CP Prewriting #1: Exploring Topics for the CP

For this prewriting, we explored topics related to technology as potential ideas for what we would write about. Funnily enough, I actually never ended up using either one of these topics; they were interesting, but I decided on them before I understood how to use a research website. Once I understood that I was supposed to search by key words, I found a much more personal topic which I ended up writing about in my second prewriting and in my actual CP. This was a good jumping off point for knowing what to expect with researching topics.

Part 1 -- Using CQ Researcher

Topic 1: Algorithms in Online Dating

Topic 2: Expansion of DNA Databases

Part 2 -- Explore

Source 1: Mantel, Barbara. "Online Dating." CQ Researcher, 20 Mar. 2015, pp. 265-88, library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2015032000.

In this report, Mantel explores the potential repercussions of online dating, explaining its helpful and harmful factors. The specific problem is the question of whether or not these dating algorithms actually know how to pair people who are compatible. Regardless of what these dating companies claim about determining a potential partner for their users, many independent researchers are skeptical about the actual scientific and/or mathematical credibility of these algorithms. Users of popular dating apps such as Tinder, OKCupid, Match.com and many more and directly affected by this research; developers of these softwares often fail to give thorough answers as to how exactly their algorithms work to match people accordingly. As a result, it's highly debated as to whether or not these apps actually do know how to intelligently bring alike people together; some believe that these matches are nothing more than arbitrary and are no different than meeting strangers in person. However, some apps such as Tinder can be very particular about the information they ask for, and using that information, they claim to pair people up based on what the user provides. 

Source 2: Jost, Kenneth. "DNA Databases." CQ Researcher, 28 May 1999, pp. 449-72, library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1999052800.

Our individual DNA is stockpiled into various databases because of the prevalence of DNA identification nowadays, but this poses a risk of whether or not this information will fall into the wrong hands. Jost delves into the potential harms of this genetic information being used for the wrong things, such as in criminal profiling and wrongful convictions. In addition, expanding these databases can be a tricky process due to the fact that some states are backlogged on various DNA samples, and some have run into issues with inadequate funding. Whether or not to expand DNA databases is a contested idea among many civil liberties advocates due to the fact that this could lead to random investigations; they may formulate wrongful suspicions towards people irrelevant to a crime solely because of their DNA sample. These advocates have not had as much success with every state approving laws regarding DNA database expansion. Naturally, there are upsides to doing this, as it could lead to law enforcement being able to identify more criminal activity more efficiently, but it remains to be a controversial topic with how it could easily be a double-edged sword.

Part 3 -- Trace

Relevant Sources:

• Robert K. Landers, “Solving Crimes With Genetic Fingerprinting,” Editorial Research Reports, June 30, 1989, pp. 353-364.
• U.S. Department of Justice, “Convicted by Juries, Exonerated by Science: Case Studies in the Use of DNA Evidence to Establish Innocence After Trial,” 1996.
• Landry v. Attorney General, April 12, 1999.
• Debra Cassens Moss, “DNA -- The New Fingerprints,” ABA Journal, May 1, 1988, pp. 66-70.

Part 4 -- Research Assistant Program

Fig. 1. Image of my chosen research assistant program, Mendeley.

Part 5 -- What Drew You To Each Topic?

The online dating topic actually kind of amused me more than it did intrigue me, but when I read more into the report, I grew increasingly more interested in how dating apps actually worked and whether or not the A.I. knew what it was doing when it paired people together. While I personally never have had any interest in dating apps, I know some people who indulge in them from time to time and always wondered how they matched up with people like them, and if it even really worked. For the DNA databases topic, the hook immediately made me wonder where our genetic samples were going and who was handling them. I felt that the report got increasingly more fascinating as it delved into how it played a role in criminal investigations, court cases, et cetera. Reading into both of these has definitely further piqued my interest into how algorithms affect so much of our modern society.