BCM212: My Chosen Research Topic & Statement of Position

In the process of brainstorming ideas for my research topic, I asked myself the following questions:

• What is an issue that affects me personally?
• Is it timely?
• Is it relevant?

Based on these cues, I narrowed my topic ideas down to three key research questions (available here). After receiving advice and feedback from my peers, I was able to make my decision and settle on a research idea.

“Has the emergence of AI technologies impacted the career ambitions and anxieties of students in creative industries”

Artificial Intelligence is a relatively new concept that has skyrocketed in relevance within the last few months. With new technologies emerging constantly, the capabilities/possibilities of AI has caused a significant shift in my attitude towards my future as a student in a creative industry.

After speaking with a few of my peers, I learned that I am not alone in having these anxieties. Based on my preliminary research, I have found that students in my class also see the emergence of AI technologies as a threat to their future job prospects. They have fears that AI may be able to automate human tasks they wished to pursue – such as creating music, art, and written content. Despite this, I also had the opportunity to speak with other BCM212 students who believe AI technologies may provide an opportunity to enhance their creativity.

Based on this information, I can conclude that this research topic will definitely be interesting to learn more about. It is relevant to me, my peers and is timely in the sense that the concept is relatively new.

Statement of Position

As discussed above, I have decided to focus my research on the emergence of AI technologies, and how this has impacted the career ambitions and anxieties of students in creative industries.

As a student pursuing a Bachelor of Communication and Media (BCM), I approach my research on this topic from a personal perspective. Having spent years aspiring to work in a creative industry, I have dedicated significant time to studying and gaining experience in various fields such as radio presenting, writing, and video production. However, with the emergence of AI technologies, I fear that my efforts may have been in vain.

Taking a rational approach, I acknowledge that this is not a truth, but rather a feeling I have. My research will focus on these feelings (not on whether AI is or isn’t a threat) and aim to explore the extent to which BCM212 students share these emotions with regard to their career ambitions.

CHANGE OF TITLE

My original title: “Has the emergence of AI technologies impacted the career ambitions and anxieties of students in creative industries”

However, based on what I have learnt in class this week, I have decided to iterate my research topic to answer a small, specific question (find one aspect to narrow-down my research).

My updated research title: “Has the emergence of AI technologies impacted the career ambitions and anxieties of BCM212 students?”

Whilst narrowing my topic to BCM212 students, my research will still collect a wide range of data since students don’t all share the same career ambitions.