Hobbs and Grafe (2015) argue in their article “YouTube pranking across cultures” that “culture shapes and influences our communication behavior in variety of social contexts” (Hobbs & Grafe, 2015, para. Introduction). In order to investigate the cultural differences between USA and Germany, the authors conducted a study of YouTube prank videos. This essay presents a critical analysis of the aspects of structure, methodology, evidence, research results and conclusion of the article “YouTube pranking across cultures” (Hobbs & Grafe, 2015). The outcome of this evaluation shows that the first half of the article causes in large parts irritation and confusion among the reader, due to its inconsistent structure and unclear methodology. The study
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Hobbs and Grafe directed a detailed research of almost 200 YouTube videos to understand the cultural differences between Germany and the USA in terms of video pranking, (2015, para. Research process). The research process is clearly depicted in the article and, in contrast to the first part of it, straight forward organized. When turning to the result of the study, the authors maintain the clear pattern of writing, despite of large and comprehensive amount of material. In addition, their research findings confirm an existing cultural difference between the USA and the Germany in terms of video pranks (Hobbs & Grafe, 2015, para. Conclusion). There are a few surprising research results, for example, the fact that children in the USA are more often victims of pranks compare to their counterparts in Germany (Hobbs & Grafe, 2015, para. Conclusion). This outcome contradicts the theory of unequal power relations between victim (high social status) and predator low social status) in prank videos (Hobbs & Grafe, 2015, para. Transgression). Regardless of a few surprising results, the results of the study leave most readers indifferent because they merely confirmed a common opinion of an existing cultural difference in terms of video pranks between these two countries (Hobbs & Grafe, 2015, para. Conclusion ). One might claim that the effort put into research stands in no relations to such unspectacular results and perhaps question the choice of the authors’
Hobbs and Grafe directed a detailed research of almost 200 YouTube videos to understand the cultural differences between Germany and the USA in terms of video pranking, (2015, para. Research process). The research process is clearly depicted in the article and, in contrast to the first part of it, straight forward organized. When turning to the result of the study, the authors maintain the clear pattern of writing, despite of large and comprehensive amount of material. In addition, their research findings confirm an existing cultural difference between the USA and the Germany in terms of video pranks (Hobbs & Grafe, 2015, para. Conclusion). There are a few surprising research results, for example, the fact that children in the USA are more often victims of pranks compare to their counterparts in Germany (Hobbs & Grafe, 2015, para. Conclusion). This outcome contradicts the theory of unequal power relations between victim (high social status) and predator low social status) in prank videos (Hobbs & Grafe, 2015, para. Transgression). Regardless of a few surprising results, the results of the study leave most readers indifferent because they merely confirmed a common opinion of an existing cultural difference in terms of video pranks between these two countries (Hobbs & Grafe, 2015, para. Conclusion ). One might claim that the effort put into research stands in no relations to such unspectacular results and perhaps question the choice of the authors’