Instruction
1. Read the article “Determining the Role of the Internet in Violent Extremism and Terrorism: Six Suggestions for Progressing Research” by Conway (2017). You can find a PDF of this article in the Readings section of the Content tab in D2L.
2. The Conway (2017) article contains three major sections. Write a paper that addresses the following questions about these three sections:
o Section 1: State of current research on the Internet & terrorism
- What is the difference between descriptive research and explanatory research?
According to Conway, which one needs to be in place first, before the other can
happen? Why?
- Conway argues that there is a lack of descriptive research on the role of the Internet
in terrorism. Why does that lack of evidence matter?
o Section 2: Arguments for & against the Internet having a role in terrorism
- What arguments are typically made against the idea that the Internet is a powerful
force in shaping terrorism? What arguments can be made for the argument that the Internet powerfully shapes terrorism? Which perspective does Conway seem to agree with?
- What are your opinions about the role of the Internet in extremism and terrorism? Do you think that it plays a major role? Why or why not?
o Section 3: Key questions about the Internet & terrorism, and 6 ideas for studying them
- Conway suggests two fundamental questions about the role of the Internet in
terrorism that still need to be answered. What are these two questions?
- Conway then suggests six possibilities for addressing these two fundamental
questions (widen, compare, deepen, upscale, outreach, & gender). Briefly describe each of these suggestions, and what each would contribute to our understanding of the Internet’s role in terrorism.
- Of Conway’s six suggestions, which one strikes you as being the most interesting and/or productive for psychologists to pursue? Why?