Emma @evsoutd2511 - Tumblr Blog

OUTD 2511 Blog Prompt 9-10

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

1. Quantitative research method

2. Qualitative research method

3. Choosing a hypothesis

It was introduced in the very beginning of the course that there are two ways of approach for researchers to achieve their goal, which are through either defined as quantitatively or qualitatively done. It is fairly clear about the difference between the two: 1)Qualitative studies focus on understanding and describing the world of human experiences (Hooykaas, Research design week 2 student copy, 2022). At which the source of data is mainly from subjective experiences like emotion, feelings; follow up with questions of ‘how’ and ‘what’ to a selected phenomenon the researcher is willing to study of (Hooykaas, 2022). 2)Quantitative questions about “how much”, ”what effect” or “why”, similar to that back in high school when performing introductory scientific research. Both an independent and dependent variable to be addressed for managing the scope of the topic. Qualitative research identifies connections, relationships, and comparisons between variables BEFORE data are collected (Hooykaas, 2022). Most source data for qualitative research includes interview, survey, and sorts of questionnaire. Statistics, charts, and diagrams are usually common for works done by performing quantitative standards.

These three things I am still confused by:

1. Coding

2. Data management

3. Designing questionnaires

I am doubtful about the details on how to code the data collected into an actual useful representation(can be charts, diagrams, etc.). Despite having some knowledge with how to manage data editing software like Microsoft Office in an electronic device, it is still complex in term of picking up the right portion out into the appropriate sections. It seems to be the very first step is not the technological component, instead, it is the limit/context of what you tend to gain among all the rest of information. I’m also confused frequently with what and how to manage the data collected since many times this data is of a huge density. Methods are that we will need to break it down bit by bit and systematically organize them into their corresponding area (Hooykaas, 2022). Last one would be about issues with designing a questionnaire, there is no actual perfect system of rules that one will follow in order to create that, but an infinite numbers of ways one can achieve to the same goal through distinct paths.

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

1. Ethics

2. Developing research questions

3. Interviewing

As we conduct research over humans, we inevitably have to deal with all the ethnical components that come along with before, during, and after the work is done to avoid liability. we do not always satisfy with the existing findings found in public domains; we rather conduct due to different motivations to execute work with our own set standards. However, we can’t simply skip the procedures and get what we want, it is safe to always do some research ahead regarding ethics so we can be free from litigious charges (negligence, wanton). At developing a research question that fulfills our purposes we need to clarify for what the objectives are. Nevertheless, these characteristics (Clear, Focused, Concise, Complex, Arguable) should be implied (Hooykaas, 2022). In addition, multiple steps are designed to help develop strong, suitable research questions: 1. Filter out works done by other people that are related to your chosen rough topic, see what rooms are left or if it is still worthy researching. 2. Decide to whom you want to show your work. 3. Brainstorming ideas for your topic. 4. Evaluate the proposed ideas. 5. Begin research (Hooykaas, 2022). All those were fundamental to start the actual research, after done with the preparation at the time, to gather data we must do interview. Some forms of interview can sound less professional and others not. This is dependent on which way we want our approach based on the need to be accomplished. To build a successful interview we must consider all those factors that would act to affect its completion.

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

1. Critical reflexivity

2. Sampling

3. Linking Literature to Research/Literature Review

Speaking of things that I tend to know a bit better than the others while still to practice more frequently in order to fully comprehend the definition and real-life applications. Totally agree with the speaking that, in which depict the fact of knowledge is more valuable when it can be applied. So is what critical reflexivity ask about for researchers, that it is a dynamic and ever-changing social process that would need constant monitoring on new relations and issues (Hooykaas, 2022). It is definitely a long-term effort of thing, accompanied there are other difficulties on the way that are to be overcome with continuing involvement. Consciously reflect on both self and others works, extend observation toward a broader view, seek for any potential outcomes beyond the subject and ask question for “what else”. Once done formulating a questionnaire for targeted participants it is important to know how to organize with the data that you have collected for sampling. Reason for that is because not all the information you receive from the participants are essential to you. Instead, a selective series of adequate and coinciding questions before landing will be ideal. The main point is to incite for concise, controlled answers that minimizes unwanted results, since not always is true that the more questions asked, the more satisfying outcomes will be. As for university level of studies we must borrow knowledge from precedent scholars and thus we also are taught to credit their contribution to our eventual work. It is bothersome and lengthy at browsing through pages and pages of texts and find the piece you are looking for. Nonetheless, learn to know how to effectively use others’ works can really help backing up your own.

References

Hooykaas, A. (2022, 3 21). Research design week 10 student copy. Retrieved from Mycourselink: https://mycourselink.lakeheadu.ca/d2l/le/content/93758/viewContent/1326433/View

Hooykaas, A. (2022, 1 22). Research design week 2 student copy. Retrieved from Mycourselink: https://mycourselink.lakeheadu.ca/d2l/le/content/93758/viewContent/1304242/View

Hooykaas, A. (2022, 2 7). Research design week 3 student copy. Retrieved from Mycourselink: https://mycourselink.lakeheadu.ca/d2l/le/content/93758/viewContent/1316810/View

Hooykaas, A. (2022, 2 7). Research design week 5 student copy. Retrieved from Mycourselink: https://mycourselink.lakeheadu.ca/d2l/le/content/93758/viewContent/1316810/View

evsoutd2511

Hey Ryan!

I totally agree with you on the things you’re still confused by: I find coding somewhat unnecessary, it seems like a lot of extra work for a task that is already tedious, and I’m not really sure how to put it into action effectively to manage data. I also find it frustrating that creating questionnaires does not have a set of guidelines to help, and find it difficult too! I also agreed with you when you said there are some forms on interviewing that can be super professional, and some not very professional, depending on what needs to be accomplished from the interview. I think it’s really cool--and at times frustrating-- that there isn’t really a set guideline of how we must interact with people for research! Personally, for research guidelines, I find the ethics components difficult to gauge, because it often seems subjective: it was mentioned in class a few times that it’s important to know when certain lines can and cannot be crossed, and I always find that a little confusing in research. I think if the boundaries are there, they should -- in theory-- never be crossed, but that isn’t always realistic, as there is always a human aspect to research. Overall, I really liked your post and thought you brought up some really great points!

Cheers,

Emma

Blog 9 & 10

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

Qualitative VS Quantitative data: I have been familiar with the concept of qualitative versus quantitative data for years, as well as the importance of knowing when to use each. Qualitative data refers to more subjective data, and can differ between different individuals and subjects. Quantitative data refers to objective, usually number-based data. It is more concrete

It can be very difficult to create a research question: there is so much to consider when making a research question, and every part of the question can lead the researcher down a different rabbit hole of data and questions and considerations, and it can easily become seemingly never-ending. Questions therefore must be concise and have parameters set in place for the sake of the researcher.

Open VS closed questions: Open-ended questions are subjective, and allow the participant to elaborate as much as they are comfortable with. Closed-ended questions are often yes-or-no, or multiple choice (with no room to elaborate or bring in their own thoughts and ideas). Both are effective at different times (ex. Open questions work best for qualitative research, closed work best for quantitative research).

These three things I am still confused by:

Critical reflexivity: I am a little unsure of what this means as a concept, or how I can put it into action in my research. I think more examples about what it means and how I can put it into effect might benefit my understanding.

Ethics: I always found the details of ethics regulations as they pertain to research a little confusing, and difficult to keep track of with so many regulations and strict guidelines. However, I now understand that these guidelines are in place to protect the integrity and humanity of individuals (Pearson, 2018). They are put in place to maintain privacy: not everything about everyone needs to be or should be researched, and someone who consents to research is entitled to as much privacy as they want. Research ethics might be a barrier to some aspects of research, but they are put in place to protect people. However, I am still confused about the reasoning behind certain research ethics restrictions and certain times when they seem almost subjective, and I also find it difficult to keep track of all the different ways research needs to be ethically reviewed.

The differences between ordinal, nominal, ratio, and interval data: I don’t quite understand these concepts and what they mean or how they relate to one another, and the importance of knowing the differences between them in research.

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

I have an invisible backpack: I know for certain that I am constantly learning more about what kind of privilege I hold as a researcher that provides me with opportunities that might not be held by other people. For example, I know that because I am white, upper-middle class, educated, have a home, have a job, have a reliable source of food, have a stable family and home life, and other things that give me privilege in research.

I find quantitative data easier to visualize and manage, but I feel like I get more out of qualitative data and find it more engaging. Qualitative data has more depth, which interests me: I prefer knowing the in-depth information, and love knowing what people are thinking and why, and the different ways people perceive things. However, I find quantitative data easier to organize and conceptualize, compare, and contrast. I feel that qualitative data is best when supported by quantitative data.

I put more effort into researching topics that interest me: when I am not engaged with a topic or it does not seem relevant or interesting to me, I find it difficult to want to know more about it and ask the right questions to properly research the topic.

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

Research takes a lot more time than I originally thought– every time. As someone who struggles with time management, but still sets high standards for success and is a bit of a perfectionist, I find it very difficult to balance the two, as success with one usually needs to come with success in another.

Starting my research without a bias. I often find myself with a preconceived idea of what results I am going to find in my research, and sometimes find myself only looking for information that fits what I want to find. Therefore, I need to work on removing my biases from the information I look for and present.

Coding: I don't quite understand the intentional ways to code data, or why coding is essential to research. I feel like when I do research, I have my own ways of coding my data that make sense to me, but might not be formal ways. I understand the importance of keeping data organized, but might need practice putting it into play if I were conducting formal research alongside other researchers. However, coding in the sense of creating numbers and letters to correlate to certain pieces of data in a bigger picture is really confusing to me, and I definitely would need to practice this before I felt comfortable putting it into research.

Neuman, W. L., & Robson, K. (2018). Chapter 1 Doing Social Research. In Basics of Social Research Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches (4th Canadian Edition, pp. 1-21). essay, Pearson.

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 6 Qualitative and Quantitative Measurement. In Basics of Social Research Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches (4th Canadian Edition, pp. 102 - 131). essay, Pearson.

Blog 7

For research and innovation week, I attended a seminar called Water Justice for Planetary Wellbeing. It discussed the ways remote Indigenous communities suffer at the hands of the government due to inaccessibility to water on their own land, as well as the ways the world uses water in non-sustainable fashion. The research available in this presentation was from firsthand experiences of the presenter, who travels to remote communities to discuss water, and other sources. Unfortunately, I could not return to these sources to investigate more after the presentation, as I was never sent the link to the presentation afterward– but the presentation referenced scientific journals and articles about worldwide and North American water usage and focused on how it is used in excess. For example, it discussed how many desert states experience droughts due to overuse of water in environments that don’t naturally have enough water to support the kinds of mass production (via farming) that take place, and so water is moved around. It discussed the injustices that remote communities face, with governments promising to bring clean water while making excuses about why it can't happen, while subsequently forcing oil pipelines through their land. Though it was not explicitly discussed, I can imagine some difficulties in researching the impacts of water injustice would come from differences in values between groups of people. Some people value profit more than marginalized people, and researching the differences and origins of who holds power must have been difficult (ex. Staying neutral in situations of injustice).

Blog 6

You have five minutes to interview a key thinker who represents your field of inquiry (for the podcast project). To do this you must:

1) Identify who you are interviewing and why

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

3) Provide a brief overview/summary that discusses how you decided on these questions (referencing the textbook would be helpful here!).

In your response to a peer, please provide feedback on how effective these questions might be at addressing the aims of the interviewer. How might they be improved? On what basis?

As a member of group 5, my research topic focuses on factors that influence identity in Thunder Bay’s outdoor recreation scene. My group is focusing on how minorities in outdoor recreation perceive themselves in relation to participation in outdoor recreation. I would like to interview someone who falls within a minority demographic who adamantly participates in a wide range of outdoor recreation activities. I would interview Sue Hamel, a Lakehead ORPT alumni who is extremely well-known locally for her participation and advocacy in Thunder Bay’s outdoor recreation scene. Sue previously ran a small business called Seek Adventure Tours, where she would take small groups of tourists–local or not– to tour hidden gems and restaurants around the city. As an adamant participant in local outdoor recreation herself and as someone who has a wide range of interaction touring locally with all kinds of demographics, I believe Sue would have very useful first hand perspectives and second-hand accounts about what factors influence sense of identity or belonging in Thunder Bay recreation.

5 questions I would ask are:

Do you think your experience as a woman in Thunder Bay’s outdoor recreation scene is different from a man’s experience in outdoor recreation? Why or why not?

I would hope to find out if there is any inherent bias as a minority participating in outdoor recreation in Thunder Bay

What demographic do you think Thunder Bay’s tourism industry is advertised to? Do you think it excludes any demographics?

I would hope to find out what someone who takes part in advertising local tourism thinks about the way Thunder Bay’s recreation is marketed towards and why certain demographics might be excluded, and why certain demographics (ex. Racial, age, gender) might be favored in advertising over others.

How would you describe the role of social media as means of advertising outdoor recreation in Thunder Bay?

I would hope to find out how individuals advertise themselves and why, and if certain groups advertise themselves more on social media than others.

Do you think there are any demographics missing from the outdoor recreation scene in Thunder Bay?

I would hope to find out how someone who avidly participates in various recreational activities in Thunder Bay sees the demographic– is there a predominant group, are there some demographics that are rarely seen? Why might that be?

Do you think Imposter Syndrome plays a role in the outdoor recreation scene in Thunder Bay? Why or why not?

I would hope to find out why people may or may not feel included or valid enough to want to participate in outdoor recreation in Thunder Bay, and how certain factors influence feelings of inclusion/exclusion and constrain participation.

I decided these questions based on discussions with my group members about what factors and influences we wanted to know more about. Because we will be focusing on social media and advertising of outdoor recreation, I would like to know about how someone who avidly participates and advocates for outdoor recreation perceives these factors and why– why might certain demographics be used for advertising certain activities? Additionally, I would like to know about how these factors influence participation– for example, how might social media and advertising influence how someone sees their own sense of belonging in the space?

In case you weren’t sick of hearing about it

Prompt: 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?

I chose to evaluate the CTV News article Indigenous Groups Condemn Truck Protests and Symbols. It follows the story of the so-called “freedom convoy” in Ottawa, and the use of Indigenous symbols and representations in the protest. The article discusses the statements Indigenous groups made against the protests, stating that they do not support the convoy.

The key message of this article is that while there may be Indigenous individuals who support the convoy, Indigenous groups recognize it as a group of “racists, misogynists and event terrorists” (Lefebvre). The sources for this article were firsthand accounts of individuals who either supported the protests or were against them, as well as official statements via documents from Indigenous reservations, as well as statements from the president of the Manitoba Metis Federation. This means that there are multiple demographics and opinions represented. These sources might have been evaluated through the need for firsthand information about participants in the convoy (ex. What do individuals who are actually there think? What are some reasons for being supportive of or against the convoy?)

Some expectations that might be had by the consumer are for the writer of the article to gather reliable information from multiple sources, and to not hold a biased opinion– which may be difficult in such a controversial situation. However, this article seemed to fall on the side of condemning the protests, with primary interviews stressing the racism involved within the convoy and suspicion that there is a more sinister goal beyond removing mask and vaccine mandates. Responsibilities that fall to a consumer reading this article are to gather information from multiple sources or opinions in order to understand the complete story, and stay engaged with the story as much as possible throughout the progression of the event in order to be informed. For example, they may want to reflect on who is publishing this story and who owns that media outlet– the consumer should ask what biases this outlet has, if any, and their affiliations in order to understand the origins and biases that may be held in this story. In interviews with firsthand accounts, they should consider the level of education the person might have about the subject before taking a side, as well as considering who is impacted by the issue– and should educate themselves on the matter (ex. What demographics are most disproportionately impacted by COVID-19? Who began the convoy and what values do they stand for? What other symbols are present at the convoy, and why might that influence the desire of Indigenous groups to be separated from the convoy?

The link can be found here: https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/indigenous-groups-condemn-truck-protests-and-symbols-1.5768391

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

evsoutd2511

Hey Molly, I really liked your post! I also found this weeks prompt super challenging, for a very similar reason. I’ve been trying to take a break from news lately, because I find it so frustrating: everything I see is so negative, discouraging, controversial, or irrelevant to me, and it’s really draining! When I read the prompt, the only news I could think of that I’ve seen in the past week is pandemic or billionaire or end-of-the-world-related, and I didn’t want to see more of that.

That being said, I really liked this article! I really liked that the people involved dont place blame on the bear, and acknowledge that the situation is because of their own irresponsibility and want to prevent it from happening again. Overall, I feel that the use of primary sources from individuals directly involved in the case makes this article about as credible as it can be.

I found it really interesting that the first half of the article made it sound like the plan is 100% set on euthanizing the bear, but the second half indicated that there’s a possibility of finding a permanent home for it. However, I can also see why that might be so controversial-- the twitter comments on the link you provided had lots of arguments. Personally, I would advocate for saving the bear. Why should it die for an inconvenience caused by humans?

I really hope they don't kill it, the picture of the fat bear made my week. Thank you for that.

- Emma

sick-not-tired

Stop “Doing What You Love”

I have spent the past 5 days burnt out, depressed, anxious, and more than anything completely exhausted. Quite honestly, I considered not doing a blog post at all this week, because I didn’t know until today if I could physically make myself do it. However, it just so happens that this week we have also been given free choice as to what we blog about. In response, I would like to talk about burnout, specifically as it relates to things we love and care about.

According to Psychology Today, burn out is “a state of emotional, mental, and often physical exhaustion brought on by prolonged or repeated stress”. It is frequently due to school or work, and many often associate it with repeated work on something that they do not enjoy. However, burn out is not isolated to things you do not enjoy. Burn out can happen in parenting, relationships, social interaction, and yes, even passions and hobbies. This means that “Love your work and you’ll never work a day in your life” or at least “you will never stress about work a day in your life” is not only blatantly untrue, it is harmful.

In todays capitalist society, barring a whopping inheritance or some other form of generational wealth, you work, or you die. Not to mention that in most cases, you work at least 40 hours a week. This inevitability, and the wider array of jobs in the world today, mean that in order to lighten the load of the thought of working all day, nearly every day, for the rest of their lives, many have been encouraged to pursue passions and make money doing something they love. However, people who do follow passions are far more likely to burn out (Fernet et al. 2014).

Passions require that a person have a strong inclination toward something, and a strong drive to do it. Passions, when controlled by the individual, are healthy; when passions begin to control the individual however, they become toxic (Fernet et al. 2014). When your performance in your passion becomes the variable that controls the food on your plate and the roof over your head, it becomes stressful both financially and emotionally. You have to make enough money to live, and you want to feel that same joy and sense of accomplishment you always used to. Form here the passion becomes obsessive (Fernet et al. 2014). When one is obsessively passionate about something, they cannot stop themselves from investing time and energy into it, even if it is ill-advised to do so(Fernet et al. 2014). We can see this in cases like small business owners who started out because they wanted to do something they loved and “make their own hours”, yet most of them work in store all day, do administrative work at home all evening, and think about work all night. When you meld life and work, the lines blur until neither solidly exists anymore.

I believe that the ORPT program sees more of these “follow your dream”ers than almost any other. We all love the outdoors, or love working with kids, or desperately want to help save the planet. We are all here because we want to feel like our job will be more meaningful and less boring than others. I do think that that is an incredible thing, however I want to implore you all, take care of yourself first. Establish boundaries. No matter how much you love the work you are doing or the organization you are doing it for, it is not worth your sanity, your self respect, or your time off.

Reference List:

Fernet, C., Lavigne, G. L., Vallerand, R. J., & Austin, S. (2014). Fired up with passion: Investigating how job autonomy and passion predict burnout at career start in teachers. Work & Stress, 28(3), 270–288. https://doi.org/10.1080/02678373.2014.935524

Unnamed. (n.d.). Burnout | Psychology Today. Psychology Today. Retrieved February 7, 2022, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/burnout

evsoutd2511

Hey Morgan!

I actually wrote most of an entire post about the same thing-- burnout from University of Zoom. However, I completely scrapped it and decided to write about something that I was feeling a little more passionate about in the moment. I had a lot of similar points in my post, so it’s pretty validating that a lot of us are feeling the burnout. Here’s a quick snippet from the write-up I almost posted: “The last couple weeks I’ve been making a point of getting back in touch with friends I’ve lost contact with since the pandemic started. Additionally, with lockdown restrictions slowly relaxing a little bit as the post-holiday Omicron wave starts to settle, I can start seeing a few close friends. Since I’ve started getting in touch with people again, whenever I ask how they’re doing, the constant answer across the board, every time, is ‘burnt out.’” To be honest, that’s my answer too.

On top of all the things you mentioned within the 40-hour work week, I think another factor that’s causing burnout is related to the pandemic: sitting at the computer for hours a day, reduced socialization and inability to go out, lacking the motivation or time to get outside or exercise, technology problems, school/work following us everywhere we go, constant headaches from poor posture and 24/7 screen time, COVID anxiety, and no real end in sight to the COVID-19 pandemic is exhausting for everyone. There isn’t really a lot of joy, excitement, or experience in sitting in front of a computer all day, every day, and it gets really old really fast.

I thought it was really interesting that burnout can happen within someone’s passions, and how easy it is for it to get out of control. I think especially now, it’s really important that we take care of ourselves. Before the pandemic, if we were sick, we could take a day or two off to recharge. Now that school and work follow us home, we just have to work through it. Like you mentioned in your post, self care is the most important thing. Even with everything online and always right there in front of you no matter where you are, it’s important to establish boundaries in whatever you do: if you need a mental health day, take a mental health day. Work/school from home makes it seem like now that everything can be online, there’s no excuse to miss a day. But it’s important to take the time off that you need, if it means keeping your sanity intact.

Your city without cars

This week, I’ve been thinking a lot about city planning. Specifically, our dependence on cars and how it impacts city layouts and quality of life. I was recently introduced by a friend to a Youtube channel called “Not Just Bikes” that discusses how our over-reliance on cars has caused some frustrating issues that could be solved if we essentially got rid of personal vehicles for everyday use and replaced it with reliance on public transit. According to the channel, some of the most efficient suburbs are the ones with easy access to streetcars, such as Toronto.

Let's say you don’t have a personal vehicle. Picture this: instead of walking to work or school across a busy street, next to smelly, loud, fast, dangerous cars, you take a walking path. There is no traffic jam, no waiting for traffic lights, and everywhere you see outside isn’t covered in pavement. Let’s say you do have a personal vehicle that you rely on for getting, well, everywhere. Personally, I live a 20 minute drive from campus, so it’s a little tricky: but if the Thunder Bay bus system was a little more accessible, I’d be happy to use it.

I had never really thought about it, but after watching a few videos from this channel, I can’t get this scenario out of my head: In bigger cities, people don’t like walking places because either they’re too far or the traffic is too intense, so they drive. Now, everyone is driving, because they don’t want to walk, because there are too many cars, and now there are even more cars. Now, let’s say there are some pedestrians trying to cross the street. Red light on a busy highway, now there’s a traffic jam. Those driving/stuck in the traffic jam are mad and honking because there are pedestrians, and now the pedestrians are agitated because it’s loud, and the cars smell, and there’s no place to walk, and everyone is mad at everyone. And on top of that, millions of cars running at once to get to the same area are putting a hole in the ozone layer.

Our over-reliance on cars also contributes to a lot of wasted space. Everywhere we go is built and covered in pavement to accommodate our cars. Consider a shopping mall, or even a grocery store: the parking lot is bigger than the building itself. And that parking lot needs to be subsidized, which is expensive. If we relied more on public transit, in an ideal world we could get rid of parking lots altogether, making more room for public spaces, housing to minimize urban sprawl, parks, shops to make things closer and more walkable, and essentially improve the quality of the city. Consider a 6-lane road you might need to cross to get to the grocery store, and how much space could be saved to make room for literally anything else of it were 2 lanes: a park, a coffee shop, something that makes your city look nice, a train station, another store even closer to your house, making it all the more walkable?

Also, roads are extremely expensive to maintain: seasonal cracks, wear and tear, weather, salting, plowing, fixing potholes, the list goes on. If we relied more on public transit, it would be cheaper for the city (and therefore our taxes, and therefore you).

There’s also the consideration of overall quality of life. Relying a little more on public transit or walking is good for your mind! When you’re driving, how often do you see a friend and have the chance to say “hey”? Probably never, you’re (hopefully) focused on the road. Additionally, walking is good for you! Not only does it get you active, exercise releases endorphins that improve mood.

Of course, solving this issue probably isn’t realistic. Cars are convenient, even if they aren’t practical. I’ve gone off on a bit of a rant in this post, and I feel like I haven’t even scratched the surface of some of the ideals of cities and suburbs that don’t rely on cars. If you’re interested, the Youtube channel I got this information from is linked below:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0intLFzLaudFG-xAvUEO-A

(I highly recommend the video “cities that don’t suck”)

evsoutd2511

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

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

evsoutd2511

Hey Molly! Thanks for your reply!

I know if I were to participate in the study myself, I would have lots to say about the differences in my mood, and I think personally I would end up talking about how seasonal depression can turn in to a vicious cycle: My mood is low because I dont go outside, and then I dont go outside because my mood is low. From a research standpoint, however, if I were to participate in my own study, it may sway the overall results. I somewhat based the question on my own experience, and if I were to participate, it might create a bias.

I definitely came across the same problem as you with having difficulty focusing on one specific topic-- I found that every time I settled on a specific component of the question, a dozen more considerations and possible research topics popped in to my head. I found it really difficult to keep my scope narrow!

Mood impacts of outdoor recreation in a Northern Ontario winter

aroutd2511

Blog Prompt 3: Canadian Attitudes Toward Climate Change

For this study I would create a focus group full of people ranging from various backgrounds (i.e. Class, ethnicity, education, politics) and have them watch or read an informative and un-opinionated piece on climate change and its effects. After having them read the facts about climate change and its effects I would have them fill out a survey to help identify their feelings and attitude towards the matter. The survey would be anonymous. Some of the questions I would ask are as follows:

1) after reading the article, do you feel that climate change is a problem that needs to be dealt with?

2) Do you think we should be doing more to slow climate change? Or do you feel that we are doing enough?

3) What are some changes you have noticed in your environment, that has been caused by climate change, that you have noticed? How did it make you feel?

4) Were you aware that it is primarily third world countries that are experiencing the biggest effects from climate change? Now that you know, how does that make you feel about our government’s action to slow climate change?

5) What do you do to help the environment? Do you think you could do more?

6) Do you feel there is still time for us to change our direction and slow global warming?

7) What would you like to see the governments doing to help stop climate change?

These questions will help me to determine whether Canadians feel that more needs to be done, the changes they hope to see, if they think that it is reversible, if they have given up on solving the climate crisis, or if they are indifferent to the problem.

evsoutd2511

Hi Annie!

I really liked your post. I think it’s a good idea that you kept your questions general, making the questionnaire available to a wide variety of demographics! One thing I would do differently is have the questionnaire filled out both before and after watching the piece, to see if unbiased information on climate change statistics altered the subjects’ attitudes on climate change.

I really liked question #7, “What would you like to see the governments doing to help stop climate change?”. I feel that your study could include two scopes about climate change information: 1) Individuals are not the main cause of climate change, but rather large corporations combined with lack of government action, or 2) individual/household impact climate change. Do you think having different focuses on the causes of climate change would influence questionnaire answers?

Though your study would involve a wide demographic, if you were to make the study more specified to certain demographics, such as age, for example, do you think the answers would vary between age groups? For example, would participants from aged 18-25 tend to have different attitudes toward climate change than participants aged 65+?

Great post, really got me thinking! I like that it would include lots of groups (class, ethnicity, education, politics) to provide a learning experience for a large group of people. Looking forward to reading your response!

- Emma

justplainrec

02. Surviving in Siberia - A Research Review

Surviving in the Siberian Wilderness for 70 Years is a case study that was done by Vice in 2013 and sponsored by the North Face. The youtube documentary follows 70-year-old Agafia Lykov, the final surviving member of the Lykov family. The family of Old Believers fled into the remote taiga of Siberia in 1936 to escape violence and persecution at the hands of Stalin. Agafia was born in the mountains in 1944, where she lives to this day, living off the land, self-sufficient, and pleased with her life in the remote taiga near the Erinat river, 160km from the nearest city (Vice, 2013).

The case study was done by Americans from Vice in collaboration with Vice Russia. The study would be considered a microsocial theory since it studies a concrete, small-scale, and narrow level of reality - the study focuses on an individual (Agafia), and her actions.

Based on the description of qualitative research as discussed in class, I would argue that the case study falls under the category of qualitative research. Qualitative research is descriptive and involves field work. Qualitative researchers are interested in meaning and are the primary instrument for data collection and analysis.

The filmmakers do carry quite an extensive invisible backpack that isn’t fully addressed in the film. Many of the aspects however, can be inferred from the content and form of the film. The film is sponsored by the North Face, meaning the crew obviously has access to funds and to high quality expedition gear. The production quality of the film implies a full camera crew with high quality cameras. It is noted at the beginning of the film that although there is a language barrier, they have Gleb along as not only a host, but a translator (Vice, 2013).

There are several key ethics considerations that should have been taken into account with the production of this film. The first to address is how limited the knowledge of the researchers was - they spent very little time in Russia, and very little time in the remote taiga. I believe this brings into question the level of understanding that the researchers had when it comes to the way of life and culture of the region. Agafia’s lifestyle is very obviously different from the cultural norm, but when they described her life, they seemed to have gleaned little from their time with her, citing the experience as “very interesting and sometimes it was depressing and sometimes it was fun. In any case we should never forget this experience” (Vice, 2013). The researchers don’t seem to have a full appreciation of Agafia’s religion, culture, and relationship with the land. She says herself that she has no desire to live in the city (Vice, 2013).

The next point to bring up is free and informed consent. One of the barriers to free and informed consent is language - there is a language barrier present between the researchers and Agafia. They have a translator, but Agafia’s isolated lifestyle calls into question whether she truly understands the scope of the research and the documentary. She has only been into the city five times (Vice, 2013), which makes me wonder whether she understands that the information she discloses will be available globally.

The documentary to me feels somewhat exploitative - the researchers came for a brief period of time, asked rather prying questions, shot a documentary and left. I have to wonder whether Agafia benefitted from taking part in this research in any way, other than the animals she received.

If I was given the same opportunity to research and communicate my findings, I believe I would approach the research assignment with a more positive lens, rather than focusing on the more negative and traumatic parts of Agafia’s life. As a student researcher who is enamored with the idea of life in the far north, I would want to spend far longer staying with Agafia and learning her way of life. I would ask more questions showcasing aspects of her life such as her tools, medicine, garden, spirituality, and ways of being. She is one of the remaining Old Believers, so if her religion is included in the film, I think it should be properly explained and honoured. Before the video was released, I would make sure that Agafia had the opportunity to view it and decide whether it was a candid representation of herself. I would also collaborate with her to create a project that would help her, should she so desire external support. (ex. Resupply of essential tools, livestock, etc.)

Reference

Vice. (2013). Surviving in the Siberian Wilderness for 70 Years (Full Length) [Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt2AYafET68

evsoutd2511

Hi Jill!

I really strongly agree with what you said about the documentary feeling exploitative– how they shot some footage, asked intrusive questions with focus on her rather traumatic past, and left.

I was talking with my mom about the documentary. My mom asked me how they decided to make this documentary– did she ask to have it made, or did they ask to make it about her? Personally, given her lifestyle (and lack of access to modern technology), I can’t imagine she would have asked to have a documentary made about her. So how did they ask? Was the proposal conducted ethically?

Additionally, some parts of this seemed almost dangerous for Agafia. For example, it was stated repeatedly that she tends to get sick when she meets new people. I couldn’t help but wonder if any preventative measures were taken to stop her from getting sick while the crew was there. Another danger to that made me think was when she implied that Yerofei assaulted her. I wondered what might happen if he were to see this and how she might be protected, from an ethical standpoint. Therefore, I agree with you when you say that you would let Agafia see the film before it was released, and let her have the final say on how she was presented. I personally didn’t feel like those 30 minutes really encapsulated her story. Like you, I would be more interested in her current way of life, as opposed to negative aspects of her past.

I really liked your insights about how you would conduct the research differently! I did not consider how quickly her religion was brushed over, even though it was so important to her– she was shown singing and praying so many times, but now I’m curious about whether religion influences any aspects of her work and survival.

Thanks for your insight!

-Emma

Case study: Surviving in the Siberian Wilderness for 40 Years

Prompt:

Outline the case study (who, what, where, when, why, how). Identify the research techniques being employed - to the best of your ability at this point in the term. Determine the invisible backpack of the documentary filmmaker – as best you can. Comment on whether this is directly identified or somehow noted in the film. Describe some key ethics considerations that were made in the production of this film and how they might have been addressed.

If you were given the same opportunity (to both research the family and to communicate your findings to a larger audience of peers), how would you approach this research assignment? Outline your own identity and “who” you are as a student researcher approaching this topic. What are some key ethical considerations you might have and how might you address them?

This 2013 documentary, created by VICE and sponsored by the North Face, follows the story of Agafia Lykov, a 70 year old woman who has lived in the Siberian Taiga in central Russia her whole life. Completely isolated at a 160 km trek from the nearest settlement, she is the last living member of her family. Agafia survives off the land alongside her neighbour, Yerofei, who came to live with Agafia. In 1936, Agafia’s family fled to the wilderness to avoid religious persecution. At the time, “old believers,” a strict Orthodox Christian subset, were being killed for their beliefs. Agafia was born in 1944. The Lykov family survived in the wilderness for many years under harsh conditions, often with little food. After the family was found by a group of geologists, three of the eldest sisters died of pneumonia. Today, Agafia survives off the land, is completely self-sufficient, and even cares for another disabled individual.

Based on the levels of theory and methods of research that were discussed in class, I believe that this study follows a microsocial level of theory using a qualitative approach. The use of only one individual in one context, as opposed to comparing and contrasting other groups' lifestyles and norms, creates a small scope of research and aligns with the microsocial level of theory. The study is also qualitative, because it follows experiences and feelings of an individual instead of tracking numerical data. It focuses on Agafia’s thoughts, beliefs, and subjective experiences collected in interviews as opposed to statistics.

The concept of the invisible backpack is not addressed in this documentary. It seemed to me as though the filmmakers carried quite a bit of material in their invisible backpacks. It was mentioned multiple times throughout the film that Agafia (or in the past, members of her family) frequently become ill whenever exposed to other people, for example, the geologists that found her family that brought her sisters pneumonia, or the illnesses she contracted when she visited the city. The filmmakers have the privilege of easily accessible healthcare and strengthened immune systems, which is a privilege that Agafia does not share and might make her weary of her visitors. Another advantage the filmmakers have in their invisible backpacks is the sponsor from the North Face. Access to expensive, high-quality technology and materials separates them from the subject of the documentary, because Agafia does not have money, which could make her feel threatened, confused, and separate her from them. In addition to this, they have the privilege of understanding technology. Agafia has spent her whole life isolated without electricity, and thereby television, phones, internet, etc. She is put at an inherent disadvantage because she may not fully understand the ways she is being documented, and how and where this information might be distributed. Another factor is that the crew is exclusively male. When discussing sensitive topics like Agafia’s neighbour forcing himself on her, it might be intimidating for her to discuss, especially in an isolated environment with only men around. Being the only woman in a completely isolated environment, with guests who physically cannot leave for several days (and taking into consideration her implied past experience of sexual assault and intimidation from Yerofiei), power imbalance may have struck between herself and the others. It is yet another factor that separates them from her, putting them at an unspoken advantage that may compromise her feeling of safety.

There were many ethics considerations– or lack thereof– that bothered me in the video. The first is the language barrier. A translator was used, but between languages, things can often become lost in translation, including the inflection or implications of a question or statement. There was no testament to whether Agafia was fully informed about her rights, for example. Another consideration is that Agafia may have a smaller understanding of how far modern technology has come than the filmmakers. It was not stated if she was aware of what the material might be used for, who can see it, or where it might end up. Now that it is on the internet (ex. YouTube), it is likely that this information will be accessible forever, and it would be nearly impossible for her to withdraw consent for this footage to be used. Is she aware that this information is permanently accessible to the world? Additionally, there may have been a form of coercion. When the filmmakers brought her the animals she needed at the start of the documentary, it is unclear whether Agafia was aware that these gifts were not conditional to her participation. I want to say that while it is very possible that these ethical issues may have been properly addressed with Agafia, they were not exclusively mentioned in the documentary.

If I were to conduct this study as a student researcher, I would have stayed with Agafia longer to allow her to become more familiar and comfortable with the situation. Some ethical issues I would take into consideration is making the knowledge of her rights in the study constantly known: for example that she can withdraw consent without repercussion. I would also make sure she was aware who could access this information and do my best to explain to her how and where it would be available. I would conduct the study at a time where it may be easier to leave (and allow her to withdraw consent). In my research, instead of focusing on her past, I would focus on her present way of life: does she hunt or trap? How does she preserve food? How does she maintain her infrastructure? How does she conduct her day-to-day life? I would focus on her favourite and least favourite parts of living there, and ask about the challenges she faces. I would want to participate in her traditions and customs for a longer period of time, in order to better understand how she manages, instead of dropping in for a very short period of time and only catching a glimpse of her life.

References:

Vice. (2013). Surviving in the Siberian Wilderness for 70 Years (Full Length) [Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt2AYafET68

sick-not-tired

Being Wrong

From the ages of 5-17, I put my heart and soul into every single project I was given. Once I had a question, I just had to know the answer. I would spend hours in the library with my mom, or days using my dad’s work desktop to gather as much information as I could. I was obsessed with learning, with knowing more, and with being right. Early on, I found out that not every source was a good one, and I wanted to learn how to spot the ones worth using. When I was in grade 5, my social studies teacher informed me that to be completely sure that information was correct, I had to look only in physical books. I learned eventually that this was not true, because if a book is old enough, its information is outdated to the point of being almost useless. In the years to come I would learn about the peer-review process and familiarize myself with more reputable journals and news outlets, but I would also find that the use of these tools I had been given, required me to cast a wide net and be prepared to be embarrassingly and repeatedly wrong.

When it came time to apply for university programs, there was no question in my mind what I would do. From a very early age, my obsession with learning meant I was good at science, specifically biology. I was miles ahead of my class, and my teachers loved me. I coveted that feeling of academic superiority so much, I believed that I would devote my life to it. I applied to the Molecular Biology program at the University of Guelph. I didn’t get in.

I went into a tailspin. I had spent my whole life so focused on academic success that even when I got into my backup school, and made plans to attend, I couldn’t refocus. The cracks in the plans I had made for the future were starting to show, and they would only grow larger. Fall semester was a tornado of dropped classes, failed tests, and missed labs. My time in the sun was officially over, and from there I had to figure out what was left. In an effort to avoid figuring it out, I spent every weekend that winter walking and hiking, totally alone. Being outdoors was my new escape.

One weekend in January, the city put out a winter storm warning, and I was trapped inside. In an effort to keep up my escapism, I decided to scroll through an “outdoor jobs” column, fantasizing about an alternate reality where I had moved to Vancouver or Banff to work, foregoing university completely. At some point in this trance, I noticed that every job that appealed to me required an Outdoor Recreation or Adventure Education degree. I applied to transfer to Lakehead University less than 2 weeks later.

In the past year and a half, I have learned that it isn’t embarrassing to be wrong. To learn anything worth learning, you need to admit that you don’t know everything yet. By looking in every direction, especially ones that you disagree with, you gain perspective. I spent so long only looking in one direction, being terrified to admit that I was wrong, that by the time I inevitably had to admit it, I had wasted almost 8 months of my life. In research, like in life, pushing forward with these metaphorical blinders on, can make it impossible to see when you are wrong, and make recovery so much harder when you do see it.

Allow yourself to be wrong.

evsoutd2511

Hey Morgan! I really liked your post, and strongly relate to the part where you talked about coming out of high school feeling like you knew everything and could take on any academic challenge school could throw at you! I had a similar experience. I went through two years in a different program hoping it would just take some time to adjust and that I would learn to love it. That wasn’t the case, and like you, when my plans didn’t pan out like I thought, I was in a panic. It took a while to learn that its okay to be on the wrong path and adjust how I’m doing things to get where I want to go. I also relate to the part where you mention that you were always told reliable information can only come from physical books. I was always taught that too, and it freaked me out when I started finding some mistakes in my grade 8 math textbook. It was a really big eye-opener for me (and threw me for a bit of a loop): if I couldn’t trust books, then what could I trust? In the end though, I’m only human, and so are the people I’m getting my information from. All in all, it’s okay to make mistakes, even if it’s in our academics: it’s so easy to get swept up in the competitiveness against fellow academics in our education, but even when information comes from reliable sources (like books and peer reviewed articles), people make mistakes and even though it’s hard to accept sometimes, that’s okay!

-Emma

Why I’m here & how I learn

Prompt: Firstly, what has drawn you to this academic program? Secondly, as a consumer of knowledge, who do you rely upon for information? Consider perhaps three or more "sources". How do you ensure this information is reliable? How does this relate to this program?Please review the rubric and course outline to ensure you are satisfying all the requirements of both the original posts and responses.

There were quite a few factors that drew me to ORPT. I started in Kinesiology here at Lakehead, and after 2 years I was finding it very difficult to engage with the content– I just wasn’t interested in what I was learning anymore. When applying for co-ops, I realized I didn’t want to do any of these jobs I was applying to for the summer, let alone the rest of my life. I thought a bit about what my interests really are, what I want to do, and what makes me happy. I grew up here in Thunder Bay with pretty outdoorsy and active parents who love skiing, biking, travelling, swimming, hiking, and pretty much anything else you can think of. I also have some family and friends who came through the outdoor rec program and absolutely loved it. My friends across various programs were always talking about how much they loved school, and I never really understood how; I simply hated it, and realized it might be because I just wasn’t passionate about what I was studying. After a couple of days of thinking (and one really intense, deal-breaking Kin exam), I switched my major to ORPT and Natural Science. Since switching my major, I find it so much easier to stay motivated and engaged with what I’m learning now that I’m passionate and interested in what I’m doing.

Between ORPT and Kinesiology, I find that my experience consuming knowledge in ORPT so far tends to be more subjective and personal–but that doesn’t mean the knowledge shouldn’t come from reliable sources. As a consumer of knowledge, I try to avoid any kind of personal blogs or sources where information can easily be altered, manipulated, or made up. As we all know, the internet makes it very easy for people to post whatever they want about anything they want. While social media can be a good source of various opinions, storytelling, and entertainment, it is nearly impossible to filter what is true and what isn’t.

This can make even subjective experiences unreliable. Therefore, when doing research, I stick to more reputable sources. Since high school, I have been taught to use only peer-reviewed articles and scholarly journals, as they are more likely to be factual and reliable. I typically start with the Lakehead University Library website, where I can sometimes find hundreds of scholarly articles and published books specific to what I’m researching. This database contains journals and articles written and reviewed by people who have received formal education and usually conducted their own research about the subject, and are experts in their field.

For more subjective information specific to my areas of study, I look at publications from organizations related to my field: sources such as Ducks Unlimited, Ontario Federation of Hunters and Anglers, and National Geographic provide firsthand accounts of field experts who witness and study environmental issues and events firsthand.

I also use the Thunder Bay Public Library website, where I search in peer reviewed journals and articles. I look for papers that are peer reviewed and published by reputable sources, like universities. I try to avoid newspaper articles, as the writer or publisher can sometimes hold a bias and are often not written by experts. Information in news can also be altered or re-worded before printing and may only scratch the surface of a research study.

I find that as long as I know the sources I learn from are reputable, it is easy to apply my knowledge to my own experiences and adventures.

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Emma