To broaden your understanding of the chapter, consider the following assignments related to the Internet.

1. Surveys and interviews are presented in this chapter as two important ways to gain information from others. Look at an Internet site dedicated to surveys and polling (i.e., www.gallup.com) and examine the various ways questions have been asked. Additionally, look at the various conclusions and interpretations drawn from the results of these questionnaires. Compare these results to the questionnaire results on media Internet sites, such as those from CNN (www.cnn.com) or The New York Times (www.nytimes.com) What differences and similarities in questioning can you identify between polling agencies and media companies?

2. Ethnography is explained in this chapter as a research method whereby researchers immerse themselves in the lives of their research "subjects" or participants. One example of a culture of individuals that interests some ethnographers is law enforcement. Find particular websites dedicated to law enforcement in your community and try to discover what sort of culture exists on the police force based upon the website's information. Look for particular words, images, symbols, and examples as you develop some conclusions about this cultural group.