Audience Response Research Articles

Pop Culture Media as Curricular Text: Designing an Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Seminar Using Abbott Elementary

Abbott Elementary, the Emmy-award winning mockumentary-style comedy television show, chronicles the day-to-day efforts of a group of teachers in a Philadelphia public elementary school who, despite the odds stacked against them, are determined to help their students succeed. With humor and heart, the show also uncovers some of the larger policy issues at play in U.S. urban public education, such as teacher shortages, school funding, and school choice. This essay describes the development of an interdisciplinary Honors seminar for undergraduate students at a large, public university in the Midwest U.S. that used episodes of Abbott Elementary as a central curricular text to support students in analyzing current policy issues in urban education. Drawing on Giroux’s concept of media as public pedagogy, this essay details how the course design employed a critical intersectional multiculturalism cultural studies approach to create opportunities for students to engage in a multiperspectival analysis, including (1) an understanding of political culture, (2) textual analysis, and (3) audience reception. Implications and recommendations are made for selecting and integrating popular culture media as curricular text in interdisciplinary coursework.

Narrative predicts cardiac synchrony in audiences

Audio-visual media possesses a remarkable ability to synchronise audiences’ neural, behavioural, and physiological responses. This synchronisation is considered to reflect some dimension of collective attention or engagement with the stimulus. But what is it about these stimuli that drives such strong engagement? There are several properties of media stimuli which may lead to synchronous audience response: from low-level audio-visual features, to the story itself. Here, we present a study which separates low-level features from narrative by presenting participants with the same content but in separate modalities. In this way, the presentations shared no low-level features, but participants experienced the same narrative. We show that synchrony in participants’ heart rate can be driven by the narrative information alone. We computed both visual and auditory perceptual saliency for the content and found that narrative was approximately 10 times as predictive of heart rate as low-level saliency, but that low-level audio-visual saliency has a small additive effect towards heart rate. Further, heart rate synchrony was related to a separate cohorts’ continuous ratings of immersion, and that synchrony is likely to be higher at moments of increased narrative importance. Our findings demonstrate that high-level narrative dominates in the alignment of physiology across viewers.

FROM MANGA LITERATURE TO LIVE-ACTION FILM/TV: MACKENYU'S CROSS-CULTURAL ODYSSEY IN GLOBAL CINEMA

This research examines the career of Japanese-American actor Mackenyu Arata, particularly his roles in live-action adaptations of manga and anime, to understand his influence on cross-cultural narrative integration in cinema. The study focuses on Mackenyu's portrayal of leading and important supporting characters in several high-profile adaptations, including Netflix's One Piece, where he plays Zoro, and others such as Chihayafuru, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Rurouni Kenshin, and Fullmetal Alchemist. Employing qualitative analysis, this paper investigates how Mackenyu strategically navigates away from the shadow of his father, legendary actor Sonny Chiba, to forge an independent identity and career. Data was collected through reviews, audience reception studies, and box office performance, and analyzed to assess thematic consistency and cultural impact across different markets. Experts in film adaptation theory, such as Linda Hutcheon, and resources like The Routledge Companion to World Cinema provided theoretical frameworks for analyzing how narratives are adapted for global audiences and the role of actors in these adaptations. The findings reveal that Mackenyu's choices are not merely artistic but are also deliberate efforts to blend Eastern and Western cinematic traditions, enhancing his appeal as a global actor. His roles often reflect a profound engagement with his bicultural heritage, challenging the notion that he is only a "second-generation star." These roles resonate with global audiences and contribute to the ongoing discourse on cultural integration in film. The study concludes that Mackenyu is a key figure in the realm of live-action adaptations, with a unique ability to transcend cultural and cinematic boundaries.

The costliest signals of authenticity? How iconic deaths transform audience reception in hip-hop

The death of an artist can act as a costly signal of their authenticity, and cause enduring changes in audience valuations of their work. Drawing on novel digital trace data of audience evaluations from a major online music community, we show how the death of an hip-hop artist induces improvements to the valuations of their antemortem work. Such death-induced changes to audience valuations are mediated by the ability of some deaths – what we term iconic deaths – to act as costly signals of an artist’s authenticity. Iconic deaths that better signal authenticity produce greater death-induced improvements in audience valuations. Such costly signaling effects are more salient within discredited subgenres of hip-hop. We show how this is robust to complementary explanations, such as sympathetic eulogizing or audience expansion effects.

THE IMPACT OF SENTIMENT ON USER’S REACTION ON FACEBOOK: THE CASE OF THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN UKRAINE

This study investigates the relationship of sentiments expressed in Facebook posts by the American Chamber of Commerce (ACC) in Ukraine on audience reactions. By employing AI-driven sentiment analysis, we categorize ACC's posts into five categories: Empowerment category, Excitement and enthusiasm category, Gratitude category, Optimism category, and Resilience category. Our findings reveal that posts signaling resilience and optimism receive significantly more reactions compared to those communicating empowerment and excitement. As sentiment analysis continues to evolve, incorporating multimodal approaches and leveraging advancements in AI and NLP, businesses that effectively utilize these tools will be better equipped to make informed decisions and adapt to the ever-changing digital landscape. Furthermore, posts classified as displaying empowerment are more likely to be shared/reposted by the readers. These results highlight the importance of tailoring communication strategies to elicit desired audience responses and provide valuable insights for organizations navigating complex environments.

The role of the ‘think-pair-share’ active learning strategy in influencing content knowledge and self-confidence of undergraduate students in a large enrollment geoscience course

This study explores the relationship between the self-confidence and content knowledge of undergraduate students in a large enrollment geoscience course following an active-learning think-pair-share (TPS) activity, and whether high confidence necessarily leads to overconfidence. We used a pre-experimental, one group pre-test – post-test design, and an audience response system to record students’ responses to a series of questions covering geoscience concepts and the level of confidence that students had in their answers. During each class session, the students were first asked to engage in one or two TPS activities before responding to a series of questions, focusing on content knowledge and self-confidence. We analyzed the data using exploratory data analysis, boxplots, bar graphs, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the Chi-Square test. Results indicate that the content knowledge and self-confidence of students increased after students participated in TPS activities. 55% of students correctly answered the pre-activity question, and 74% correctly answered the post-activity question. The results also reveal that while the TPS activity helped to improve self-confidence from a median of 3 to 4 on a five-point scale, the proportion of responses from students that were overconfident in their abilities decreased from 22% in the pre-activity to 13% in the post-activity.

Linguistic Strategies in Political Discourse: Hedges and Boosters in the 2024 US Presidential Debate

This study examines the strategic use of hedges and boosters in the first US presidential debate of June 26, 2024, between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. These linguistic devices are crucial in shaping political discourse by modulating confidence and authority. Hedges introduce ambiguity and caution, while boosters amplify certainty and assertiveness. Using the official debate transcript as the primary data source, this analysis employs a qualitative content analysis to identify and categorize these strategies. It highlights distinct usage patterns: Joe Biden frequently uses hedges to express caution and acknowledge complexities, while Donald Trump relies heavily on boosters to project unwavering confidence and decisiveness. Biden’s strategic use of hedges allows him to navigate contentious issues with a balanced tone, while Trump’s emphasis on boosters strengthens his assertive stance and enhances his perceived authority. This research fills a gap in existing literature by specifically analyzing these linguistic devices within the context of presidential debates. The findings provide insights into how both candidates use hedges and boosters to influence voter perceptions and address rhetorical challenges, contributing to a deeper understanding of political communication strategies and their effects on audience reception.

Reputation Burning: Analyzing the Impact of Brand Sponsorship on Social Influencers

The growth of the influencer marketing industry warrants an empirical examination of the effect of posting sponsored videos on influencers’ reputations. We collected a novel data set of user-generated YouTube videos created by prominent English-speaking influencers in the beauty and style category. We extracted a rich set of theory-driven video features and used DiNardo-Fortin-Lemieux reweighting to construct comparable treatment and control groups matched at the influencer-video level. The empirical analysis of the matched sample revealed a reputation-burning effect; that is, posting a sponsored video, compared with posting an equivalent organic video, cost the influencers 0.19% of their reputation (operationalized as the number of subscribers). The reputation-burning effect was stronger among the influencers with larger audiences. An analysis of likes, comments, and comment texts revealed a larger gap in audience response between sponsored and organic videos among the influencers with larger (versus smaller) audiences. The reputation-burning effect was mitigated when a high fit existed between the sponsored content and the influencer’s “usual” content and when the promoted brand was less well known. Our study empirically tested the assumption of several theoretical works. Moreover, it contributes to the literature on influencer marketing and celebrity endorsements and provides managerial implications for influencers, brands, and social media platforms. This paper was accepted by D. J. Wu, information systems. Funding: This research was supported by funding provided by Harvard Business School. Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.00193 .

All Students Can Benefit from a Personal Response System Pedagogy that Encourages Active Engagement Yet Lowers Barriers to Implementation

All Students Can Benefit from a Personal Response System Pedagogy that Encourages Active Engagement Yet Lowers Barriers to Implementation

Picture perfect science communication: How public audiences respond toinformational labels in cinematic-style 3D data visualization.

Visualizing research data can be an important science communication tool. In recent decades, 3D data visualization has emerged as a key tool for engaging public audiences. Such visualizations are often embedded in scientific documentaries screened on giant domes in planetariums or delivered through video streaming services such as Amazon Prime. 3D data visualization has been shown to be an effective way to communicate complex scientific concepts to the public. With its ability to convey information in a scientifically accurate and visually engaging way, cinematic-style 3D data visualization has the potential to benefit millions of viewers by making scientific information more understandable and interesting. Maximizing the effectiveness of 3D data visualization can benefit millions of viewers. To support a wider shift in this professional field towards more evidence-based practice in 3D data visualization to enhance science communication impact, we have conducted a survey experiment comparing audience responses to two versions of 3D data visualizations from a scientific documentary film on the theme of 'solar superstorms' (n = 577). This study was conducted using a single (with two levels: labeled and unlabeled), between-subjects, factorial design. It reveals key strengths and weaknesses of communicating science using 3D data visualization. It also shows the limited power of strategically deployed informational labels to affect audience perceptions of the documentary film and its content. The major difference identified between experimental and control groups was that the quality ratings of the documentary film clip were significantly higher for the 'labeled' version. Other outcomes showed no statistically significant differences. The limited effects of informational labels point to the idea that other aspects, such as the story structure, voiceover narration and audio-visual content, are more important determinants of outcomes. This study concludes with a discussion of how this new research evidence informs our understanding of 'what works and why' with cinematic-style 3D data visualizations for the public.

Is Oration Literature?

Abstract Is oration literature? More specifically, can we read the multi-functional Arabic oration (khuṭbah) of the 1st/7th and 2nd/8th centuries as part of the classical prose canon? In this article, I argue that if our definition of literature includes beautiful language, admiration expressed by literary theorists, and masterful articulation of themes to evoke audience response, early Arabic oration is most certainly literature. I demonstrate this claim by analyzing the rhythmic and graphic oral aesthetics of early Arabic oration, the views of medieval theorists regarding its distinguished place and literary nature, and its crucial influence on the development of the chancery epistle (risālah), the first written genre of Arabic literary prose. I contend that khuṭbah is the foundational prose genre of Arabic and it has materially influenced the major genres of risālah and maqāmāt that followed. The history of Arabic literature cannot be written without oration.

The role of virtual influencers in environmental messaging: a case study of Noonoouri

ABSTRACT In the realm of social media, virtual influencers have become influential voices in advocating for environmental sustainability. This research investigate their communication strategies and audience responses. Through qualitative analysis, we explore how virtual influencers, exemplified by Noonoouri, convey environmental messages on Instagram and how audiences respond to these messages. Our findings reveal that virtual influencers employ a multifaceted approach, utilizing informative content and captivating visuals to engage audiences and promote sustainability. Audience responses predominantly reflect admiration, inspiration, and support for virtual influencers’ advocacy efforts, highlighting their effectiveness in driving environmental awareness and action. By applying Social Performance Theory as a theoretical framework, this study provides insights into the symbolic interactions and cultural dynamics inherent in influencer communication. The implications of our research extend to informing stakeholders interested in leveraging virtual influencers for sustainability promotion, contributing to the growing body of knowledge in environmental communication and digital marketing. This also contributes to the understanding of the role of media and technology in the social construction of environmental problems and solutions.

Practices and barriers to cancer care among oncologists for patients with serious mental illness.

171 Background: Serious mental illness (SMI), defined as a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder resulting in serious functional impairment, that substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities, includes schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression. Patients with SMI and cancer have poor survival rates attributed to inequities in cancer care. Such patients are often diagnosed at an advanced stage and are more likely to have their cancer care interrupted. This study surveyed the general practices oncologists apply to integrate mental health and cancer care in their clinical practice. The study also surveyed perspectives on personalized collaborative care intervention to improve cancer outcomes in patients with SMI while identifying the barriers to adapting such intervention in clinical settings. Methods: In February and March 2024, US-based hematologists/oncologists convened at live meetings to discuss abstracts presented at the 2023 ASCO Quality Care Symposium. An online premeeting survey was used to collect participants’ demographics. Participants’ approach to mental health care for patients with cancer were captured via an audience response system during the live meetings. Responses were aggregated and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Among 125 participants, 77% were community providers. The majority of participants (60%) reported frequently discussing mental health with their patients with cancer. Respondents support the mental health needs of their patients with cancer by utilizing in-house social workers (52%) or in-house counseling services (31%), or by referring to in-house clinical psychologist (40%) or an external psychiatrist (41%). They identified challenges to integrating mental health care into cancer treatment: lack of dedicated staff (54%), high patient volume (44%), and lack of available psychosocial tools (40%). Additionally, a subset of participants was asked about their perspectives on collaborative care intervention for cancer care of patients with SMI, and while most participants were encouraged, they also reported that mental health services should be coordinated primarily through either a psychiatrist (25%) or a social worker (25%). Interestingly, limited access to psychiatric care (78%) and lack of resources to screen patients for SMI (56%) were the primary barriers to adapting a personalized and collaborative care approach in the real-world setting. Conclusions: Participants were inclined to incorporate personalized mental health assessments into routine clinical care for their patients with cancer, however they face several barriers to implementation. Further research is needed to address those modifiable barriers and assess the impact of a personalized and collaborative care approach on timely diagnosis and mitigating inequities in cancer care to improve cancer outcomes in patients with SMI.

When news is entertainment: explaining the persistence of misinformation through the information environment

ABSTRACT Why does misinformation persist despite its corrections? To address this issue, we propose the ‘news as entertainment’ framework, explaining how commercial considerations of the media industry shape news consumption. Using a strategic case study, we examine India's information environment through this paradigm. Guided by industry metrics, we reveal the interplay of competing social and economic interests in a context marked by high choice and political polarization. Within this framework, we examine misinformation correction in practice, highlighting its contextual underpinnings and the potent role of mainstream media. Finally, we discursively analyze how audience responses underscore their ties to specific news environments. The ‘news as entertainment’ framework exposes the disjunction between contextually shaped misinformation and correction methods, emphasizing how media contexts influence audience receptivity to facts or falsehoods. This insight informs our understanding of misinformation mechanisms, correction, and persistence with implications for addressing these challenges.

A Paradigm Shift in the Malaysian Animation Industry: Inclusive Transmedia Storytelling and Cultural Preservation Contrary to Global Trends

This study critically examines the evolving consumption culture within the Malaysian animation industry, focusing on the shift from child-specific to familial viewership. Over the past two decades, the industry has experienced substantial growth in viewership and box office revenues, largely driven by local producers’ strategic adoption of transmedia storytelling. Through qualitative analysis of two prominent Malaysian animation franchises, BoBoiBoy and Ejen Ali, this study explores how interconnected narratives and cross-generational references across multiple platforms attract a wider audience while preserving cultural integrity. The methodology involves content analysis and audience reception studies to assess the impact of transmedia strategies on viewership patterns. Results indicate that a pan-family perspective in storytelling, which integrates diverse audience interests, contributes significantly to broadening the viewership base without compromising Malaysian cultural values. The findings demonstrate that adherence to local cultural aspirations remains a critical factor in distinguishing Malaysian animation from the global trend of adult-oriented content. The study concludes that transmedia storytelling offers a powerful framework for developing family-oriented animation that appeals to both children and adults while safeguarding local traditions. Implications suggest that this model may serve as a blueprint for future productions aiming to balance market competitiveness with cultural preservation. Keywords: Transmedia storytelling, Malaysia, animation industry, consumption culture, cultural preservation.

Revisiting dark pasts: the portrayal of Jewish minority and audience responses to the Netflix series The Club

ABSTRACT The Club, a Turkish series exclusively produced for Netflix, challenges the official historical narrative of modern Turkey by depicting the experiences of minorities on the brink of the country’s political upheaval. It highlights the state’s complex relations with its minorities and historical events that are often silenced in the official historical narrative. This study looks at how Turkey’s dark pasts pertaining to its religious minorities are portrayed in The Club and the ways in which its audience respond to these dark pasts. It argues that the audience of The Club recreates the silences about the past, resulting in the denial or rationalization of state violence, while emphasizing a nostalgic multi-cultural past.

What can heroes and villains teach young audiences? A research brief investigating the values emphasized in family-rated Walt Disney films

ABSTRACT Due to the popularity of Walt Disney Studio films and characters, and the fact that young audiences often emulate their favorite Disney characters’ actions, an understanding of the values depicted by Disney’s popular heroes and villains is warranted. Guided by the model of intuitive motivation and exemplars, and extending previous work investigating broader altruism and egoism in Disney films, we content-analyzed the population of N = 442 family-rated (i.e. G- and PG-rated) Walt Disney Studio film synopses to extract the specific values depicted by films’ heroes and villains and examined the extent to which values depicted as socially desirable were predictive of audience reception (i.e. IMDb.com ratings and votes). Results from this research brief revealed that (1) heroes were more likely to violate personal safety considerations in pursuit of upholding care, loyalty, competence, autonomy, and relatedness, (2) villains were more likely to violate care and fairness in pursuit of power goals, and (3) films emphasizing the desirability of care, loyalty, and relatedness values were more popular with audiences via IMDb votes. Implications of these results are discussed.

Cultural Export and Global Perception of the Mexican Film Industry

This paper examines the dynamic role of the Mexican film industry as a significant cultural exporter and its evolving perception in the global market. It traces the historical development of Mexican cinema from its Golden Age to its modern resurgence, highlighting the contributions of seminal filmmakers and landmark films that have shaped its international identity. The study explores the mechanisms of cultural export, including traditional and digital distribution channels and the pivotal role of film festivals and international awards. Further, it analyzes the global reception of Mexican films, noting the critical and audience responses across diverse cultural landscapes. The influence of Mexican cinema on global film practices and cultural trends is examined through its narrative innovations and thematic contributions. Finally, the paper discusses future trends and identifies potential challenges and opportunities for Mexican cinema, emphasizing the need for sustainable funding models and the balance between global appeal and cultural authenticity. This comprehensive review illuminates how Mexican cinema continues to contribute to and shape the global cinematic landscape, advocating for a more inclusive and diverse film culture.

THEORY OF RECEPTION AND CRITICISM OF FILMS BASED ON THE RECEPTION AND CRITICISM OF THE FILM “ANNA KARENINA” (1997)

The word reception means the acceptance of foreign ideas, norms and values or behaviors. Reception history elaborates the reception that a literary text, a film, or in this case an adaptation of a novel, has found in its audience over time. This paper delves into the core concepts of film reception theory, shedding light on how audiences interpret and actively engage with cinematic narratives. The theoretical part includes different perspectives, recognizing that audience responses are shaped by individual experiences, cultural contexts, and societal influences. This study also delves into the concept of criticism, whether that from the audience or from theorists and critics. This study after the theoretical part of the reception elaborates the reception and criticism of the film Anna Karenina (1997) directed by Bernard Rose. As an adaptation of the novel Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (1887), criticism and reception in this case focuses, among other things, on the stallings and deviations of the adapted story. Additionally this paper addresses the evolving landscape of film reception in the digital age, considering the impact of online communities, social media and interactive platforms on audience engagement. This study aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse on film reception theory by providing insights into the multifaceted nature of audience engagement and its implications for the wider field of film studies. During this study, I came to the conclusion that coded messages and pre-existing expectations also influence the audience’s reception of a film. The coded message is deciphered by the audience based on the knowledge they possess and not the way the producer thought. In this case, the producer too should not convey messages that are not easily decoded by the audience.

Addition of an audience response system in a biomedical science course improves learning environment and student performance.

The effectiveness of incorporating an audience response system (ARS) in improving the learning environment and student performance was assessed in a didactic biomedical science course at a large US dental school. Instructors and students were surveyed for their experiences of using Top Hat-based ARS in a multi-disciplinary biomedical science course. Average exam scores and grade distribution for challenging sections on immunology and developmental biology were compared before and after incorporating ARS. Pearson's chi-squared test, likelihood ratio test, Student's t-test and Fisher's exact test using beta regression model were used to assess statistical significance (p < 0.05). Student survey results with 78% (82/105) response rate, indicated that incorporating ARS improved student engagement, reinforced lecture material, and prepared them better for exams (p < 0.0001). Sixty seven percent of student respondents recommended continued integration of ARS questions in lectures (p < 0.0001). Although faculty survey data (n = 5, 100% response rate) were not statistically significant, the majority of faculty agreed that real-time feedback through ARS allowed them to appropriately pace lecture delivery and restructure forthcoming material. The average exam scores and grade distribution for challenging sections showed modest improvement after incorporation of ARS (p < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between final course grades and ARS grades for participation or correctness. Incorporating the ARS in a multi-disciplinary biomedical science course is perceived by faculty and students as an effective instructional approach that improves the learning environment, teaching strategies, and student performance.