Blog 10: Self Reflection

1. How do you think you are doing so far in your senior project and why?  P, AP, CR, or NC
With my senior project, thus far, I think I am doing fairly well. Personally, I believe I am doing AE work for various reasons. First off, my research has been extensive and relevant, I have had great interviews (in total 4), and have turned in everything on time (except one interview deadline), all even though I switched my topics twice this year. Also, I have received AEs and Ps on all my work in reference to my senior project thus far.
2. What one thing do you think you have done well on and why?
One thing in particular that I believe I have done well on is my research. I have learned so much from my research in the past couple months from various sources such as websites, news articles, books, and interviews. Personally I believe that the most important part of the senior project is the research because it is the basis for all of the other components and it is a part that I believe I have excelled at. 
3. What is one thing you would like to improve on and why?  
One thing I would like to improve on would be my service learning. I really would like to have more hours not only for a better grade, but also because I want to gain more experience on my topic. So far I only have 8 hours working at the Poly Post newspaper, however, I plan to gain more hours through doing service learning with the Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper and going with her to seek stories during winter break such as at basketball games and such for the paper's website. Not only will this help me in terms of hours, but also in getting out of the office type work that is required in journalism and getting myself immersed in the action of journalism; getting stories on the 'streets'. 

Blog 9: Science Fair Proposal

REDONE
As of: December 8th, 2011
1. What is your hypothesis?

If a journalist has been in the business for over ten years, then their income will range from $60,000 to $75,000.
2. Identify the dependent (produced), independent (manipulated) and control variables in your hypothesis.

Dependent Variable(s): Income

Independent Variable(s): Experience in terms of years in business

Control Variable(s): Journalists in the United States
3. What is the connection between your science fair project and your senior project EQ?

My senior project EQ is about success and what is most important to gain success in journalism. My science fair project is about measuring success by using income as a measure of success.
4. How will you perform the experiment?  Include the equipment you plan on using.
Materials
-Computer/Laptop
-Internet Access
-Email address ( specifically for this experiment)
-Survey
-100+ journalists with various experience levels, income levels, and employers

*I will produce a survey asking the following questions: (I will produce the full survey script within 24 hours): 
1) How long have you been in the journalism field? (Ex: College graduation to date)
   a. 0-5 years
   b. 6-10 years
   c. 11-15 years
   d. 16-20 years
   e. 21+ years
2) What is your approximate current income per year?
   a. Under $20,000
   b. $20,000-$40,000
   c. $41,000-$60,000
   d. $61,000-$80,000
   e. $81,000-$100,000
   f. Over $101,000
3) How would you describe your current employer?
  a. Freelance Journalism
  b. Magazine or Journal
  c. Newspaper (Local or National)
  d. News Agency
  e. Other
*I will contact various magazines, publications, and employers to journalists by using the Internet/magazines.
*I will email the EXACT SAME survey to AT LEAST 100 journalists from various income levels, experience levels, and employers.
*I will take this data and create a graph to compare the relationship between experience level and range of income for journalists. 
*In addition, I will research data from the U.S. Census Bureau on the recorded income of journalists in the United States and compare my gathered data with the U.S. Census Bureau data. 
5. Which category will your project be listed under? 
Behavioral/Social Science