study progress

Over these two couple of weeks i have been working on developing
and polishing the codebook for the study, it was a very tedious and
time consuming process. To identify the categories I had to conduct
preliminary coding. Overall, it was very interesting to actually get to read
financial blogs and see what people are writing about, and what people
are advising other people to do :) I am following some of the blogs
after that, by having signed up for RSS.
this is what I got in my codebook. I may add few more categories next week.
And most likely I will start collecting the data during the first week of april!!!


Introduction
The study will assess how the A-list personal finance bloggers use their blogs and what types of information sources they are linked to.

Definition of a blog
A blog is a web site, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. The blog may contain archives of previous posts and a blogroll (a list of links to other blogs). For the purpose of the current study, for the web site to be considered a blog it should have at least blog posts that are displayed in reverse-chronological order.

Definition of the blog post
An entry made by someone on their blog. An entry usually has a date when it was published. In some cases, it also has time when it was published, and the name of the person who produced the entry, i.e. the blogger’s name. The next entry begins with the title.

Definition of A-list personal finance blog
Financial blog is operationalized as a blog, which is devoted to discussion of the personal finance issues, is maintained by one person, and hyperlinked to from at least 60 other blogs.

General instruction for coding
The coder will be given Excel file with the links to the blog posts.

The following information will be collected while coding:
1) Title of the blog - As it appears on the home page or on the top banner of the webpage. Usually the blog title appears on every blog page. In the coding sheet write down the title of the blog. See Appendix A for an example of a blog post.

2) Date of the blog post: write as 07.23. 2006 for July 23, 2008. See the Appendix B for explanation.

3) Post number – use the number of the link to the blog post provided in the excel file. If you have multiple posts for the same date (2,3 or more) code the following way: the number for the link in the Excel file is 1, you follow the link and see 3 entries for the same date – code each post on a separate sheet, use 1a, 1b, 1c, for the multiple entries. For each post code do not forget to include blog title and date of the blog post.

4) Title of the blog post. Each blog post should have a title, it is usually at the beginning of the post. DO NOT include subheads, which may be in the post.
Making Every Dollar Count at Tax Time title of the post
Written by Guest Contributor - 3 Comments
This is a guest post from Bob Meighan, who is VP of TurboTax.
In challenging economic times, every dollar counts. While I can’t predict what the economy or market will do, I can help you identify opportunities to make sure you get the biggest tax refund possible. With less than 2 months until the filing deadline, here are my top tips for maximizing your tax deductions and tax credits.


5) Elements of blog use
Does the blog post contain any of the following elements of blog use? In the coding sheet circle all that applies.

5a. Link.
Definition of hyperlink
It is a reference or navigation element in a document to another section of the same document or to another document that may be on or part of a (different) domain. The link could be embedded, i.e. one word in the sentence will be a hyperlink. The whole sentence could act as a hyperlink.

Does the blog post have a link to another source? Do not count as a link – a permanent link to the post itself (the post you are currently coding). Usually a title of the post can be a hyperlink to the permanent link of the post itself.
Example: in this post the title of the post is a hyperlink, if you place your mouse over the title, the message will appear “a permanent link to the post,” so if you click on this hyperlink it will bring you to the permanent link of the post. DO NOT count this as a link because it does not bring us to another source, but to the post itself.
Making Every Dollar Count at Tax Time
http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2009/03/09/making-every-dollar-count-at-tax-time/ (this is the web address where the post is published permanently, a permanent link).

In the coding sheet code “1” is there is a link in the post, code “0” if there is no link in the post.
DO NOT count any links that are not in the post, like blog roll links, links to best posts, links to ads, links to the site which allow you to buy something (Amazon.com, ebay.com, etc).
Do NOT count links that ask a reader to email or share the article; links to Facebook, Digg, any bookmarking sites, twitter, or any other social networking sites.
Count ONLY the links that are in the post.

5a1: How many links are in the blog post? In the coding sheet write down the actual number.
5b. Quote.
Does the post have a quote from some other source? The quote must come from a written (published) printed or online source. For example, a quote (a piece which the blogger is taking from another source) could be a part of an article published by media organization; it could be a piece taken from a story which appears on a website (other than media organization website); it could be a piece taken from a blog post; it could be a part of the readers’ email message received by a blogger; it could be a piece taken from a print document, article or story. For example, a blogger can include a quote from a print document such as Tax regulations, etc.
A quote could be a sentence or a paragraph (2 or more paragraphs) taken from another source. Usually a blogger identifies that it is something what he took it from somewhere else. It may not have quotation marks at the beginning and at the end. The blogger can make a quote stand out by: 1) having a color background behind the quote; 2) by using a smaller font size; 3) by setting the margins for quote bigger than for the rest of the post.
Example: in this example, a blogger used a color background and set bigger margins for the quote. He also introduced the quote. As you can see, there are no quotation marks for the quote, which is not unusual for the blogs.
Here’s the answer straight from the IRS (see Topic 418 for more details): (quote begins)
Unemployment compensation is includible in gross income. You must report unemployment compensation on line 19 of Form 1040, line 13 of Form 1040A, or line 3 of Form 1040EZ (quote).
If you receive unemployment at some point during the year, you should received Form 1099-G showing how much you were paid.
Posts are given a “1” if they contain a quote from another source within the blog post.
Posts are given a “0” if they do not contain any quote from any source.

5c. Commentary
Does the post contain statements of opinion or a discussion of the blogger’s personal experiences?
Post is coded “1” if it contains any statement of the blogger’s opinion on any issue or if it describes any aspect of the blogger’s personal experiences.
Post is coded “0” if it does not contain any statement of the blogger’s opinion on any issue or if it describes any aspect of the blogger’s personal experiences.
Commentary is a descriptive account of an event or performance as it happens; explanatory notes; thoughts, observations, experiences and opinions of the blogger. For the blog entry to fit into this category, it has to include explanatory notes, thoughts, observations, experiences, and opinions related to the events that happened in the outside world and personal life.

Example: I just listened to the Arnold Kling interview at Econtalk.org. Interviewer Russ Roberts and Kling describe how Wall Street hubris got us into a mess (and all the necessary regulatory tools were there, but not adequately utilized) and how Washington hubris is likely to keep us there. We just got more Paulson ad mockery this morning.

Examples:
a) Explanatory notes: the blogger explains why something has happened or about to happen.

Citigroup was once the biggest U.S. bank. General Motors was once the biggest automaker in the world. Now, both are on the brink. Yet Citigroup is likely to be rescued within days. General Motors may not be rescued at all. Why the difference? Viewed from Wall Street, Citi is too big and important to be allowed to fail while GM is simply a big, clunky old manufacturing company that can go into chapter 11 and reorganize itself (explanatory notes)

b) The blogger provides his observations of the events.
The first thing I noticed was that Monday night (just prior to Tuesday election day), every TV station was inundated with coverage of the election (observations).
c) The blogger describes of what has happened.
The most significant trade I've executed recently was the Apple covered call strategy last week. Since opening the position, the shares have run up about 15%, while the option I sold has increased in value. Here's my reply to a recent reader question from the initial article outlining my strategy: (record of experiences).
d) The blogger provides a record of his thoughts.
I wonder how many Americans even know who succeeded Tony Blair as Prime Minister? And Switzerland's current leader? I don't even know and I consider myself to be fairly in tune with global affairs (record of thoughts).
e) The blogger provides his opinion.
I hate to be critical when the government seems to be trying its best but I just can’t help it (opinion).

5d. Request for feedback.

Does the post contain a request for readers to provide any information to the blogger?
Post is coded “1” if the blogger asks readers for feedback about a particular post (e.g., “I’d be interested to know what you think,” “what do you think?”, “share your thoughts on the subject” or “send me email.” It should sound as a direct question to the reader of the blog.
Example: What do you think about the reasons of housing bubble? Readers, share your thoughts…..


5e. Mobilize.

Does the post attempt to mobilize and encourage readers to take action?
Post is coded “0” if it does not encourage readers to take any action. Go to the question 6.
Post is coded “1” if it encourages readers to take a specific form of action (e.g. save money, open a bank account, etc.). If the blog post is coded “1,” proceed to the subcategories (1-7). Circle all that applies.
Do not put any other information, i.e. how many times the blogger referred to a certain action.

5e1. Educate yourself. For the blog entry to be defined as “educate yourself” it should encourage readers to continue formal education or do research regarding specific financial matters.
Example:
I urge you to do some research. Visit my collection of financial literacy resources and watch the video series about saving and investing. Go to the library and borrow one of these books. Research the stock market’s long-term performance.

5e2. Invest money. For the blog entry to be defined as “invest” it should encourage readers to invest in stock marker, mutual funds, bonds, securities, 401K, retirement accounts. The blog entry could tell the readers that they have to start investing now and it may have specific investment suggestions.

Example:
Start early. The younger you start investing, the more time compounding has to work in your favor, and the wealthier you can become. The next best thing to starting early is starting now. Make regular investments. Don’t be haphazard. Remain disciplined, and make saving for retirement a priority. Do whatever it takes to maximize your contributions. The stock market is not the right place for short-term investments, or for those who cannot afford to lose capital. If you’re saving for next year’s vacation, you’re better off putting your money into a high-yield savings account or a certificate of deposit.

5e3. Eliminate debt. For the blog entry to be defined as “eliminate debt” it should encourage readers to pay off credit card debt, student loans, mortgage or any other debt. The entry could have information how to design a plan of paying off your debt, how to organize your personal finances, your budget to be able to eliminate your debt. How to live debt free: to become debt free as soon as possible; carry only as much debt as you need; keep interest rates low, how to get out of debt.

Example: The next best thing to do with it is to eliminate your debt. Eliminated all credit card debt, car payments, etc. you have outstanding.

5e4. Save money. For the blog entry to be defined as “save money” it should encourage readers to save money by opening saving account, by setting aside a portion of your income to save. It could have discussion on how you could do it. Spend less than you earn; save cash; stay away from stores and you’ll spend less; do-it-yourself (don’t pay money for something you can do yourself), save up money for the emergency fund.

Example:
No matter what your age, now is the time to begin saving for retirement. Before you pay your bills, before you buy groceries, before you do anything else, set aside a portion of your income to save.

5e5. Spend money. The blog entry will have a discussion on how to spend money and on what; how to do shopping (what questions to ask when you do shopping). Buy at stores like Goodwill.

Example:
Spend the extra money to buy something that lasts; Don’t buy too much house.

This week reading

I was really impressed and schoked by the "Hazards of leaving out the users." Several thoughts crossed my mind while I was reading this piece. First, how the technology can harm people. And we are not talking about heavy trucks, or some other heavy equipment, but about simple things, like our computer which we use everyday. I wonder if there is any research on the harm of the laptops. The industry clearly exploited this idea of comfort and being able to carry your favorite comp everywhere. we don't need to have a desk to use a laptop, it was designed to be used on out lap, it is a laptop :))) But I guess all of us could assume that probably there is some kind of radiation coming from it, and how it might affect us - I wonder if there are any medical studies on that.

The same thing with the cell phones, adn hand free cell phones, a person just has a small thing attached to the ear and doesn not need to hold the phone. I think I saw some articles about health hazards of such cell phones, potential brain damage, if used excessively....

So, it is becoming more and more evident that we do rely on the technology so much, that now it almost comes back to us, like a boomerang, and we are going to experience all bad things of technology as well as good ones. There are trade-offs.... and usually it is our own health.

In terms of the organization of the workstations, I remember how in the Soviet Union schoolchildren were taught how to sit proparly at the desk, how to hold the arms and position the back so you do not become a disabled by the time you graduate.... I think that even the desks especialy for elemenatry kids were with a special angle, so it makes it easy for them to sit during a class. I don't know if this practice is still there.

Reading the article, I got an impression that we are almost trapped in the world of machinery and computers, I can hardly think of any day when I spend without working on the computer. It has become your second nature, and as a result, eye problems and all other things mentioned by the author.

The author talks a little bit about Eastern Europe. There was no such advanced technology to spy on people, but we did have similar thiings, for exmpample some of the factories had so called punch cards. So when a person came to work in the morning - he punched his card, when he left - he did the same. But i guess this system can hardly compete with computers spying on the workers. Software calculating how many minutes you worked, were away from your desk, etc. That's sounds like not a very nice place to work, without any trust or care to the employees.

In this light the Japaness companies, those which provide life term employment is a completely different case. Part of our everyday stress comes from the notion that we can lose a job any time, there is no so called job secutiry. I believe that is a huge contributing part of stress in western society.

The author talks about getting user in the process. I don't think that it is the place to start. First, management has to change its attitude to their workers, I begin to sound like neo Marxist :))) But in some cases we see how companies exploit their workers and only economic incentives will persuade them that they have to take care of their users (employees), because if they are happy - it is good for bottom line.