Week 6: Blog on The Group Research Project

In this weeks blog I will be reflecting on how I am finding the group research project.  Having never participated in a group research process before Initially I was  daunted by the requirement to produce a research proposal.  According to Seltiz et al. research is a way of enabling people 'to search again, to take another look or to find out more' (Seltiz et al. 1976).  In respect of Selitz et al. I am looking forward to reconsidering questions and themes that interest me, as this process should allow me to develop my existing knowledge of culture and identity in relation to sexuality and the framing of identities within the media. 

As i started to 'put pen to paper' I found that a structure that had been suggested by the module leader to be helpful.  The structure allowed me to set out a plan for collecting theoretical literature to use in the research project that pertained to the specific nature of our research proposal.  The structure for the project includes the need to identify a suitable research question, explaining what research methods will be used, discussing any possible limitations of the research and developing a sound academic poster at the end of the module that supports the researches key themes.

For the purposes of the research project Kerry Williams set up a private Google plus blog site for the research team to use as a key communication tool.  I have found this helpful as it enables group members to post journal articles, website links and book recommendations that may be helpful when the group begins the analytical stage of the research process.  This private forum has become an online space where myself and other group members are able to thrash out ideas and answer each others questions (usually mine!) as we start to assemble data sets and consider the ways in which we will tackle the content analysis of the data.

I am part of a large research team, yet despite the possible limitations that this may create I am hopeful that a diverse range of knowledge will enable more proficient critical thinking when considering various theoretical standpoints.  This should allow for a more comprehensive detailing of the textual data and in turn offer a more sophisticated and comprehensive research project.

We have decided to look at the images and textual representations of heterosexuality in contemporary magazines.  This research project will hopefully serve to demonstrate that the media (printed and otherwise) plays an important role in the socialization and sexualization of girls and women.  Goffman agrees that the media plays a key role in the socialization process, including the socialization of gender roles (Goffman 1979).  According to Goffman advertisements assist in the construction of 'normative' masculinity and femininity (Goffman 1979).  I theorize that the research team will find data that supports this theoretical standpoint and look forward to looking at the magazine and scrutinizing its content in relation to sexual identities and the portrayal of women in advertisements.

Initial research has led me to understand and agree with the suggestion that portrayals of heteronormative sex are rife in contemporary magazines.  This has been evidenced by McRobbie (1996) who found positive portrayals of various sexualities in the British magazine 'More', and by Clarke (2008) who argues that magazines such as 'Cosmopolitan' proliferate 'pro-sex' images.

The research that I have undertaken so far has led me to consider the importance of other social factors that intersect with sexual identities such as intersections of age and ethnicity.  According to Barker 'researchers who analyze images of women in advertisements often take for granted....these images apply to all women. However, most women in the images they analyze are White' (Baker 2005:14).  It will be beneficial for the research group if the images are also considered in terms of how they portray ethnicity and age in order to gain a fuller understanding of representations of sexuality.  

Although we are, as sociologists in the making are supposed to remain neutral, I believe that the group's predominant identities (that as a majority tend to align with feminist though) may indeed expect the textual data to reflect our understanding of the patterns of heterosexual identity displayed in contemporary magazines.  Bryman highlights the effects that personal values can have upon social research projects.    According to Bryman 'There are....numerous points at which bias and the intrusion of values can occur' (Bryman 2001:22).  Bryman goes on to argue that as social researchers we must 'recognize and acknowledge that research cannot be value free [and]...ensure that there is no ....incursion of values in the research process and....be self-reflective' (ibid p.23).  In respect of this I will aim to keep value-judgement's at bay, and focus on drawing parallels with a selection of relevant theoretical standpoints in order to create an accurate reflection of images of sexuality within printed media. 

Overall, I think that the research project is off to a good start, and I am looking forward to getting involved with group work and discussions during the research project.  I am eager to see how the group continues to work, and will be mindful of any potential issues that may arise such as friction within the group, differing participation levels and activities within the research team.  Overall I propose that this research project will be beneficial to myself in terms of working as part of a group, and developing my existing knowledge base.