The aim of my questionnaire is to find out if there is a gender difference in people's attitudes to the media.

Psychology Questionnaire Aim/Predictions The aim of my questionnaire is to find out if there is a gender difference in people's attitudes to the media. The media is a multi million pound industry; we are exposed to it everyday making it a very influential factor of our lives. Men and women are represented in many different ways in the media; in my questionnaire I want to find out how men and women view the media and if there is a gender difference there. I also wanted to find out how aware different genders are of prejudices in the media. Finally I want to know how different genders view the media expectations for their gender. From the data that I will collect from my questionnaire I predict that men will less aware of prejudices in the media especially sexism, as this will usually affect women more than it will men so they will be less interested in it. I think that women will be aware to a greater extent of the media expectations for their gender; I predict this because there are more media expectations for women than there are for men. Population/Sample The population that I will be taking my sample from is that of the students in my sixth form. My sample size will be twenty people; ten male student and ten female students. My sample will be a random one; I will ask people to fill them in and who every wants to will be part of my sample. I chose students as my

  • Word count: 1350
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Sociology
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Sociology - Assess the view that ethnic minorities are negatively represented in the media.

David Bates Sociology Assess the view that ethnic minorities are negatively represented in the media. Ethnic minorities are, at the moment, flavour of the month with broadcasters in the UK. With seasons on the likes of Channel 4 dedicated to Indian culture etc. Currently ethnic minorities are shown positively on certain platforms. Not all platforms are so positive. With the recent terrorist attacks around the world, in New York, Bali and now Mombassa, the main culprits appear to be Muslim fanatics. The fact that these events have been so heavily documented has meant that these groups are very negatively represented in the newspapers. The so called 'war on terror' seems to be aimed at Muslims, and some people have taken this to the extreme with racist attacks. These can only be due to the media coverage of such events. Coverage shows the terrorists attacks aimed at shocking and disgusting the viewer into hating these people. Unfortunately, the culprits are giving all Muslims a bad image. Another target for the media are asylum seekers. In the UK asylum seekers are seen to sponge off the state, taking benefits and living in our council run accommodation and taking our jobs. Many asylum seekers are seen as false and are coming to England because it is seen as a 'soft touch'. The public dislike people using the country in this way. These groups are instantly negatively

  • Word count: 578
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Sociology
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To what extent is the mass media politically powerful? There are two main issues regarding media influence in politics

To what extent is the mass media politically powerful? There are two main issues regarding media influence in politics . Does presentation and coverage affect voting behaviour and choices? 2. Do media have an impact on political struggle and decide nature of debates? Definitions of mass media Mass media are channels of communication through which messages flow, produced by a few for consumption by many people. As the messages go through the channels, they are distorted. When people receive mass-media messages, they have no opportunity for immediate feedback with the producers of the messages.( www.pbs.org) Specialist institutions such as books, magazines, adverts, newspapers, radio, television, cinema, videos which occupy a central and pivotal role in our lives. That which reaches very large audiences (freespace.virgin.net) Forms of communication designed to reach a vast audience without any personal contact between the senders and receivers. Examples would include newspapers, magazines, video recordings, radio and television (www.elissetche.org) Political debates In recent years the need to understand the relationship between the media and politics has become more pressing. Many researchers attribute enormous power to news media, claiming they have the ability to 'move and shake governments. Although there has been questioning since early conception of media outlets

  • Word count: 1162
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Sociology
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Media, and its effects on the young.

Little Andy sat transfixed in front of the television, watching 'Tom and Jerry'. Only five years old, the flashing images of Tom slipping on a banana that Jerry left for him makes him chuckle, then he lets out giggle as he sees Jerry pounding Tom on the head with a hammer. Meanwhile, his eleven-year-old brother, Billy, has his earphones on, listening to a song with lyrics that are unfathomably slurred amidst the clamor of a discord of electric guitars and drums. Christine, the oldest of the three, was in the bathroom, sticking her fingers down her throat, so that she could vomit what she ate, in order to be thin. It looks like the above scenario is a typical household; a bulimic teenager, an insensitive, isolated boy and a child who will grow up to be violent and anti-social... Or is it? The situation above is due to the influence they get from various media forms. The violence in TV shows will affect little Andy for life. What Billy doesn't know is that many of his metal music contain 'hidden' lyrics that cannot be indecipherable. These are lyrics are actually aggressive, vulgar and uncouth. Christine feels pressured to be slim, just like all the models and stars she sees in magazines and movies. It is due to what today's generation see, hear and read, that makes them want to be anything but themselves. It can be said that two thirds of media influence has a

  • Word count: 1718
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Sociology
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Assess the claim that the Media works in ways that support the ideology of the ruling class

Assess the claim that the Media works in ways that support the ideology of the ruling class The manipulative Marxist theory of the role of the media is that the media reflects the interests of the powerful, and supports their interests, this a conformist view, although Marxists do believe that the media act to legitimate or maintain the power of those who own the media. The ownership of the media has been largely concentrated and the views expressed are essentially conservative. A known theorist is Ralph Miliband who in his book "The state in Capitalist society" argues that the owners of the media exert a direct influence over there staff, this is shown in the content of their newspapers. Marxists also think that those who control the media support their social position in dominant times by exerting their beliefs and values through the media. It's also argued that the media's effect on commodity consumption because of the commercial advertising that newspapers carry, through this it is believed that the capitalist class manages to maintain it's economic power through the advertising revenue collected. The German ideology is: 'The class, which has the means of material production, has control at the same time of the means of mental production... they regulate the production and distribution of the ideas of their age: thus their ideas are those of the ruling class' Some

  • Word count: 1033
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Sociology
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Whait is society

What is society? In the dictionary the definition of society is Human beings considered as a group, however isn't society that and so much more, put that to the theory of a group of 380 people that have crash landed on a remote island and all hope of finding them have been lost then surely that is classed as a society but what actually is a society it's is more than just a group of humans. In the case of the 380 people that have been forced to survive on a remote island where there is no means of communication, what do they need to survive, a basic requirement for a society is the means to be able to survive as a society otherwise the society will just die out to survive they need the basic requirements of any human being they need to have food and water, but how does one go about getting food and water whilst stuck on a desert island for there are many factors that need to be taken into account one is that there is 380 people on board which would consist of a mixture of men, women, children, nationalities, races, religions and languages for all 380 people there has to be a way to communicate so they can get food and water so they can survive. Another problem faced with a society stuck on a deserted island is how the various survival tasks and everyday work will be organised, for this there is going to be a need for a general leader of the group but when it comes to

  • Word count: 1014
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Sociology
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CENSORSHIP - A Liberal and Conservative View

CENSORSHIP A Liberal and Conservative View By Louis Skoutellas The issue of censorship is a controversial and highly debated one. When most people think of censorship their minds go to ruthless dictators, and society oppression. Censorship however to some extent remains a prominent characteristic in modern societies; a clear example of this is the BEEP heard on the radio when a singer pronounces vulgar words such as sh*t, f*ck, etc. The issue of censorship is therefore a two-sided one, one by which conservatives argue in favour of it, whilst liberals argue against any use of censorship. In my essay I will mainly concentrate on the issue of censorship in our daily lives, albeit through television, radio and the internet. The mention of the word Censorship seems to come at a great dislike to liberals, liberal thinkers, and the liberal ideology in itself. Firstly liberals believe in individualism meaning individuals have talents, qualities and certain values. Having said that liberals therefore believe that man (as in mankind) is rational and has reason, and with this reason may decide whether something is vulgar for him/herself to watch on T.V or listen to on the radio. To a great extent one can admit to this point, man is rational, and with use of his reason can be mature enough to hear and see explicit viewings such as pornography. In contrast to this, a liberal thinker

  • Word count: 1594
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Sociology
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Sociology Structural Theory and The Media

Ryan Robertson Sociology Structural Theory and The Media The media is one of the main sources in the world which provides us with information and is an important and major influence in the socialization process. This is why the media is a major subject within sociology. There are two different theories which can be applied to the media and these are structural and action theories. Structural theories are ideas in which behavior in society is structured. It relates to behavior in society following certain rules and that behavior is patterned and recurrent. In comparison action theories describes action as a behavior caused by an agent in a particular situation. It takes into account actions and reactions of other individuals. By applying the functionalist approach to the study of the media we are using a structural theory. The functionalist view-point of structural theory is also known as consensus theory which was developed by an important figure in sociology, Emile Durkheim. Consensus theory attempts to explain why society gets along most of the time and why it does not descend into chaos. Consensus theorists use the human body as a way in which to help us understand consensus theory. They explain how all parts of the human body are linked and therefore contribute into the body working as a whole. So similarly society works on the same concept that all parts are linked

  • Word count: 893
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Sociology
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Compare the representations of Women in the Action Hero films James Bond and Tomb Raider

Compare Representations of Women in Action Hero Films Throughout the Media, and society, there are many stereotypes of women and of how men think and act. Within this essay I will discuss how modern day action films present these typical representations using three films; James Bond 'The World is not enough' (2002), Lara Croft 'Tomb Raider' (2002) and the 1960's James Bond 'Dr. No'. The roles of women within these action films are often presented as subservient and degrading. Throughout both Bond films, 'Dr. No' and 'The World is not enough', there are women who are often in roles such as maids and secretaries. The audience are given a very negative view of these roles, as if to say only women should fill them. In 'Dr. No' there are around three to four appearances of women as secretaries and other subservient roles, this may reflect the time period as women in the 1960's were only just acquiring rights and equality. Also in 'The World is not enough' the character Valentin Zukovsky, played by Robbie Coltrane, is seen paying off, or commodifying, women in his acquaintance. 'Tomb Raider' does challenge this however as the main character is female, but we are hardly ever shown another woman in a powerful role or position. All of these actions that are shown to the audience may lead them to believe that women should be the only ones that are not in a powerful position, thus

  • Word count: 994
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Sociology
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Pick a subculture(Youth, Sexuality, Age). How are these groups represented in the media?Why is this the case?

Pick a subculture(Youth, Sexuality, Age). How are these groups represented in the media?Why is this the case? This essay will highlight the representation of sexuality in society. The media codes of stereotyping will be discussed with reference to generic television formats and the national print media's representation of gay and lesbian groups. The media cannot present the world to us, despite their assertions of truth, reality and verisimilitude. They offer us selected views on our world (M.Jones 1999). The media communicate with their audience with signs and symbols through the process of representation. Representation is the process in which meaning is derived from stimulus denoted by the media. The connotative messages can be varied and polysemic. Representation is a construction of reality, not a mirror image. The media has the power through selection and reinforcement to give portrayals of groups and subcultures in society. The question is whether these reflections are true of the subculture in question. . "A major fact about being gay is that it doesn't show...there are signs of gayness, a repertoire of gestures, stories, clothing these are cultural.... it does not show that he or she is gay." (R.Dyer 1993 p.19) This comment by Richard Dyer implies that the sexuality is a invisible form. Unlike the identities of ethnicity and gender which are visually specific.

  • Word count: 2012
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Sociology
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