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Grey Matters: A mobile application that questions confirmation biases by allowing you to facilitate objectivity in your news consumption.
Reducing Bias in Indian News
Grey Matters: A mobile application that addresses biases instigated by mass media in India, by nudging users to consume news with more objectivity.
WHAT
Final Year Thesis for M.S. Strategic Design & Management, Parsons
The objective of this project is to understand the impact of mass media on individuals' belief systems. The thesis delves into the abstract nature of mental models (biases), by examining the process through which biases are developed. It explores the underlying motivations that drive consumers to select one news source over another.
WHEN
August 2020 - May 2021
WHERE
Parsons School of Design
ROLE
Independent Project
Design Researcher
Design Strategist
UX Designer
ADVISOR
Jerome Goh
INDEX (Interactive)
2.1 Research Objective
2.2 Stakeholder Map
2.3 Information Journey Map
2.4 Design Workshop
2.5 Qualitative Interviews
3. Sense-Making
3.1 Affinity Mapping
3.2 Systems Map
3.3 Persona Generation
3.4 Stakeholder Journey Map
3.5 Research in Brief
4. Brainstorming
4.1 Competitive Analysis
4.2 Defining Parameters
4.3 Defining Success
5. Building and Testing
5.1 Information Architecture
5.2 Prototype 1
5.3 Usability Test
6. Scope
6.1 Business Case
6.2 Conclusion
CONTEXT
Let us travel back to 2019...
India was in a state of despair!
Citizens, by the thousands, protested on the streets of my country, chanting war cries fueled by resentment and rage.
We are a nation divided by our diversity...
We are a nation that is angry about our differences...
Unfortunately, our political, social, and educational systems kept this divide alive!
The spread of this anger was greatly influenced (at times instigated) by
BIASED NEWS MEDIA
SECTION 2: RESEARCH
Before there was News, there was:
Understand the interconnection and nuances of the formation of mental models. How do they play a role in systemic brainwashing/propaganda in politics?
This section is about how I arrived at a more directed approach to a large, systemic issue.
My approach is to shift between macro and micro views when required. To explore the possibilities with a divergent perspective, and tangibly move towards a solution with a convergent perspective.
2.1 DEFINING THE RESEARCH OBJECTIVE (Converging)
CHALLENGE:
- Wicked Problem: Propaganda is complex and deepseeded.
- Defies easy quantification.
GOAL:
- Macro to Micro View
- Narrow the scope of the original research question.
APPROACH:
- How might we (tangible solution) so that (measurable impact).
Source: Jobs to be Done, Jim Kalbach
How might we
facilitate objectivity in the consumption and delivery of news
to reduce ideological gaps among consumers?
tangible solution
measurable impact
SUCCESSFUL CONVERGENT PIVOT
Mental Models > Political Propaganda > Mass Media > News
Reducing Bias in News > Facilitate Objectivity in Consumption
2.2 STAKEHOLDER MAP (Diverging)
TAKEAWAYS:
- There is a correlation between consumer demographics (age group) and which format they choose to get their news.
- There are a high number of stakeholders that collect, use, and are influenced by consumer data analysis.
NEXT STEP:
- How does information flow between these stakeholders?
- What are the interdependencies within these stakeholders?
2.3 JOURNEY MAP - HOW NEWS FLOWS (Diverging)
GOAL:
- Journey Map the flow of information to find opportunities and gaps in the system.
SHOULD HAVES:
- Front and back-stage processes of News production and delivery.
- Consumers' news habits and behaviors.
- Underlying factors that influence the delivery of news.
TAKEAWAYS:
- Advertisers and Algorithms play a major role in which news is delivered.
- Consumers validating their opinions through "Consumer Reactions", with like-minded individuals, is a major factor for reinforcement of ideologies.
- Bias in news delivery depends on long-format or short-format news (newspapers vs social media)
QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED:
- Which demographic of consumers depends on social media news?
- How do they verify the information they gather? How do they avoid bias?
2.4 DESIGN WORKSHOP (Diverging)
VALIDATE:
- Is there a correlation between age demographic and format of news consumption?
- What are the factors for the consumption of short-format information?
WORKSHOP PARTICIPANT DEMOGRAPHIC:
- Undergrad Students, Aged 19-20
- Inquisitive, Well-Informed, Trusting
- Use various social media and digital platforms for gathering information.
WORKSHOP GOAL:
- What is the motivation to consume information?
- How do they trust it and make it their own?
- What format do they like to receive their news?
WORKSHOP TAKEAWAYS
- Information gathering is completely through digital platforms. Constant and haphazard.
- Lack of faith in information sources, leading to confusion.
- There is a sense of disengagement from the news, leading to belittling of major problems.
- Motivation for consuming news is "to not look stupid".
2.5 QUALITATIVE INTERVIEWS (Diverging)
APPROACH TO RECRUIT PARTICIPANTS
Interviewees were strategically recruited to represent several aspects of the news consumer spectrum.
MATRIX 1
MATRIX 2
MATRIX 1
MATRIX 2
KEY INTERVIEW GOAL:
- What is their thought process when consuming news that does not align with pre-conceived biases?
- In their subjective opinion, do they consume news objectively?
SECTION 3: SENSE-MAKING
Before there was News, there was:
Understand the interconnection and nuances of the formation of mental models. How do they play a role in systemic brainwashing/propaganda in politics?
This section is about how I arrived at a more directed approach to a large, systemic issue.
My approach is to shift between macro and micro views when required. To explore the possibilities with a divergent perspective, and tangibly move towards a solution with a convergent perspective.
BIASES:
Political | Social | Cultural | Behavioral
Understand interconnections and nuances of the formation of mental models?
How do biases affect one’s actions?
Would the ability to recognize one’s biases change behaviors and actions?
POLITICAL PROPAGANDA:
Education | Mass Media | Marketing
How might we recognize and highlight the methods of political propaganda, and it's influence on mental models of the masses such that it is easily recognizable and effortlessly resisted?
Qualitative Research and Analysis - Overview
Research Process
The research was divided into two parts: news delivery and news consumption.
The study showed news providers' liabilities and strengths, and motivations for media houses to deliver the news the way they do. News consumption patterns were studied to understand the choices consumers make to pick their trusted source of news. How does a consumer judge the trustworthiness of a news platform?
How do consumers take in the news, process the news, and make it their own?
Affinity Mapping - Stakeholder & Expert Interviews
Eco-systems map of Indian news media: understanding aspects of information consumption.
Design Workshop
Studying Information Consumption
- Everything I can talk about endlessly. - Where did I receive that information? How do I share it?
- What are some things I would like to know about? - Where would I find that information from?
- Everything I can talk about endlessly. - Where did I receive that information? How do I share it?
Insights: News Delivery
Aggressive Language
News delivery became more aggressive, demeanor became unprofessional, language became more discriminatory.
Commercialization
Commercialization leads to media houses that cater to certain stakeholders, while the needs of the minority are ignored.
Biased News
Providing the viewers biased news pieces which they want, instead of news that they need.
Insights: News Consumption
Confirming Biases
Consumers only watch the news to confirm their biases and not to informing themselves of current situations.
Lack of Faith
Lack of faith in news media leads to extreme confusion about what the facts are and what is manipulation.
Social Media News
Consumption through social media leads to opinions being formed through incomplete information.
EcoSystem Map
Landscape Analysis
Click on the list of organizations to interact with the map.
Market Trend
Most competitors' primary focus is on news delivery: Fact-checking and rating the accuracy of news.
Market Gap
There are no news sources focused on how users consume news, and how that can be more objective.
What does success look like?
"Maybe there is another side of the story I should know about!"
Design Solution
an app that nudges users to consume
news with more objectivity
2-minutes over-view
Key Features
Analyze Consumption Habits
The app collects data on the type of news you consume, to provide valuable insights to create opportunities for self reflection.
Bias Patterns
Analyzes delivery and language of news providers to find patterns in their handling of similar topics
News in Brief
Breaks down a complex conversation into simple, objective and succinct pieces of news.
Value Proposition
Open Conversations
News delivery became more aggressive, demeanor became unprofessional, language became more discriminatory.
Transparency
Commercialization leads to media houses that cater to certain stakeholders, while the needs of the minority are ignored.
