Information and Communication Studies Research Collection
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Browsing Information and Communication Studies Research Collection by Type "Technical Report"
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- PublicationDevelopments in the Gambling Area: Emerging trends and issues supporting the development of policy and legislation in IrelandThis report provides a summary of literature which has been published on developments in gambling since 2013, in addition to an analysis of the responses from consultation with gambling industry stakeholders and experts. The aims of the report are to highlight emerging trends and developments in gambling since 2013, with a focus on the following specific areas: international legislation, gambling industry mergers, services provided to problem gamblers and gambling technology.Examination of gambling legislation internationally looked at how international legislation has been dealing with emerging issues such as online gambling, sports betting, harm reduction, problem gambling and advertising.Gambling industry mergers, which have become increasingly common in recent years, are discussed with regard to the reasons for these mergers.Services which are available both in Ireland and internationally for problem gamblers 2and those affected by problem gambling were also examined. Issues which have arisen include service providers which are funded by the gambling industry itself and the usage levels of gambling services online versus land-based gambling support services as well as a lack of support services for families affected by problem gambling.The review of technological developments in the gambling industry covers both online gambling developments and land-based technological developments. New research into the risks of both online gambling and machine based gambling as well as aspects necessary for successful use of pre-commitment systems in managing the risks associated with both are summarised. The emergence and popularity of social media and social media gaming, and how the gambling industry is embracing this technology, was a common theme in much of the literature surrounding online gambling. An important factor that is looked at is the blurring of lines between online gambling and social media games which simulate gambling. This is a continually evolving area and as such requires monitoring.
3613 - PublicationHate Track: Tracking and Monitoring Online Racist Speech(Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, 2018-11-28)
; ; The HateTrack Project is an experimental, exploratory research project that combines social, scientific and computational methods to understand online racist speech in the Irish context. The project used insights from civil society and experts in the field of race, racism and hate speech to build a computational tool that harvests and classifies Facebook and Twitter posts in terms of their probability to contain racially-loaded toxic contents. The tool is designed as a monitoring and diagnostic tool of the state of the Irish digital public sphere. While it is currently focused on racially-toxic contents, it can be scaled to other forms of hate and toxicity, such as misogyny and homophobia. Using HateTrack, we generated a dataset which was subsequently analysed in terms of the toxic repertoires it contained, the communities targeted, the kinds of people posting, and the events that trigger racially-toxic contents. Finally, we held workshops with students to identify their views on reporting racist hate speech online.541 - PublicationNetflix and Binge? Exploring New Cultures of Media ConsumptionThis study sought to identify shifts in audience media use and consumption. The study was further concerned with identifying the various ways in which thinking about audiences has shifted within policy discourses, and specifically in the EU audiovisual policy directives. The rationale behind this study was informed by the hypothesis that there is a potential disconnect between the policy and the practices of audiences. The project used a mixed methodology combining 164 weekly media diaries and 7 focus group discussions with users mostly in the 20-55 age category. YouTube and Netflix emerged as the two preferred media for video consumption, while the patterns and rhythms of this consumption followed the rhythms of everyday life and its requirements and practical limitations. The findings further identified three new or underexplored motivations for media use: instrumental, educational and aesthetic. Finally, media audiences emerge as oriented towards interpersonal, social and public media use. The main insight for policy is that audiences operate socially and not individually and that media have expanded in almost all domains of life, from work to aesthetic appreciation.
489 - PublicationPlaying Social Roulette: The Impact of Gambling on Individuals and Society in IrelandThis scholarly research study explored gambling behaviour in Ireland, specifically the issue of problem gambling and its impact on the individual, the gambler’s relationships with social connections, and the wider impact of problem gambling behaviour on community and society. The project followed an exploratory, ethnographic approach to enable participants to express themselves fully from their perspective, to facilitate in-depth understanding of gambling behaviour, and to provide a foundation for future research projects in this area. The research was conducted as four work packages, involving data collection with critical stakeholders: 1) Addiction Service Providers, 2) Gamblers, 3) Gamblers' Social Connections, and 4) the Gambling Industry. Data were collected using semi-structured, in-depth interviews. Problem gambling not only affects the individual who participates in gambling opportunities, but also that person’s family members, friends, and wider community. There are multiple areas where stakeholders' needs can be facilitated, including regulation and policy development to protect those vulnerable to negative outcomes associated with gambling. Importantly, collaboration among all stakeholders should be initiated. Findings suggest that development of a regulatory framework and a social policy framework is urgently needed. A national strategy for service provision is essential. Further research into gambling behaviour and approaches and services is urgently needed in Ireland.
3413 - PublicationSchool Libraries Survey 2019 Report(2020-12-30)
; ; ; School libraries in Ireland have not been surveyed and recorded before. As of today, there is no official or unofficial number of school libraries in Ireland and we know little about their functions and provisions in primary and post-primary schools. The School Libraries Survey was conducted in collaboration with Children’s Books Ireland (CBI) and the School Library Association of the Republic of Ireland (SLARI) as an initial step to examine the situations of school libraries in the Republic of Ireland. The survey was open from 7th February 2019 until 22nd May 2019. The call for participation was disseminated using Twitter and the collaborators’ professional networks. Invitations were also sent by email to each school listed on the Department of Education and Skills website on 27th February 2019 and 15th May 2019. A total of 1138 responses were received, including approximately 785 primary schools and 353 secondary schools.37