Evaluating the Ethics and Issues in Media Case Studies

• Main Author: Hulme, Stephen D.
• Format: Others
• Published: BYU ScholarsArchive 2012
• Subjects: Ethics and Issues in Media; Communications 300; Communications 480; Center for Teaching and Learning; CTL; Program Evaluation; Instructional Design; Formative Evaluation; Educational Psychology
• Online Access: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/3154; https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4153&context=etd

Ethics and Issues in Media is an interactive case-study software that allows communications students to make ethical decisions based on real-life case studies. The evaluation of Ethics and Issues in Media focused on whether or not Ethics and Issues in Media 1) was easy to use, 2) allowed students to make real-life ethical decisions in realistic contexts, 3) enabled students to think about ethical issues in new ways, 4) enabled students to think through and determine potential courses of action to realistic ethical issues and 5) enabled students to understand the consequences of others' ethical decisions. A focus group discussion was held with the creator of Ethics and Issues in Media and with the students who had used it. Students' comments regarding Ethics and Issues in Media were generally positive. Ethics and Issues in Media proved to be successful in the ways that it enabled students to think through ethical issues for themselves, understand the consequences of others' ethical decisions, and think about ethical issues in new ways. Some students found Ethics and Issues in Media to be difficult to navigate, and many had trouble trusting that their answers were saved or submitted properly. The students recommended that the instructor expand the number and type of case studies included in Ethics and Issues in Media. Additionally, I recommend a more thorough orientation to Ethics and Issues in Media prior to implementation as a final exam.