An evaluation of a Newspaper advice column as a community Psychology Resource

This thesis has been concerned with community psychology and in particular, the promotion of the newspaper advice column as a community psychology resource. Throughout the world, advice columns provide help and information in thousands of languages reaching millions of people. This resource is unique in that it is instantly and repeatedly accessible. This study explored how this resource can be improved and extended so that it could serve as a valuable community support. This thesis arose from the work of the author who has been engaged in replying to readers' concerns in a community newspaper over a period of eight years. The study takes into consideration the traditional background of readers and the author combines his personal experience and a professional psychological approach in answering their concerns. Various theoretical models in community psychology are presented and newspaper articles that expound each of these models are examined. Actual articles from newspapers are quoted and pictorial examples are included in the appendix. The value of newspapers as a community psychology resource is highlighted. Both qualitative and quantitative data were elicited. The research design made use of the Likert scale as an instrument of measure. Questionnaires were completed by readers and assessments done by colleagues in psychology. Their findings were analysed and presented as a summary of recommendations on how the advice column can best serve the community as a resource.

Author dc:creator

• Kistnasamy, Guru

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Edwards, S.D.

• Newspaper evaluation

Licence

• https://devspace.unizulu.ac.za/bitstreams/4dcf31d0-1276-450a-b9d7-4d8c4dd3dc82/download