Extending and Refining an Expectancy-Value Theory of Media Gratifications: Two Studies in the Domain of Soap Opera Watching

Arising out of dissatisfaction with stimulus-response or "effects research," intensive study of audience members has emerged as a significant trend in the past twenty-five years of mass communication research. The study of audience uses and gratifications has been the most visible exemplar of this new orientation. At base, uses and gratifications research supposes that audience orientations determine exposure experiences including effects. Despite the intuitive force of this supposition, gratification research has yet to offer a parsimonious account of audience orientations and their relation to exposure. Present formulations are poor in explanatory power and riddled with inconsistencies. For example, despite a recent flurry of research activity, present understanding of the reasons for exposure to soap operas remains "almost wholly in the realm of speculation and prejudice" (Cantor & Pingree, 1983, p.127).

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Speech Communication

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Babrow, Austin Scott

• Mass Communications

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(UMI)AAI8623257

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/77287