Discussions require a response to specific questions that results in collaborative conversations and construction of knowledge that builds and expands learning within the course. You must support the Discussion postings and responses with references. No less than 250 words
View the video. http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/60-minutes-probes-data-brokers-and-online-tracking/

What role do you believe exists between “big data” and research as presented in this news report? Did you know that collecting data on your internet surfing behaviors was being monitored and analyzed?

Also respond to the two following colleagues in the following ways in at least 100 words:

ï‚· Suggest why you might see things differently.

ï‚· Ask a probing or clarifying question.

ï‚· Share an insight from having read the colleague’s posting.

ï‚· Offer and support an opinion.

ï‚· Validate an idea with your own experience.

ï‚· Make a suggestion.

ï‚· Expand on the colleague’s posting.

ï‚· Ask for evidence that supports the posting.

ï‚· Always be respectful and collegial.

(Vakiea)

The “60 Minutes Probes Data Brokers and Online Tracking” news report informs how data brokers track your online movements and sell that information to advertisers and retailers. The “60 Minutes” correspondent Steve Kroft partnered with a digital privacy expert, who showed how data research is documented and cataloged for the purpose of being bought by companies and sold to retailers. That big data research is gathered by measuring people’s behavior online, mostly a person’s browsing traffic and history. “Companies that use comprehensive Big Data analytics solutions reap the benefits, gaining even more insights that drive intelligent decision-making…which gives organizations comprehensive customer profiles, enabling the delivery of more personalized customer experiences at every touchpoint throughout the buyer’s journey.” (NG Data, 2019)

The reporter stated that how massive the big data industry is, and how most of us have no idea how much is really being revealed in the data collected. Prior to this news report, I was aware that online “cookies” store your browsing information to be used by website with the user’s acceptance. Yet, I found it shocking at the invisible side of the web, the side that allows my online data to be tracked, collected and sold…all unbeknownst to me and other web users. Furthermore, I found it bothersome that there are legal businesses who’s mission is to gather people’s browsing history to make a profit, by selling them to advertisers and retailers. In turn, those big data brokers (buyers) are given rights to people’s personal web information, and without the need of anyone’s permission since most computers allow this data collection by default.

CBS News. (2015, September 30). Retrieved from https://www.cbsnews.com/video/60-minutes-probes-data-brokers-and-online-tracking/.

NG Data. (2019, October 10). What is Big Data? Learn about Definition and Benefits. Retrieved from https://www.ngdata.com/what-is-big-data/.

(Daniel)

To answer the second questions first, yes, it is difficult not to notice how what we surf on the internet ends up influencing what information, advertisements or suggestions come our way later in our on-line activity. Not to go too far off topic, but in researching this assignment I came across a PC Magazine article on our EBSCO Gateway that argued how online privacy should be a right and not a luxury item that only people who could afford it, have access to (Eddy, 2019).

Back to the first question. In our text, Research Methodology, Kumar shares with us that “…research has multiple meanings and its precise definition varies…however, there seems to be agreement with respect to the functions it performs, that is, to find answers…” (Kumar, 2014, p. 7). IBM’s take on big data is as follows: “Big data is a term applied to data sets whose size or type is beyond the ability of traditional relational databases to capture, manage and process the data with low latency” (IBM, n.d.).

The video we were asked to watch did not necessarily paint a positive picture for ‘big data’. (CBS News, 2015). The role that exists between big data and research seems to be the attempt to answer questions, or at least gather the data to answer questions, before they are even asked. Granted there are companies out there asking specific questions or looking for specific information, however, as IBM noted above, the data sets are such that they go beyond traditional processes. As we attempt to relate this back to our text, “…research is a process for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting information to answer research questions” (Kumar, 2014, p. 10). We have data brokers, collecting data for sure, sometimes analyzing and interpreting, sometimes not. They may simply be storing information, waiting for the right questions to be asked, of which, they can they charge a fee to answer.

Big Data Analytics. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ibm.com/analytics/hadoop/big-data-analytics.

CBS News. (2015, September 30). “60 Minutes” probes data brokers and online tracking. Retrieved from https://www.cbsnews.com/video/60-minutes-probes-data-brokers-and-online-tracking/.

Eddy, M. (2019). Online Privacy Is a Right, Not a Luxury. PC Magazine, 31–35. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.cucproxy.cuchicago.edu…

Kumar, R. (2014). Research methodology: a step-by-step guide for beginners. Los Angeles: SAGE.