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Research Issues in the Study of Public Attitudes toward Ethical Problems in Television Programming.

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Title: Research Issues in the Study of Public Attitudes toward Ethical Problems in Television Programming.
Language: English
Authors: Rarick, David L., Lind, Rebecca Ann
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 26
Publication Date: 1993
Intended Audience: Researchers
Document Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Audience Response, Ethics, Models, News Reporting, Programing (Broadcast), Research Methodology, Telephone Surveys, Television Research
Geographic Terms: Minnesota
Abstract: Three empirical studies focused on viewer reactions to ethical issues in television news, and on actions audience members felt were appropriate to control possibly unethical behaviors in television broadcasting. The first study was a 12-minute telephone survey of 293 randomly selected adults in Minneapolis-St. Paul (Minnesota) in 1989 to determine public responses to ethical issues. The first study demonstrated that people can and do think about television content problem areas. In the second study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a quota sample of 34 television news viewers in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Viewers were willing and capable of speaking at length about television news issues and of analyzing three hypothetical news stories. The third study combined techniques of the first two studies to identify how viewers evaluate ethically controversial local television news content. Using random-digit dialing, 201 Minneapolis-St. Paul local television news viewers were selected for 30-minute telephone interviews and subsequent mail survey concerning their reactions to six hypothetical news stories. Three trends emerged: (1) certain criteria were much more commonly applied than others, including harm/benefits, newsworthiness, and parameters; (2) many unique criteria applied in each situation; and (3) the exact criteria differed according to the situation. A preliminary model of the process viewers use to evaluate ethical issues in television programming was developed. Findings show the usefulness of using multiple research methodologies. Future research should supplement traditional philosophical and case study analyses with empirical studies of audience response to ethical issues in the media. (Contains 36 references.) (RS)
Entry Date: 1993
Accession Number: ED358493
Database: ERIC
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  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED358493
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  Data: Research Issues in the Study of Public Attitudes toward Ethical Problems in Television Programming.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rarick%2C+David+L%2E%22">Rarick, David L.</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lind%2C+Rebecca+Ann%22">Lind, Rebecca Ann</searchLink>
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  Data: N
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  Data: 26
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 1993
– Name: Audience
  Label: Intended Audience
  Group: Audnce
  Data: Researchers
– Name: TypeDocument
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  Data: Speeches/Meeting Papers<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Audience+Response%22">Audience Response</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ethics%22">Ethics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Models%22">Models</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22News+Reporting%22">News Reporting</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Programing+%28Broadcast%29%22">Programing (Broadcast)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+Methodology%22">Research Methodology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Telephone+Surveys%22">Telephone Surveys</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Television+Research%22">Television Research</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Minnesota%22">Minnesota</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Three empirical studies focused on viewer reactions to ethical issues in television news, and on actions audience members felt were appropriate to control possibly unethical behaviors in television broadcasting. The first study was a 12-minute telephone survey of 293 randomly selected adults in Minneapolis-St. Paul (Minnesota) in 1989 to determine public responses to ethical issues. The first study demonstrated that people can and do think about television content problem areas. In the second study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a quota sample of 34 television news viewers in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Viewers were willing and capable of speaking at length about television news issues and of analyzing three hypothetical news stories. The third study combined techniques of the first two studies to identify how viewers evaluate ethically controversial local television news content. Using random-digit dialing, 201 Minneapolis-St. Paul local television news viewers were selected for 30-minute telephone interviews and subsequent mail survey concerning their reactions to six hypothetical news stories. Three trends emerged: (1) certain criteria were much more commonly applied than others, including harm/benefits, newsworthiness, and parameters; (2) many unique criteria applied in each situation; and (3) the exact criteria differed according to the situation. A preliminary model of the process viewers use to evaluate ethical issues in television programming was developed. Findings show the usefulness of using multiple research methodologies. Future research should supplement traditional philosophical and case study analyses with empirical studies of audience response to ethical issues in the media. (Contains 36 references.) (RS)
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  Data: 1993
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  Data: ED358493
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      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 26
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Audience Response
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ethics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Models
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: News Reporting
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Programing (Broadcast)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research Methodology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Telephone Surveys
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Television Research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Minnesota
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Research Issues in the Study of Public Attitudes toward Ethical Problems in Television Programming.
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            NameFull: Rarick, David L.
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            NameFull: Lind, Rebecca Ann
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              M: 04
              Type: published
              Y: 1993
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