Spurious Correlations

Spurious Correlations Ó 1996, 1997 by William C. Burns
The analysis of human resources data typically involves the use of computer databases that were constructed to process transactions. Their purpose normally centers on administration and recordkeeping. Thus the variables that are available for analysis are not necessarily the ones that would be chosen as the ideal set of variables given the purposes of the analysis. A side effect is that in many cases critical analysis variables may be missing. This can lead to "spurious correlations," a common and serious interpretation fallacy. For example, suppose that the critical variable is correlated with race, age, or gender. Thus any other variable that correlates with the critical variable will probably also be correlated with race, age, or gender. These correlations are spurious because their primary cause is the missing critical variable. Nonetheless these spurious correlations are at times used as indicators of discrimination. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the widespread occurrence of spurious correlations.
 My favorite example is to do the following:

1. Get data on all the fires in San Francisco for the last ten years.
2. Correlate the number of fire engines at each fire and the damages in dollars at each fire.

 Note the significant relationship between number of fire engines and the amount of damage. Conclude that fire engines cause the damage.
 The reason that I like this example is that the conclusion is so absurd. Anyone will quickly recognize that both variables result from and are correlated with the overall size of the fire. However, many spurious correlations do not seem absurd and some seem compelling.

Development Support Communication: DSC

The practice of Development Support Communication, DSC, is a multi-sectoral process of information sharing about development agendas and planned actions. It links planners, beneficiaries and implementers of development action, including the donor community. It obligates planners and implementers to provide clear, explicit and intelligible data and information about their goals and roles in development, and explicitly provides opportunities for beneficiaries to participate in shaping development outcomes. It ensures that the donor community is kept constantly aware of the achievements and constraints of development efforts in the field.

Development Support Communication makes use of all available structures and means of information sharing. Therefore it is not limited to mass media alone. It also uses both formal group and non-formal channels of communication, such as women’s and youth associations, as well as places where people gather.... markets, churches, festivals, and meetings. But its contribution is in using these in a systemic, continuous, co-ordinated and planned manner, to perform linkage and enabling functions. It requires analysis of the communication environment, of the available and needed communication competencies and resources (hardware, software, financial and human), and clearly indicates expected results from specific resource inputs, so as to maintain accountability.

Write a short note on Opinion Leaders

Opinion Leaders are the individuals in a community where people go for information and advice. They are fully access to mass media and much of the information  reaches the general public through them. As "gatekeepers", they filter the media message during communication. As "interpreters", they interpret the message obtained from media to the people; and as "influential", influence the public by passing on thier own opinion along with the message.

According to Rogers, Opinion leadership is the degree to which an individual is able to influence other individual's attitudes to overt behaviour informally in a desired way with relative frequency."

In the traditional Meetei family, grandfathers or grandmothers are regarded as Opinion leaders. During King's rule, maichous or priest are opinion leaders, where people seek advise on different topics.

(Source - Internet)

Write a short note on Photography

Photography is an important tool in the hands of a journalist. A photograph gives a vivid and comprehensive account  of an object, event or situation. The communication through photograph is visual, and as such the comprehension of information by the audience is easy and even an illiterate can get it.

Photographs are used  not only for highlighting the news, but also to make features and articles more informative and interesting. This also makes investigative journalism more authentic by providing evidence of the facts. A picture is worth a thousand words. This old saying will continue to be true. 

What is News Ombudsman?

A News Ombudsman receives ad investigates complaints from newspaper readers or listeners or viewers of radio and television about accuracy, fairness, balance and good taste in news coverage. He or she recommends appropriate remedies or responses to correct or clarify news reports. The first newspaper  ombudsman in the US was appointed in June 1967 to act for readers of The Courier-Journal and The Louisville Times.

Organisation of News Ombudsmen (ONO) was founded in 1980. This organisation includes approximately 100 experienced jouranlists around the world. No two ombudsmen work exactly alike. However, they monitor news and feature columns, photography and other graphic materials for fairness, accuracy and balance. They investigate and reply to comments and complaints concerning published or broadcast news and feature material. They  obtain explaination from editors and other staff members for readers, viewers or listeners.
In India, The Hindu is having news ombudsman and writes regularly for the readers, following the media ethics.

(Source - Internet)

Explain the Social Responsibility Theory

According to this theory, although the press has a right to criticise government and other institutions  it also has a social responsibility to preserve democracy by properly informing the public and by responding to society's interests and needs. It is more important for citizens to have the right of access to information than it is for the press to achieve complete freedom of speech.

Main principles of this theory are
a) Media should accept and fulfill certain obligations to society by setting high or professional standards of truth, accuracy, objectivity and balance etc.
b) In accepting and applying these obligations, media should be self regulating within the framework of law and established institutions.
Journalist and media professionals should be accountable to society as well as to employers.

(Source - Internet)

Write a short note on Yellow Journalism

Yellow journalism is the use of lurid features and sensationalized news in  a print  or electronic media to attract readers and increase circulation. The term was used for the first time in 1890s to describe the tactics employed in furious competition between two New York City newspapers, the "World" and the "Journal".

Joesph Putlizer had purchased the New York World in 1883 and using colourful, sensational reporting and crusades against political corruption and social injustice, had own the largest circulation in the country. However, his circulation was challenged in 1895, when William Randolph Hearst, bought the rival "Journal". He then, began to challenge Joesph's newspaper in sensationalism, crusades and Sunday features.

Generally speaking, Yellow journalism is known as that type of journalism which is sensationalism, distorted and lacks credibility.

(Source - Internet)

Describe the importance of Sound in Film making.

The three aspects of sound we perceive are:
- Loudness
- Pitch
- Timbre

As fundamental components of film sound, loudness, pitch and timbre interact to define the overall sonic texture of a film. At the most basic level, these three acoustic factors enable us to distinguish the various sounds in film. For example, these qualities enable us to recognize different characters' voices.

The rhythm, melody, harmony and instrumentation of the music can strongly affect the viewer’s emotional reactions. Also, a melody, musical phrase or sound effect can be associated with a particular character, setting, situation or idea creating a sound motif.

By reordering and varying sound motifs , the filmmaker can compare scenes, trace patterns of development, and suggest implicit meanings. A musical score can create, develop, and associate motifs that enter into the film’s overall form.

Sound guides the viewer’s attention. Normally, this means clarifying and simplifying the sound track so that important material stands out. Dialogue , the transmitter of story information, is usually recorded and reproduced for maximum clarity.

How many Camera shots are there in Film making?

There are Seven Basic Moving Camera Shots:
- Panning shots (swish pans)
- Tilts
- Dolly Shots (Trucking, Tracking, Pull-backs)
- Handheld Shots
- Crane Shots
- Zoom Shots
- Aerial Shots 

Explain the difference between Mainstream and Parallel Cinema.

Mainstream Cinema is also known as Commercial cinema or Popular cinema and concentrates on the entertainment needs of the masses.  Cinema in India is in itself a diverse strand of expression incorporating mainstream cinema which holds popular appeal, art or parallel cinema that engages with social issues, middle cinema and regional language cinema. Mainstream or popular Hindi cinema is also better known as "Bollywood" because such cinema is seen to exercise widespread influence over people and enjoys mass appeal. Popular cinema and culture derive from each other. Films are believed to be the opium of the Indian masses as people rely on this medium to help them escape to a world of fantasy. In a bid to reach the masses, mainstream cinema has become melodramatic and rhetorical. The presentation of extremes has been common.

However, to a certain extent Mainstream Cinema are films that are distributed to movie theaters which give these films worldwide releases. The definition of a mainstream Cinema can vary by country. For example, a mainstream Cinema from China wouldn't be considered a mainstream film in India. But from a global perspective, mainstream Cinema could be defined as Hollywood films, because it is these films which make up the majority of the most widely distributed films in the world. This makes Hollywood films the worldwide mainstream.

Parallel Cinema is a film movement in Indian cinema that originated in the Bengal in the 1950's as an alternative to the mainstream commercial Indian cinema, represented especially by popular Hindi cinema, known today as Bollywood. The Parallel Cinema movement began to take shape from the late 1940s to the 1960s, by pioneers such as Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, Bimal Roy, Mrinal Sen, Tapan Sinha, Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, Chetan Anand, Guru Dutt and V. Shantaram. This period is considered part of the 'Golden Age' of Indian cinema.

The Parallel Cinema concentrates on contemporary socio-political problems of the country. These films are made for the elite audiences and they are expected to change their thought processes. Mostly, there are no idols or stars in the art movie. There are only ideas that shake the minds of the viewer.

Examples of Mainstream Cinema in India are - Sholay, Zanzeer, Don, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Devdas, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Dil to Pagal hain, Kuch Kuch Hota Hain, Kabhi Khusi Kabhi Gham, Doom 3, Krrish 3 etc.

Examples of Parallel Cinema in India are - Do Bhiga Zamin, Pather Panchali, Salam Bombay, Sati, Welcome to Sajjanpur, Chandni Baar, Lakshmi,Ishanou, Leibaklei etc.

(Source - Internet)