The Effects of Mass Media on Audience Perception of People with Disabilities
Format
Oral Presentation
Faculty Mentor Name
Qingwen Dong
Faculty Mentor Department
Communication
Abstract/Artist Statement
This research paper set out to examine the relationship between the mass media and its effects on audience perception of people with disabilities. This study built upon previous research that examined whether or not viewing mass media in which a disabled person was portrayed shaped the audience members perception of people with disabilities. A survey was distributed amongst 357 undergraduate college students asking them to answer six statements that assessed the respondent’s attitudes towards people with disabilities and their subsequent portrayal in television programming. The results of the study showed that audience members had a high amount of respect and admiration for people with disabilities but did not believe that they were accurately portrayed in the media. Respondents also thought that people with disabilities needed more assistance from society overall. These findings implicate that mass media programming does not directly affect an audience’s perception on people with disabilities.
Location
DeRosa University Center, Room 220
Start Date
21-4-2011 5:00 PM
End Date
21-4-2011 8:00 PM
The Effects of Mass Media on Audience Perception of People with Disabilities
DeRosa University Center, Room 220
This research paper set out to examine the relationship between the mass media and its effects on audience perception of people with disabilities. This study built upon previous research that examined whether or not viewing mass media in which a disabled person was portrayed shaped the audience members perception of people with disabilities. A survey was distributed amongst 357 undergraduate college students asking them to answer six statements that assessed the respondent’s attitudes towards people with disabilities and their subsequent portrayal in television programming. The results of the study showed that audience members had a high amount of respect and admiration for people with disabilities but did not believe that they were accurately portrayed in the media. Respondents also thought that people with disabilities needed more assistance from society overall. These findings implicate that mass media programming does not directly affect an audience’s perception on people with disabilities.