TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE RESEARCH PROPOSAL 1 CONTEXT OF

TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE CHAPTER 1 RESEARCH PROPOSAL 1 CONTEXT OF STUDY 1 1.1 Purpose of the study 1...

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

CHAPTER 1 RESEARCH PROPOSAL

1

CONTEXT OF STUDY

1

1.1

Purpose of the study

1

1.2

Background of the study

1

1.3

Relevance of the topic

3

1.4

Relationship of the topic to the discipline

4

of Communication 1.5

Other research in the field

4

2

LITERATURE REVIEW

4

3

TYPE OF STUDY

6

4

FORMULATION OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS

7

4.1

Research problem

7

4.2

Research sub problems

7

4.3

Research questions

7

4.4

Research objectives

8

4.5

Theoretical approach

8

5

6

METHODOLOGY

9

5.1

Methodological orientation

9

5.2

Data collection method and techniques

11

5.2.1

Population

11

5.2.2

Time dimension

11

5.2.3 Sampling

11

5.2.4

12

Data collection and interpretation

ANTICIPATED FINDINGS

13

6.1

Anticipation of findings

13

6.2

Anticipated contribution of the study to the discipline of Communication

7

STRUCTURE OF THE DISSERTATION

13

14

CHAPTER 2

2

THE GENRE OF REALITY TELEVISION

16

2.1

Introduction

16

2.2

The history of reality television

18

2.3

Defining reality television

20

2.4

The reality television audience

30

2.5

The future of reality television

33

2.6

Conclusion

34

CHAPTER 3

3

INTERACTIVE TELEVISION

35

3.1

Introduction

35

3.2

Defining interactivity

37

3.3

Interactivity and technology

39

3.4

Television and the Internet: media and cultural convergence

45

3.5

Intertextuality: reality television as media event

47

3.6

Conclusion

55

PROJECT FAME

56

4.1

Introduction

56

4.2

The Project Fame concept

57

4.3

The Project Fame contestants

58

4.4

The Project Fame teachers

64

4.5

The Project Fame board

66

4.6

The Project Fame viewers’ experiences

67

4.7

Conclusion

70

CHAPTER 4

4

CHAPTER 5

5

AUDIENCE-CENTRED THEORIES

72

5.1

Introduction

72

5.2

Traditions of audience-centred theories

73

5.3

Defining the ‘audience’ in audience-centred theories

77

5.4

The uses and gratifications theory 5.4.1

5.5

78

5.4.2

Categories of needs gratification

86

5.4.3

Critique of the uses and gratifications theory

88

The cultural studies approach to reception theory

91

5.5.2

5.7

The origin and characteristics of the uses and gratifications theory

5.5.1

5.6

78

The origin and characteristics of reception theory

91

Critique of cultural studies

94

The uses and gratifications theory and cultural studies as active audience approaches

95

Conclusion

97

CHAPTER 6

6

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

99

6.1 Introduction

99

6.2 Demarcation of the study field

100

6.3 Research objectives

101

6.4 Research problem

102

6.5 Research questions

103

6.6 Defining key concepts

103

6.7 Data collection: focus group interviews

104

6.8 Sampling

107

6.9 Pilot study

110

6.10 Composition of groups

111

6.11 Focus group interview setting

114

6.12 Preparation of focus group interview material

114

6.12.1 Pre-group questionnaire

114

6.12.2 Moderator’s guide

114

6.12.3 Role of the moderator

115

6.13 Conducting the focus group interviews

116

6.14 Transcribing the data

117

6.15 Reliability and validity

117

6.16 Unit of analysis

119

6.17 Data analysis

120

6. 18 Conclusion

123

CHAPTER 7

7

DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

124

7.1 Introduction

124

7.2 Interactive participation

124

7.3 Cognitive needs

128

7.4 Affective needs

132

7.5 Personal integrative needs

138

7.6 Social integrative needs

142

7.7 Escapist needs

144

7.8 The audience and message interpretation

147

7.9 Reality television

151

7.10 Interactive technology

154

7.11 Research conclusions

156

7.12 Evaluation of theoretical framework

158

7.13 Suggestions for further research

161

ATTACHMENT A PRE-GROUP QUESTIONNAIRE

162

ATTACHMENT B MODERATOR’S GUIDE FOR FOCUS GROUP INTERVIEWS

166

ATTACHMENT C TRANSCRIPTIONS OF FOCUS GROUP INTERVIEWS

168

Focus group interview 1

169

Focus group interview 2

180

Focus group interview 3

191

Focus group interview 4

202

SOURCES CONSULTED

213