Final answer:
Affiliation is a connection or association with an organization indicated by domain names, whereas eduPerson refers to a standard for identity management in educational institutions. They are not the same, with each serving a different purpose.
Step-by-step explanation:
No, affiliation and eduPerson are not the same thing. Affiliation refers to the formal connection or association with an organization or institution. For instance, when discussing websites, one can determine the type of affiliation based on the domain of the URL. A URL ending in .edu indicates an affiliation with a college or university; .gov signifies a government affiliation, while .org indicates a nonprofit organization. These domains are considered to be more trustworthy compared to .com domains, which are commercial in nature.
On the other hand, eduPerson is a schema - a set of definitions for attributes within directories that are used by higher education institutions for identity management. It's a standard that facilitates the exchange and management of identity information among schools, universities, and other educational organizations. While both concepts may be used within the higher education context, they serve different purposes. Affiliation can be thought of in terms of a relationship or association, whereas eduPerson deals with technical standards for identity attributes.
It's important to note that paid ambassadors or individuals with affiliations to certain brands or products may be required to disclose their relationships. This is a matter of ethics and transparency, especially in an age where online and face-to-face interactions differ significantly with regards to truthfulness. Regardless of the medium, homogenization of information, as suggested by research, indicates that news outlets tend to report similar stories with minimal variation.