recreation, I find myself with follow-up questions at the end of each study I examine.

3. Every researcher carries an invisible backpack. As much as we like to think of the world of outdoor recreation as a level playing field, every person has different life experiences, education, biases, advantages, and disadvantages. When we acknowledge our individual invisible backpacks, we can begin to understand that not everyone engages with the world in the same ways and not everyone has the same privileges. This makes us accountable in our research methods and dictates our actions as researchers (Hookyaas, 2022).

These three things I am still confused by:

1. How to write an initial research question and do it well. When it comes to designing a study, we can see in the text that there are distinct differences between qualitative and quantitative research methods. Qualitative researchers often follow a nonlinear research path and focus on cases and contexts, while almost all quantitative researchers use a linear approach and look at variables and hypotheses. Both approaches begin with a research question (Neuman & Robson, 2018). While I have an understanding of the approaches to research, I have a hard time figuring out where to start; that is, how to formulate an initial research question that leads somewhere specific instead of spiraling me into overwhelming circles. The text does state that the nonlinear design of qualitative research involves narrowing the scope after preliminary research, suggesting that clarity in the research question comes after a few cycles of initial research (Neuman & Robson, 2018). A research question must be clear, focused, concise, complex, and arguable (Hookyaas, 2022). These parameters make sense to me, but I have a hard time with the scope of my questions, or rather, keeping it focused and concise. I did find an online resource that helped me to understand a bit better. 

2. What is an appropriate sample size? I seem to generally not know when to stop, and limiting the scope of my sample size is no exception. According to the text, the decision about sample size depends on the degree of accuracy required, the degree of variability or diversity in the population, and the number of different variables examined simultaneously in data analysis. Larger samples are needed for higher accuracy or populations with high levels of variability (Neuman & Robert, 2018). I am still trying to figure out how to apply these principles to a real world research project, and what entails a “large” sample size. How big is too big? 

3. Generating statistics: that’s a lot of jargon and math that I do not understand, and I am not familiar with excel yet. It’s definitely one of my professional weaknesses. 

These three things I know for certain about me as an outdoor recreation researcher:

1. I prefer qualitative research. Numbers still represent people, but I feel that words represent them so much better. This leads me to my second point about myself as an outdoor recreation researcher.

2. I prefer interviews and asking open ended questions. Interviews are social relationships that involve trust and rapport (Neuman & Robson, 2018). I would enjoy dealing with people directly, one to one, in an interview format. 

3. I am more engaged if I care about what I am researching, but I have to be careful to not let passion turn into bias. 

These three areas I need to spend time developing/learning in order to feel more confident in my skills:

1. Interviewing- the role of an interviewer is difficult and nuanced. I mostly have experience interviewing people that I know. As a researcher, I must have skills as an interviewer that allow me to play my role properly. Interviewers must be able to obtain cooperation and build rapport, but they also need to remain neutral and objective. Interviewers must try to reduce embarrassment, fear, and suspicion so that respondents feel comfortable giving their responses (Neuman & Robson, 2018). I feel that I am good at building rapport and making people feel comfortable, but I need to hone my skills in being neutral and not introducing my own bias. Skilled interviewers do not reveal their opinions, verbally or nonverbally. Being a professional interviewer requires taking a training course, so if I were to do it professionally I am obviously very far from the mark (Neuman & Robson, 2018).

2. Writing surveys - good questionnaires work as an integrated whole. The researcher weaves the survey questions together so that they flow smoothly. Questions must be clear, simple, and keep the respondent’s perspective in mind (Neuman & Robson, 2018). Question writing is an art. I have situations outside of academia where surveys are useful and important, and I would like to develop my survey writing skills so that I am able to create surveys that are incredibly functional. 

3. Summarizing data into coherence without introducing my own bias. The coding that Amanda spoke about in Week 10 is crucial for this step. Researchers must be able to pull out the emergent themes in qualitative research and recognize them for what they are and not what they want them to be.

References

Neuman, W. L., & Robson, K. (2018). Chapter 3 Ethics in Social Research. In Basics of Social Research Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches (4th Canadian Edition, pp. 40 - 62). essay, Pearson. 

Neuman, W. L., & Robson, K. (2018). Chapter 5 Designing a Study. In Basics of Social Research Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches (4th Canadian Edition, pp. 79 – 102). essay, Pearson.

Neuman, W. L., & Robson, K. (2018). Chapter 7 Qualitative and Quantitative Sampling. In Basics of Social Research Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches (4th Canadian Edition, pp. 131 – 160). essay, Pearson.

Neuman, W. L., & Robson, K. (2018). Chapter 8 Survey Research. In Basics of Social Research Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches (4th Canadian Edition, pp. 160 - 192). essay, Pearson.

Hooykaas, A. (2022, January 17). Research Design Lectures Week 2 [PowerPoint slides, Zoom]. Mycourselink. https://mycourselink.lakeheadu.ca/d2l/le/content/93758/viewContent/1304242/View 

Hooykaas, A. (2022, February 7). Research Design Lectures Week 5 [PowerPoint slides, Zoom]. Mycourselink. https://mycourselink.lakeheadu.ca/d2l/le/content/93758/viewContent/1316810/View 

Hooykaas, A. (2022, March 23). Research Design Lectures Week 10 [PowerPoint slides, Zoom]. Mycourselink. https://mycourselink.lakeheadu.ca/d2l/le/content/93758/viewContent/1326433/View 

How to Write a Research Question. (2022). Retrieved 29 March 2022, from https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/guides/how-to-write-a-research-question

[mrpoutd2511]

OUTD 2511 Blog Prompt 9-10

 Three things I know for certain about outdoor recreation research: 

One thing I know is what qualitative data is and how it’s used. Researchers reflect on ideas before data collection and develop conceptual findings (Neuman 2018). This data is collected by a variety of methods including interviews and observations. Qualitative data is useful when you’re not dealing with hard data but are pursuing a more story-based result.

I also know the nine different question types that can occur during a qualitative interview which are as follows:

- Introducing questions are used when you want a detailed description from the interviewee.  The interviewee is prompted to give a personal account of a situation in this instance (Neuman 2018).  

- Follow-up questions are used to get additional information from the interviewee (Neuman 2018).

- Probing questions are asked when more details are required, typically because the interviewee’s response to a question was brief or not specific enough. These differ from follow-up questions. Where follow-up questions prompt the interviewee to expand on a particular point, probing questions initiate a general expansion (Neuman 2018).

- Specifying questions are asked to get more detailed descriptions about parts of the interviewees answers that lack specifics.

- Direct questions are typically introduced toward the end of the interview and are questions that have not yet been answered or discussed by the interviewee (Neuman 2018).

- Indirect questions are asked to get a feeling of how the interviewee feels about the actions and thoughts of other people. Interpretation of these answers can be complicated because it needs to be determined if the answers and opinions given are reflective of how the interviewee really feels or if they are answers that the interviewee feels would be correct and expected (Neuman 2018).

- Structuring questions are used to keep the interview focused and on track if it has gone off topic or if the question has already been answered and it’s time to move on (Neuman 2018).

3.  Additionally, I know how to do a literature review. Literature reviews typically begin by defining and refining a topic and then designing a search strategy. Research reports are then located, notes are taken, and finally a review is written. When writing reviews it is important to “critically read articles and other literature.” (Neuman 2018) Good organizational skills  are very beneficial at this stage as well.  Things like keeping track of research in organized documents, effectively tracking URL’s and prioritizing articles you know you’ll be using are some examples of these.

These two things I am still confused by: 

One thing that confuses me is the absence of a real world application of this content if you don’t intend on writing a thesis. It’s unclear to me exactly when I’d use this information outside of the classroom. I’m sure there’s practical applications for this information but it’s not something that was initially clear to me and I am still fuzzy on.

I also wonder why a podcast format and Tumbler posts were chosen over discussion posts and papers. Technology and social engagement methods on the internet move and change quickly and I wonder if they’ll be relevant further down the road. Additionally, I feel that there was a lacking of practical applications on what was taught and that did not help me learn as quickly or easily.

These three things I know for certain about me as an outdoor recreation researcher:

One thing that I learned about myself as an outdoor recreation researcher is that the field of research is not something I excel at or find particularly fulfilling. It is just something that I don’t particularly enjoy and just feels like something I need to do.

I also learned that I prefer working with qualitative data vs. quantitative data. Basically I feel that talking with and interviewing someone is more engaging and rewarding than just interpreting numbers and analyzing data.

It is clear to me that I enjoy researching things I already have an interest in, as I would assume most people do. An example of this is things relating to plants and biology - like the Herbarium I’m working on for one of my classes. I enjoy this topic and put a lot of effort into the project because I care about doing well and producing good work. Although this actually makes me feel anxious (my interest in it makes the stakes higher because I want it to turn out well) it does motivate and encourage me too. In comparison, when it’s a topic I’m not interested in I’ll procrastinate and feel an overwhelming sense of frustration. Obviously the end product suffers in this scenario.

These two areas I need to spend time developing/learning in order to feel more confident in my skills: 

One area I would like to improve in is my survey skills. I feel that I could develop more confidence if I had more experience in this area. The more opportunities to conduct interviews the better. Participating in other peoples’ surveys would also be beneficial and allow me the opportunity to gather ideas. I’d also like to better my preparation beforehand so that I feel more prepared and confident going in.

I would also like to improve my organizational skills. Whether it’s as simple as keeping search results on my computer organized or more involved like developing efficient time management skills, there are definitely areas I would like to improve on.

Some things I’d be looking at implementing when compiling research include:

Color coding files and folders

Organizing open tabs on the computers

Utilizing physical folders when necessary

Developing a manageable calendar and scheduling method to chart out goals, deadlines and expectations

Focusing on time management throughout the project

Being flexible and adaptable depending on the method of organization that each individual project requires

References:

Neuman, W. L., & Robson, K. (2018). Chapter 4 Reviewing the Scholarly Literature and Planning a Study. In Basics of Social Research Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches (4th Canadian Edition). Pearson.

Neuman, W. L., & Robson, K. (2018). Chapter 6 Qualitative and Quantitative Measurement. In Basics of Social Research Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches (4th Canadian Edition). Pearson.

Neuman, W. L., & Robson, K. (2018). Chapter 12 Qualitative Interviewing. In Basics of Social Research Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches (4th Canadian Edition). Pearson.

[mrpoutd2511]

OUTD 2511 Blog Prompt 6

1) Who I'm Interviewing and Why

I chose to interview Deana Renaud, a mental health professional from Nipigon, Ontario. She has a Masters degree in Social Work; and writes about "her adventures hiking, traveling, momming and enjoying everything outside on the Northwestern shore of Lake Superior and beyond." (Renauld) I have chosen her to interview because I believe her combination of experience in the mental health field and her love of the outdoors will offer valuable insight for my podcast topic of the effect of rock climbing on mental health.

2) Interview Questions 

1. Question - What are some positive effects on your mental health since you started rock climbing? 

Insight - The insight I would like to get from this question is to find out to what extent and in what ways mental health can improve with activity, specifically rock climbing.

2. Question - Do you feel that these positive effects are because of rock climbing specifically or could they be attributed to something else?

Insight - The insight I would like to get from this question is whether or not outside forces other than rock climbing may be causing positive effects on one’s mental state.

3. Question - Do you feel that a less-social outdoor activity like going for a run or swimming would provide the same benefits to mental health as a social activity like rock climbing?

Insight -  The insight I would like to get from this question is whether the social aspect of rock climbing plays any part in improving mental health or if the same benefits can be achieved in a solo activity. 

4. Question - In your work have you seen value in encouraging outdoor activities like rock climbing in regards to mental health?

Insight - The insight I would like to get from this question is whether the positive effects experienced by Deana Renaud are specific to her or if these results are typical and possible for anyone. 

5. Question - What advice would you give someone who is struggling with their mental health?

Insight - The insight I would like to get from this question is encouraging and practical ideas for someone struggling with their mental health.

3) How I decided on these questions

I used Kvale's question (Rossman, Schlatter 2019) types to decide on what I would ask my interviewee, specifically the introducing questions (number 1), specifying questions (question 2+3), direct questions (number 4+5). I ordered my questions to flow naturally from one topic to the other to engage the interviewer.

References

https://www.northernontario.travel/author/deana-renaud

Neuman, W. L., & Robson, K. (2018). Chapter 12 Qualitative Interviewing. In Basics of Social Research Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches (4th Canadian Edition). Pearson.

[mrpoutd2511]

Recreational Activities Trivia Quiz

What is the context? 

I chose the Recreational Activities Questions and Answers Trivia Quiz. It asked a variety of questions regarding what is and what isn’t considered a recreational leisure activity. I got 6 out of 10 on this quiz because of the poorly written and ambiguous questions.

How well are the questions written? 

The questions are not written well. A lot of the questions could be interpreted in a variety of ways and the confusion in the wording made me get some questions wrong.

Might there be variety/ambiguity in the responses that lead to poor results?

Some questions are more open to interpretation and shouldn't have a right or wrong ex. whether watching tv is or isn't a recreational activity. 

What is considered leisure recreation for one might not be for another. For example, my grandma loves mowing her lawn and it’s her favorite thing to do in the summer. In her case it is recreation. This activity might be non-recreational for some and recreation for others. This is an example of where you can’t have a true or false selection.

The majority of the questions consider it to be a recreational activity only if there’s social engagement occurring as well. This is confusing because in this context, golf, for example, is considered a recreational activity if it’s done in a group setting but not if you’re golfing solo. 

This quiz is flawed because there is so much open to interpretation and many exceptions come up in their scenarios.

What are some strengths and weaknesses? 

Strengths - the type of question is varied. 

Weaknesses - images don’t necessarily match the question (ie. you were supposed to choose the correct recreation in the photo which was a photo of people diving into a pool. The correct answer was “skydiving”.)  Additionally, questions are ambiguous and open to interpretation and therefore can’t be marked right or wrong definitively.

Some of the answers in the quiz were also incorrect. In question 2, for example, it’s stated that there are no recreational/leisure activities that can be bad. Although this is open to interpretation it is also blatantly false. “There are good and bad forms of recreation” (Rossman, Schlatter 2019). Drug use is considered a recreational activity but also harmful and ill-advised.

How might it be improved? 

The quiz could be improved with less ambiguous questions with concrete right or wrong answers. A better introduction explaining their definition of recreational activities would help understand their perspective on the topic.

Consideration should be given to the definition of recreational activity. 

Some things the writers might want to consider to make for a better quiz include: implementing good question writing, not confusing beliefs with reality, and avoiding slang and abbreviations, ambiguity and vagueness. (Neumen, Robson 2018)

References:

https://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=mta3njixmq==0ep9

Rossman, J.R., Schlatter, B.E. (2019). Chapter 1 Basic Programming Concepts. In Recreation Programming (8th Edition, pp. 1-20). Sagamore-Ventre.

Neuman, W. L., & Robson, K. (2018). Chapter 8 Survey Research. In Basics of Social Research Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches (4th Canadian Edition, pp. 161- 191). Pearson.

[mrpoutd2511]

Hey Ashley,

What an excellent choice of person to interview! I think this would be incredibly beneficial to our podcast topic. I specifically liked your second question: "How has climbing positively or negatively impacted your mental health and wellbeing?" I think it would be great if we were able to add insights into the thoughts of actual industry professionals and avid participants in the sport to our podcast research through interviews. I also think the distinction you make in your fourth question: "How is rock climbing different from other recreational activities in the way it affects its participants mentally, physically, and socially?" between the differences in the benefits of physical activity as a whole and the benefits directly related to rock climbing is important to make. All in all, I think your questions are thorough and effective. Great job!

Blog Prompt 6 (OUTD 2511): Interview a Key Thinker Who Represents Your Field of Inquiry for the Podcast Project

Podcast Project Research Question: How does rock climbing in Thunder Bay benefit the wellbeing of citizens in the community?

I would interview Aric Fishman because he is the founder of Outdoor Skills and Thrills and he has many years of experience climbing around the world and in Thunder Bay. Aric worked as a wilderness survival instructor and canoe tripping guide in 1999 to 2004, worked as a manager at four different climbing facilities between 2000 and 2013, and graduated from Lakehead University in 2012 with a degree in Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism with a minor in Sociology (Outdoor Skills and Thrills, 2021). In addition, Aric has spent over 20 years honing his skills as a climber, instructor, and professional guide (Outdoor Skills and Thrills, 2021). On average Aric climbs and guides over 250 days per year. Additionally, Aric is the Author of Thunder Bay Climbing: A Guide to Northwestern Ontario’s Best Kept Secret (Outdoor Skills and Thrills, 2021).

Aric Fishman (Outdoor Skills and Thrills, 2021).

List five clear interview questions (and what insight you hope to get out of each):

1. Do you think rock climbing has a positive or negative impact on people’s mental health and wellbeing?

I would like to gain insight from an experienced professional on his opinions of the impact climbing has on a person’s mental health and wellbeing.

2. How has climbing positively or negatively impacted your mental health and wellbeing?

I would like to know if he has seen any impacts on his mental health and wellbeing since he has been climbing for so many years.

What impact will climbing have on mental health and wellbeing if you participate in the activity long term?

3. Do you think the overall environment of climbing is what has an impact on people’s mental health and wellbeing? Or do you think the fact that they are just participating in a physical activity is what impacts their mental health and wellbeing?

Do the other aspects of rock climbing such as adrenaline, fear, sense of accomplishment, communication, relying on others and yourself, etc, have an effect on participants in these areas besides the physical exercise component?

4. How is rock climbing different from other recreational activities in the way it affects its participants mentally, physically, and socially?

Does rock climbing have different things to offer than other sports

What separates rock climbing from the rest of recreational activities?

Are there different mental benefits?

Are there different social benefits?

5. Can you describe what a typical climbing day looks like for those who are new to climbing?

Rock climbing can be seen as a very risky and scary activity, so if a professional climber explains the safety precautions and risk management in place, it can ease a person’s mind and encourage them to participate in the activity.

If a person would like to rock climb for the benefit of their wellbeing, this can provide them with the information on what to expect being new to the activity.

I decided on these questions because they cover different topics and ideas that are important to answering the research question. The first question is straightforward, but it will provide me with the answer of if a professional has seen the impacts that rock climbing has on a person’s mental health and wellbeing. The second question will help to provide me with information on if a long time participant of climbing has seen any impacts the sport has had on them. This is important because with just these two questions we learn the affects climbing can have on new or more frequent climbers. Next, the third and fourth questions will help in the determination of if climbing has different impacts in participants and also this answers if the sport is worth it to partake in rather than more popular activities such as running, hiking, soccer, baseball, etc,. Finally, the last question is to gain insight on a typical day of climbing to help ease the minds of newcomers to the sport of climbing or to just provide a look on what a day can look like. Overall, I chose questions that could get answers to various important topics that could support the research question.

Reference List

Outdoor Skills and Thrills. (n.d.). Aric Fishman. Outdoor Skills And Thrills. Retrieved March 6, 2022, from https://outdoorskillsandthrills.com/team-osat/aric-fishman

Outdoor Skills and Thrills. (n.d.). Meet the Team. Outdoor Skills And Thrills. Retrieved March 6, 2022, from https://outdoorskillsandthrills.com/team-osat

Outdoor Skills and Thrills. (n.d.). Thunder Bay Climbing Guide Book. Outdoor Skills And Thrills. Retrieved March 6, 2022, from https://outdoorskillsandthrills.com/tbay-climbing-guidebook

[mrpoutd2511]

Hey Jake,

Great choice of article. It was good to read a positive story about people, which seems to be harder and harder to find. I think the fact that the source of the article is a primary source makes it even more interesting to read. I think that it's incredibly important that Byron Holbik was able to get this event on camera for this story to be credible. Without it, I would have almost thought that some guy just got bored and decided to construct this wild story, almost like a fishing story.

Blog Prompt #5 (provided by Dr. Amanda Hookyaas):

Find a written article (newspaper, magazine, etc.) from this past week and critically evaluate it (please provide us with the link – topic is yours to choose). What was the key message? What might their sources have been? (Suggest sources if there aren’t any provided.) How might they have been evaluated? How were they validated/verified (which techniques were used/could have been used)? What expectations/responsibilities might the consumer have in reviewing this article? Please reference the course notes, the textbook, and the article itself. Remember, we expect you to be demonstrating a robust understanding of the course material at this point in time!

My response:

The news article that I chose to critically evaluate is A Thunder Bay logging crew rescued a moose that went through the ice reported by Gary Rine, a TBnewswatch.com reporter. This article recently came to my attention while I was completing my placement hours at a local public school as each morning they discuss the daily news going on around the world and within Thunder Bay. 

Photo credit: Byron Holbik/Facebook

This article is focused on a moose that was rescued from the waters of Upper Lake Windigoostigwan where the moose broke through the ice. The moose was spotted by a logging crew traveling in the area when one of the members of the crew noticed the stranded moose and decided to take action, “As soon as I heard about it, I said ‘I’m going down there. I’ll save that moose,’ ” Byron Holbik told TBNewswatch when they reported the situation. The logging crew who saved the moose consisted of Byron Holbik, Darren Whalley, Mark Wellington and Jordan Hay. They knew the moose wouldn’t survive the ordeal without help so they went down and cut the ice and directed the moose in the direction of shallower waters so the moose would be able to stand and escape from the cold waters. This information can be viewed as a credible source as they have video footage of the moose being rescued from the icy cold waters.

The sources for this article come from a primary source as the logging crew were directly involved in the situation and had first hand experience saving the moose from the waters and they were the people who were interviewed regarding the video posted on facebook from Byron Holbik.

The viewers of this article can learn a lot about the challenges that some animals such as moose experience which would go unnoticed to most people including thin ice breaking and the icy cold waters.

Reference:

https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/video-a-thunder-bay-logging-crew-rescued-a-moose-that-went-through-the-ice-5040899

[mrpoutd2511]

A Big Bear

I found the prompt for this week incredibly challenging since it led me down rabbit holes of news stories, none of which were that positive or felt like they added anything positive to my life. But without further ado, I present to you Lake Tahoe Is Fighting to Kill Iconic Fat Bear, a VICE article from earlier this week by Samantha Cole.

Key Message 

The key message of this article was that a 500-pound bear has been rooming around the Tahoe keys because the residents have made it easy for the bear to find food (1). My favourite part of the article is how the people being interviewed do not blame the bear and instead blame their own irresponsibility and discuss ways to mitigate this damage from happening again.

Their Sources

The primary source for this article is The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, they are referenced in regards to an interview done for KCRA 3. Interviews from The Tahoe Daily Tribune and CBS 13 are also referenced 

How The Sources May Have Been Evaluated 

VICE may have evaluated their sources by verifying the credibility of both the sources and the people being interviewed (2).

Expectations/Responsibilities the consumer might have in reviewing this article

Consumers reading/reviewing this article should also test its reliability (2) by cross-referencing the various sources and stories. I as a consumer would also try to seek out as many opinions on the topic as possible to be able to make the most well-rounded opinion.

https://twitter.com/kcranews/status/1494066003239583746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1494066003239583746%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vice.com%2Fen%2Farticle%2F4aw77j%2Flake-tahoe-is-fighting-about-whether-to-kill-iconic-fat-bear

References

(1) https://www.vice.com/en/article/4aw77j/lake-tahoe-is-fighting-about-whether-to-kill-iconic-fat-bear

https://apple.news/A1yuBGW_FTgaw1_ccU6c0bQ 

(2) OUTD-2511 Research Design course notes

[mrpoutd2511]

Hello Griffin,

I love how you related this to course content. I was thoroughly entertained by the image of an MMA fight between you and a kangaroo.

I think it is interesting that you think you would beat a kangaroo in an MMA fight but list the reasons why you would win as being intellectual, ex. kangaroos are illiterate, and you've slain the ender dragon numerous times. It appears to me that the qualities you've listed would lead you to be better suited to beat the kangaroo in a battle of wits, maybe chess or Minecraft since you've already listed it as a strength. Either that or I would suggest starting with something a bit smaller than a kangaroo to practice and working your way up, perhaps a raccoon. 

- Molly

The Ultimate Showdown

Something that has been on my mind a lot recently has been if I could successfully beat a kangaroo in an MMA fight. I always see pictures and videos of kangaroos looking all tough hopping around flexing their jacked biceps and ripped abs. Kangaroos think they are all that just because they can throw a few punches, but really I don’t think they are all that tough.  That is why I think I could beat a kangaroo in an MMA fight. 

Since this is a research class, I figured I would do some research into this scenario. Firstly, we have the underdog in this fight, which is the kangaroo. Some facts about the kangaroo to take into consideration for the fight are: Kangaroos are illiterate, kangaroos can process their food without producing methane, kangaroos hop because they have to, kangaroos don’t sweat, kangaroos can’t move backward, kangaroos can use their tail as a third leg, kangaroos are mainly left-handed and they weigh around 90kg with a top speed of 56km/h. I then researched the kangaroo’s opponent, which was myself. Some facts about me to consider for the fight are: I don’t have to hop for transportation, I can tie a shoelace, I can make a coin appear behind someone’s ear, I can skip a rock more than 3 times on the water, and I have successfully slain the ender dragon multiple times. 

After looking at the information, most people would assume that the odds are very against the kangaroo. The kangaroo may have some hard punches, but with my spidey reflexes, I could counteract the punches. Understanding that kangaroos are dominantly left-handed, I would be able to easily expose the kangaroo knowing the more powerful punches are coming from the left arm. I think we could all agree that if it was a boxing match, the kangaroo would have me beat easily. The reason why I think I stand a better chance in an MMA match is that it allows me to throw the saucey moves that I couldn’t do if I was boxing. I would describe kangaroos fighting style like a wild boar while my style is more like a majestic gazelle. 

Kangaroos roam around Australia like they are a bunch of gangsters who get what they want for beating people up in a boxing match. But a kangaroo would not know what to do if they got challenged to an MMA fight, especially by me. 

In conclusion, based on the facts I have collected. I believe that after a close match, I would be able to beat a kangaroo in an MMA fight simply because I am superior intellectually, I am better looking, and I doubt the kangaroo has slain the Ender dragon as many times as I have.  

Who do you think would win in an MMA fight a Kangaroo or Griffin? 

   Photo: Vice

  15 fun facts about kangaroos. The Fact Site. (2021, March 17). Retrieved February 6, 2022, from https://www.thefactsite.com/kangaroo-facts/

Kangaroo facts! National Geographic Kids. (2020, June 2). Retrieved February 6, 2022, from https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/animals/general-animals/kangaroo-facts/

[mrpoutd2511]

Research Design and Documentary-Style Comedies

Recently I watched “What We Do in the Shadows” and it’s remained in my mind since. To make this show relevant to this course, I will be examining research design through the lens of documentary-style comedy shows which is the style in which this show is filmed. Specifically, I will be talking about “What We Do in the Shadows” a 20-minute comedy airing on FX created for television by Jemaine Clement and based on the film "What We Do in the Shadows" by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi.

WWDITS follows a group of vampires (and supporting characters) in Staten Island, New York through the lens of a documentary film crew. Why the film crew would do this is not readily clear, but I infer it might be either a group of students trying to make a film for a film class or it might be that the vampires have hired the film crew for fun. 

The documentary film crew in this show uses qualitative research methods. They conduct their research through talking-head style interviews, photographs, and general observations.

There are many ethical points to consider when placing yourself in this vampire-rich world as a documentary crew. Some of these include:

Impact of research on all – even those not directly involved. I think the impact of this research is negative for all parties and unethical considering the film crew watches the vampires kill humans and do all kinds of other wild stuff. These are actions that would typically be frowned upon.

Relative risks and potential benefits. The risk to the film crew is death benefit to film crew is a scandalous breaking news story. The risk to vampires is the destruction of their “shadows” and the consequences that would arise from being thrown into the public eye the benefit to the vampires includes: they might get an increase in people that want to be turned into vampires, so this way they can increase their numbers. 

Fairness: all people are treated with equal respect and concern. The vampires are shown not treating humans with respect on numerous occasions so it wouldn’t be a far reach to assume that they may treat the film crew in the same way.

Balance of power. The vampires definitely have more power because they could very easily kill the crew!!

Vulnerable populations: Non-exclusion; Non-exploitative. Are vampires a vulnerable group because they are a minority and if humanity knew about them they would likely not respond in a positive way.

My conclusion on vampires as a research topic: Fun to watch probably (definitely) not a good or ethical research topic for real life.

https://pics.alphacoders.com/pictures/view/349774

[mrpoutd2511]

Hello Emma,

I enjoyed reading your post on the Mood impacts of outdoor recreation in a Northern Ontario winter. I think that lowered moods in winter and seasonal depression are things that affect a large range of people (including myself), and thus your research would be of benefit to a large range of people. I feel like in addition to the participants benefiting from this research, you the researcher would as benefit, especially since you talked about your experiences with lowered moods and lowered motivation to engage in outdoor recreation during the winter months. How do you think it would affect the study if you too participated in the survey.

I liked your addition of a side note on the rabbit hole effect of research topics. I especially liked how you addressed the many different questions that come up; and how specific you have to be.

I always find coming up with a specific research question quite daunting, and the more I research, the more potential ideas I have, and then I have a hard time focusing on one specific topic. Do you even come across this problem? All in all, wonderful research idea!

- Molly

Mood impacts of outdoor recreation in a Northern Ontario winter

If you were to conduct research as a graduated student with limitless resources (but you still require ethics approval!), describe your ultimate research project. What would be the focus (it could be anything!)? How might you propose it? Who might it benefit? Shine a light on “you” as a researcher a decade from now. 

From when I was little, I’ve always loved being outdoors. However, in the last several years, I’ve found getting outside during the Thunder Bay winter deep-freeze more and more difficult. Even though getting outside always makes me feel great, it just seems harder and harder to take the step and actually get out in -40 degrees Celsius. Growing up here, seasonal depression and the “winter blues” seem to be pretty common. A combination of sunset at 4:00pm, waking up in the dark, and needing to cover the whole body except for the eyes in clothing can add up to a lack of vitamin D, and therefore lowered mood. However, even as hard as it gets to go outside, it always seems to make me feel a bit better and boost my mood. 

Therefore, as a graduate student, I would conduct a study investigating the impact outdoor recreation in Northern climates, specifically Northern Ontario, has on mood. I would open this study to a wide demographic of individuals aged 18+, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, etc. I recognize that the term “Northern” could be a bit subjective, and therefore I would recruit individuals who reside in and North of Thunder Bay. 

Some research ethics that would need to be taken into consideration is the safety of the participants. Being outdoors in sub-zero temperatures can pose risk of frostbite or discomfort. Participating in recreational activities can also pose their own threats, such as physical injury: even walking outdoors in the winter can result in a slip and fall. This study may be emotional for some participants, because given that the study concerns mood, topics such as depression may be sensitive and/or upsetting.

I would begin the study with a survey during summer months. Though some identifying information would be needed (such as city of residence during winter months, outdoor interests, etc.), it would be as anonymous as possible: no names would be included. The survey would be used to collect information about general mood perceived during spring and summer months, involving questions about outdoor activities and how often they are performed, motivation to perform activities, and general feelings. This would provide a foundation of information about the participants’ moods. I would then use the same survey in the winter months, preferably the coldest months in that region (January/February), asking questions about what kind of outdoor recreation activities are performed and how often, motivation to get outside, etc. The results of general moods and feelings between participants who tend to participate in outdoor recreation versus those who tend to stay indoors in winter months would then be compared and contrasted. 

Benefits of this study would fall to the participants, who would have the opportunity to learn more about how their lifestyle and time spent outdoors can impact (or not affect) their mood. Society could also benefit, in the form of information, about ways that either work or are ineffective in improving mood during winter months. 

On a side note: All in all, I want to point out that I think the biggest thing I’ve learned by reflecting on this topic is how much of a rabbit hole a research question can be: I started with a pretty simple question: how does being outside in a Northern Ontario winter impact mood? I ended up needing to take a jumble of factors into consideration: what counts as “North”? (pretty much everywhere is North of somewhere). How much do racial, socioeconomic, educational, religious, geographic factors have an influence? What kind of recreation is acceptable? How “cold” is “cold”? How narrow should the scope be? Do I want this to be a psychological or sociological study? Or both? Who should be involved? Given that many Northern communities in Canada are remote Indigenous communities, would the format of the study require adjustments given that I am not Indigenous? How many outside mood-influencing factors need to be taken into consideration in order for the results to be as accurate as possible? The questions regarding the parameters of this study are overall much more difficult than I anticipated they would be when coming up with a research question, and it is extremely difficult to gauge how much information should be taken into account.

[mrpoutd2511]

Effects of an Outdoor Environment on Childhood Development

My research project

If I were to conduct research as a graduated student with limitless resources I would choose to research the effects of outdoor environments on childhood development. Specifically, I would look at the outdoor education environment and in what way this is of benefit to middle year students.

Research methods

I would use a combination of quantitative and qualitative research during this project because I believe I would get the most accurate answers to my question with these two methods. 

Qualitative methods: I would use qualitative research methods by talking to the children about their experiences. I would employ observational methods as well to understand their interactions and thoughts on the outdoors as a learning environment. Additional techniques I would employ include soft data such as impressions, words, sentences, photos, symbols, etc. I would also use a non-linear research path and supplement my research with existing cases studies.

Quantitative methods: For this project, I would also employ information gathering techniques such as surveys and data to track and better understand childhood development and how it is or isn’t affected by outdoor experiences. I would attempt one group of students having an outdoor education "upbringing" and a second group omitting that and acting as a control. 

Who benefits

This project would impact future students by shining a light on the benefits of outdoor education and experiences with the goal of their implementation in future programs. 

A case study on the effects of outdoor learning found that 15 out of 16 of the teacher’s students met academic content standards including 12 of the 15 who exceeded the standards. She also found that her students were motivated to study further allowing them to exceed the standards. The educator went on to personally reflect on how she did not view the outdoor environment as an addition to her teachings but that the student's outside and inside learning were intrinsically linked. (Eick, 2012)

Conclusion 

I want to pursue this topic as my research project in order to bring the outdoors to more children and encourage interest in ecology and the environment in the youth. 

There has been evidence to suggest that children who are not exposed to outdoor learning or experiences will have a worse grasp of ecological “Effects of Outdoor Education on Children's Development” concepts compared to those who had a learning environment based in the outdoors. It is also suggested that the learning of these concepts is enhanced if the child has had outdoor experiences to apply and build on with this learning. (Eick, 2012). 

My goal would be to enhance an outdoor learning environment with outdoor experiences in order to serve the young and community as a whole both now and in the future.

References

Eick, C. J. (2012). Use of the Outdoor Classroom and Nature-Study to Support Science and Literacy Learning: A Narrative Case Study of a Third-Grade Classroom. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 23 (7), 789–803. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10972-011-9236-1

[mrpoutd2511]

Hello,

I enjoyed reading your analysis of this week's case study. I specifically liked your reference to how the researchers were drinking coffee while Agafia was doing her morning prayers and how this is is a luxury they have. I feel this shows how the researcher did not understand her or understand her life. 

I liked that you added the concern that the animals brought to Agafia may have carried disease, this had never occurred to me but it is an excellent point! 

You discuss the fact that there may be no benefit of this research to Agafi; do you think there is any purpose to this research to the wider world? I felt like there wasn't much point to it other than bringing up hard memories for Agafia and potentially exposing her to illness. And I really wondered how they could justify creating this documentary while putting this woman through potential physical and emotional harm.

I like how you say if you were conducting this research you would introduce yourself "as a student in Social Work looking at isolation and nature as a therapeutic resource." By reading this I feel like I got a better sense of the potential purpose of the research by reading this one sentence than I got from the entire documentary. 

- Molly

Blog Prompt Two; Agafia's Story

Agafia is a woman who has been living for almost 70 years in the Siberian wilderness. She was born there in 1944 with her family after they had moved due to the murders of people whose beliefs did align with those of Joseph Stalin. The location is over 160 miles from the nearest town and is only accessible via certain transportation methods, such as helicopter. For the last 25 years she had lived without her family after they passed away, likely due to a virus brought in by geologists. She has lived in almost complete isolation since then, with the exception of one neighbour; Yerofei. Agafia shares personal information of her life experiences both positive and negative with one very strong theme; she does not want to be a part of mainstream society.

I believe the researchers were demonstrating qualitative research with both a case study and ethnography approach. By their fieldwork and the primary researchers completing the documentary, as well as focusing on the way of life (process) rather than receiving an answer to a direct question.

I view the invisible backpack as the researcher's access to high quality material things. The researchers sleep in a high quality tent, wear lots of “The North Face” brand clothing items and reference drinking coffee (a luxury) while Agafia does her morning prayers. I think this is very subtle within the film. I would consider more directly as actively speaking up and referencing their clothing or materials used. From the audience's view, they go about this rather respectfully in regards to Agafia's way of life.

While watching this documentary, I questioned the following when considering ethics in research:

Participants (Agafia & Yerofei) can’t leave as researchers are staying with them until a helicopter returns

Participant (Agafia) starts sharing vulnerable information while researchers have no resources to help with trauma

What are the benefits for Agafia by inviting strangers into her home and way of living? Are there any?

Risk vs benefit (For an example of risk: the geologists that had visited and passed a virus that likely killed most of the family. For an example of potential benefit: Agafia received animals as a form of payment while completing research however what if these brought in animals carried illnesses as well).

If I had been given this opportunity, I would want to approach the research with a final question in mind. For example: is there a type of therapeutic experience that could be learnt from conducting this research. I would introduce myself as a student in Social Work looking at isolation and nature as a therapeutic resource. I would be concerned about actively demonstrating respect to Agafia's way of life in a way she could understand (despite the language and cultural barriers). When people have differences in culture it can be difficult to show active respect to that person, as each culture may have different expectations considering respect.

[mrpoutd2511]

Agafia Lykov and the Siberian Wilderness

Case Study 

"Surviving in the Siberian Wilderness for 70 Years" is a short documentary created by VICE in 2013 for their Far Out series sponsored by North Face. It follows the Lykovs, most specifically Agafia Lykov, in her life in the Siberian Sayan mountains. In this documentary: we learn about her family's past, her everyday life, and the "encroaching influence of the outside world."

Research Techniques 

In this documentary, qualitative research techniques have been used. The idea of searching for meaning and rejecting science is present throughout Agafia's story in the same way it is in qualitative research. The researchers spend most of the time interviewing Agafia, but she also gives an oral history of her family and how they wound up in the Siberian wilderness.

Invisible Backpack 

The researcher's invisible backpack is not something that is directly referred to in this documentary. However, things that may have gone into it include: 

Financing through North Face 

Ability to have air transport to fly in and out

The researcher and crew are men

Ethical Considerations 

Ethical considerations in this documentary include:

Physical harm (caused to the participant through disease)

Emotional Harm

How does this benefit Agafia?

What is the benefit of this research?

The researchers address the benefit to Agafia issue by bringing her livestock animals from the city. Not much thought is given to Agafias emotional health; she recounts potentially traumatic experiences a few different times, e.x., upsetting experiences with her neighbour and the death of her family members. It is not clear to the audience what has been done to protect Agafia from physical harm caused by potential disease (if anything has been done).

My Approach 

I would have approached this research assignment by focusing more on Agafias day-to-day lifestyle and less on events that may have been traumatic for her, like the death of her family and her bad experiences with her neighbour.

Ethical considerations I would have taken note of in this situation include:

Physical harm

Emotional harm

How does this benefit Agafia?

To address the potential physical harm caused to Agafia, I would maintain physical distance from her and employ health protocols (like masks) to ensure the crew doesn't compromise her health. To address the emotional harm that may be caused to Agafia by discussing traumatic event's I would ask questions regarding positive aspects of her life. 

During the documentary, I felt like I didn't quite understand what the point of it was supposed to be this may have been due to the short amount of time the crew was with Agafia. To fix this, I would have tried to focus on a more specific aspect of Agafias life instead of talking about many different things in a vague surface-level way.

Reference

VICE. 2013. Surviving in the Siberian Wilderness for 70 Years. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt2AYafET68

[mrpoutd2511]

Blog Prompt # 1

What has drawn you to the program?

I have been drawn to the Outdoor Recreation Parks & Tourism program for a few different reasons, but it can all be summarized as the desire to get something meaningful out of life.

I don't feel like I would get much enjoyment out of a life spent working indoors in a retail or office environment, so I was drawn to the idea of a program that might offer me a career in the outdoors. For me, the unpredictable environment makes for a more engaging environment for a career that I could find lifelong satisfaction in. I also believe that the skills and information learned in this program are easily transferable into other areas of interest I have, like sustainability, accessibility in the outdoors, and natural science.

Who do you rely upon for information?

I would separate the information I consume into three categories, community information, world information, and education/learning.

For information regarding what is happening in the community, I rely on my friend to tell me what has happened in the past or new things that have happened. I would consider her a reliable source in this area because she has lived in the community for her whole life. She is also a mother and thus has access to hidden knowledge not readily available to me.

For information regarding what is happening in the world, I rely primarily on social media and online news sources. I think this type of information is hard to determine its reliability. I try to absorb as many different perspectives as possible in this area and take all opinions with a grain of salt.

For information regarding learning and my university education, I rely on a variety of sources including books, social media/the internet, and university course content. When it comes to learning things in regards to hobbies I tend to get my information online. It's not too important to me whether this information is completely accurate or reliable because it is mostly experimental and I will add my knowledge and ideas to it, for example, learning different art techniques. However, when it comes to education the information gathered being accurate is very important. To ensure this I make sure I take my information from reliable academic sources, I also make sure to compare many sources.

In general, for all of these different sources of information I'm consuming I will cross-reference between multiple sources to ensure reliability.

How does this relate to the program?

I believe these ways of information gathering relate to the Outdoor Recreation program most similarly in my learning/education category. It is also important in the academic field to cross-reference sources and to be aware of who is offering the information and learning many different points of view.

[mrpoutd2511]