Media Selections Research Articles

Balancing media selections over time: Emotional valence, informational content, and time intervals of use

The sequencing of information in media can influence processing of content via mechanisms like framing, mood management, and emotion regulation. This study examined three kinds of media sequences on smartphones: (1) balancing positive and negative emotional content; (2) balancing emotional content with informational content; and (3) balancing time spent on and off the media device. Actual media use was measured in natural settings using the Screenomics framework which gathers screenshots from smartphones every 5 s when devices are on. Time-series analyses of 223,531 smartphone sessions recorded from 94 participants showed that emotionally positive content was more likely to follow negative content, and that emotionally negative content was more likely to follow positive content; emotional content was more likely to follow informational content, and informational content was more likely to follow emotional content; and longer smartphone sessions were more likely to follow longer periods of non-use.

AIRA: An Intelligent Recommendation Agent Application for Movies

An intelligent Recommendation App has been developed to assist caregivers. This project's primary objective is to assist parents in determining whether a particular movie/cartoon/drama is adequate for their children by providing ratings that will assist them in identifying age-appropriate content. This application will provide reliable evaluations, reviews, and recommendations to parents. Each rating and review are based on fundamental, essential child development principles. Intelligent Recommendation Agent aids families in making intelligent media selections. It provides the most extensive and reliable database of learning ratings, age recommendations, and content evaluations for films, television series, and dramas. In addition, there will be a list of abusive words from the content with its subtitles so that parents can identify appropriate content for children. By limiting their child's exposure to violent acts, parents can play a positive role in their child's life by using this application. Movies with positive role models can also have a positive effect on children.

Recent Students' Motivation Toward Learning English After the COVID-19 Post-Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has compelled EFL teachers to adapt their instruction online. Evidence shows how protracted school closures affect students' ability to learn EFL. The development of techniques to aid students in making up for lost learning would require this knowledge for EFL learning. For this reason, it is necessary to know in greater detail students' motivation to learn EFL in the post-pandemic era. It is vital to have a clear plan for individualized diagnoses and to put remedial programs into place. 100 senior high school students from a private school participated. Data for this study were gathered using an online self-reported questionnaire measuring intrinsic and extrinsic motivation which can encourage students’ EFL learning. The results of the study showed a variety of learners’ internal and external factors of motivation such as students‘ desire to learn a language to improve their skills, learn about diverse cultures, beliefs, and viewpoints, and simply to pass their exam. Thus, acting as either pulling or dragging forces of learning English. Besides the limitations, these research results would impact teachers’ teaching strategies, materials, and media selections to reduce students’ learning loss.

Psychotherapists' preferences for television and movies during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study investigated psychotherapists' media use since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 186 psychotherapists completed a 15-item self-report survey on the movies and TV shows they had watched, and the reasons for their choices, since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results indicated therapists primarily watched material they described as comedic, distracting, thought-provoking, and psychologically engaging. In addition, they reported choosing media that appealed to their spouses and/or children. It is theorized that therapists' media selections are reinforcing their regulatory flexibility, allowing them to grapple with the harsh reality of the pandemic while simultaneously providing themselves emotional safety and relief in the form of distancing and distraction.

Experimental investigation of exercise-related hedonic responses to preferred and imposed media content.

Background: We evaluated the differential influence of preferred versus imposed media selections on distinct hedonic responses to an acute bout of treadmill walking.Methods: Twenty university students were recruited for this [160 person-visit] laboratory experiment, which employed a within-subject, counter-balanced design. Participants were exposed to 8 experimental conditions, including (1) Exercise Only, (2) Texting Only, (3) Preferred Phone Call, (4) Imposed Phone Call, (5) Preferred Music Playlist, (6) Imposed Music Playlist, (7)Preferred Video and (8) Imposed Video. During each visit (except Texting Only), participants completed a 10-minute bout of walking on the treadmill at a self-selected pace. Walking speed was identical for all experimental conditions. Before, at the midpoint of exercise, and post-exercise, participants completed the Feeling Scale (FS) and the Felt Arousal Scale (FAS) to measure acute hedonic response. The Affective Circumplex Scale was administered pre-exercise and post-exercise.Results: Significant pre-post change scores were observed for happy (Imposed Call: P=0.05;Preferred Music: P=0.02; Imposed Video: P=0.03), excited (Exercise Only: P=0.001; PreferredVideo: P=0.01; Imposed Video: P=0.03), sad (Preferred Music: P=0.05), anxious (ExerciseOnly: P=0.05; Preferred Video: P=0.01), and fatigue (Exercise Only: P=0.03; Imposed Video:P=0.002). For the FS all change scores were statistically significant from pre-to-mid and pre-topost (P<0.05).Conclusion: This experiment provides strong evidence that entertaining media platforms substantively influences hedonic responses to exercise. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Can the Media Help Women Be Better at Math? Stereotype Threat, Selective Exposure, Media Effects, and Women's Math Performance

This study examines women's media selections when under the gender–math stereotype threat and the subsequent media effects on their math performance through the lens of the Selective Exposure Self- and Affect-Management (SESAM) model, mood management theory, and social comparison theory. Female college students were randomly assigned to the stereotype threat condition or the control condition; then, they selectively browsed magazine pages showing female role models in stereotypical domains (beauty or family) and counterstereotypical domains (career or science) before taking the math test. The results show that women spent more time on career magazines when under threat, and this selective exposure's effect on their math performance was moderated by their assimilation to the role models.

Summer 2013 Book and Media Recommendations

For most teachers of chemistry, summer brings welcome relief from the day-to-day teaching grind, unless, of course, you happen to be teaching a summer session. Four Journal reviewers present a smorgasbord of book and media selections for you to peruse on those long summer days. Enjoy!

Laisvalaikio medijų naudojimo ypatumai skirtingose Lietuvos auditorijos gyvenimo stilių grupėse

Straipsnio tikslas – atskleisti skirtingų Lietuvos auditorijos gyvenimo stilių grupių naudojamų medijų ypatumus. Atlikto kokybinio tyrimo duomenų analizė parodė, jog medijų naudotojai savo repertuarus suformuoja iš visų jiems prieinamų pasirinkimų, atsirinkdami tik kai kuriuos iš jų ir suformuodami savo individualius medijų repertuarus, tačiau įvairios auditorijos grupės savo daugialypės medijų terpės pasirinkimus projektuoja skirtingai.Pagrindiniai žodžiai: auditorijos, naudojimasis medijomis, selektyvumas, medijų repertuaras, gyvenimo stilius.Characteristics of leisure media usage in different lifestyle groups of the Lithuanian audience Daiva Siudikienė SummaryProcesses of the media digitization and convergence generate new practices of media usage and new patterns of audience activity and selectivity. Media audiences perform their choices of media when, where, and what to use in the multimedia environment, which is characterized by a completely differrent nature and logic of operation than the traditional media. The article has been prepared on the basis of a qualitative research. The aim of this article is to reveal the characteristics of leisure media usage in different lifestyle groups of the Lithuanian audience. The applied approach of the media repertoire is suitable for investigating the specifics of media usage in the multimedia environment. Analysis of the data has revealed that media users combine their own individual repertoires selecting only some of the available choices. The findings show that, despite the growth of media and content resources in the living environment of the individuals, respondents regularly use only part of them, selecting and combining those best suited to the rhythm of their lives, daily habits, and needs. Various lifestyle groups have differently designed their media repertoires in the multimedia environment. Schemes of the use of the media are closely related to the rhythm of an individual’s everyday life, when in each phase of the day users select different media related to the functions they perform, and different media used to satisfy different needs. Each medium performs a particular function in an individual’s life, depending on his needs, lifestyle, mobility, the media that are used by his peers and friends, employment, and the necessity of continuing professional activity after working hours. The number of combined media is determined by the level of media literacy (ability to use digital and mobile technologies and an understanding of their facilities), the variety of needs and aims (a greater number of needs and aims has an influence on a longer time span of using the media), predominant habits of the use of media (respondents explained media selections, for example, reading paper magazines, by habitude), recommendations from influence groups. Selections of media content encompass both rational and irrational reasons; nevertheless, making decisions on the selectable content is based on the corresponding strategy of personal behaviour, which takes the identification of topics as an important aspect. Among all available alternatives, media users look for attributes of the dominant topics they are familiar with and which are related to their interests, recommendations, pre-existing experience or the established criteria of merit and expedience. Individuals of a higher social status describe rational criteria for their selection, most frequently relating them to professional aims. Individuals of a lower social position state that they have no criteria; nevertheless, in the process of investigation they used such expressions as “I mostly like”, “most frequently I choose”, etc. This enables one to claim that alternatives of selection are filtered according to dominant topics. The research data show that the use of the media is not a planned activity; it is a daily activity which is rather habitual than spontaneous. bsp;

Niche news: the politics of news choice

Fox News, MSNBC, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Rush Limbaugh Show, National Public Radio-a list of available political media sources could continue without any apparent end. Niche News investigates how people navigate these choices. It asks whether people are using media sources that express political views matching their own, a behavior known as partisan selective exposure. By looking at newspaper, cable news, news magazine, talk radio, and political website use, this book offers the most comprehensive look to-date at the extent to which partisanship influences our media selections. Using data from numerous surveys and experiments, the results provide broad evidence about the connection between partisanship and news choices. Niche News also examines who seeks out likeminded media and why they do it. Perceptions of partisan biases in the media vary-sources that seem quite biased to some don't seem so biased to others. These perceptual differences provide insight into why some people select politically likeminded media-a phenomenon that is democratically consequential. On one hand, citizens may become increasingly divided from using media that coheres with their political beliefs. In this way, partisan selective exposure may result in a more fragmented and polarized public. On the other hand, partisan selective exposure may encourage participation and understanding. Likeminded partisan information may inspire citizens to participate in politics and help them to organize their political thinking. But, ultimately, the partisan use of niche news has some troubling effects. It is vital that we think carefully about the implications both for the conduct of media research and, more broadly, for the progress of democracy.

A Primer on Release-Rate Testing of Semisolids

Whereas traditional oral dosage formulations are assimilated into the body through the GI tract, many topical formulations are designed to permeate through the skin. This presents significant challenges in release-rate testing. What type of apparatus best replicates the dynamics of drug permeation through the skin? What quality control tool provides the analyst with reliability and consistency in results while still discriminating critical variances in semisolid formulations? Oral dosage formulations undergo disintegration and dissolution throughout the GI tract and assimilation into the bloodstream (Figure 1). Topical formulations release drug API through permeation of the skin for pharmacological response. Topical and transdermal medications have been designed for both local and systemic effect. Oral and topical dosage forms provide different avenues of drug introduction and thus suggest different approaches in release-rate testing. Human skin is a natural barrier to outside agents (Figure 2). Drug substances administered through semisolid preparations (creams, ointments, and gels) must penetrate the layers of the skin to have benefit. An appropriate in vitro apparatus for release-rate testing of topical products will mimic skin permeation kinetics, including donor, membrane, and a receptor medium that is analyzed for drug concentration. Diffusion cells are widely used for release-rate testing of semisolids. The pioneering work of Dr. T. J. Franz in the 1970s led to the basic apparatus configuration of a small-volume, jacketed cell with a donor chamber for drug application, a membrane through which it may permeate, and a receptor chamber from which samples may be analyzed for drug release (Figure 3). This popular device is often referred to as the “Franz cell.” The vertical diffusion cell (VDC) represents a refinement of the early Franz cell. It is based on several decades of application and may be used for release-rate testing of creams, ointments, and gels (Figure 4). Appropriate membrane and receptor media selections are critical decisions in method development. The U.S. FDA SUPAC-SS guidance (1997) recommends the VDC for assessing scaleup and post-approval changes in topical formulations. Diffusion cells are available from Hanson Research (Chatsworth, CA), PermeGear (Hellertown, PA), and others. Similar to USP dissolution apparatus, a diffusion cell tester typically includes a grouping of six cells for the simultaneous release-rate testing of six specimens (Figure 5). A cell drive controls the mixing of each cell receptor chamber throughout the test, and a circulating bath provides heated water to the jacketed cells to maintain a constant temperature (typically 32 °C for skin applications). Samples are manually withdrawn, and the receptor medium is manually replaced to maintain a constant media–membrane interface. Diffusion cell testing may be automated with a programmable sampler and collector. Some method protocols run overnight or even days, and automation provides the convenience and efficiency of unattended sample runs. A precision syringe-pump sampler is illustrated (Figure 6). Method protocols are programmed for automatic sampling, replenishment of receptor media, and collection into sealed HPLC vials for analysis.

A study on communication media selection in IT and service work groups

Media selection behaviour from 18 companies in Japan and China was studied using the media fitness framework. A multiple media usage was found to be more popular than a single medium usage. Factors that affected both primary and complementary media selection were investigated. As a result, social influence was identified as the most important factor for the primary medium selection followed by a rational factor and environment factor. The study revealed that both rational and social influence factors were closely related for a primary medium selection; however, social influence had almost no effect on selecting complementary media. The findings of this study are not only useful to guide risk aversion in media selections in IT and service industries, but also potentially effective in media selections in various remote working fields.

The Impact of the Perspectives of Teachers and Parents on the Literacy Media Selections for Independent Study of Students who are Visually Impaired

This study explored the choices of literacy media for independent study of students with visual impairments. The predictors that were taken into account were teachers’ use of technology, experience in teaching, and mastery of braille and the knowledge of braille of students, parents, and close friends.

Media Appropriateness in the Conduct and Discovery of Deceptive Communication: The Relative Influence of Richness and Synchronicity

We investigate the role that media synchronicity and media richness play in the particular communication context of deception. Hypotheses are developed based on prior models of mediated-deception as well as media richness theory and channel expansion theory. Two survey-based studies were conducted to look at this construct from the separate standpoints of the deceiver and the receiver. Study 1 (the deceiver) provided respondents with a detailed scenario and asked them to select a medium to use to accomplish a specific deceptive act. Results indicate a general preference for highly synchronous (and non-reprocessable) media. Study 2 (the receiver) focused each respondent on a specific medium and used 4 short scenarios to investigate how confidence in their ability to detect deception was affected by synchronicity, media richness, media familiarity, and co-participant (deceiver) familiarity. When making media selections, results indicate that synchronicity and media familiarity are relatively less important to receivers; instead, receivers engaged in deception detection clearly value rich media and co-participants with whom they have more experience and familiarity.

Filthy or fashionable? Young people's perceptions of smoking in the media.

Research has shown that the media over-estimates smoking rates and often associates smoking with favorable attributes or situations. Given that the media plays a large role in influencing youth culture, portrayal of smoking in the media is of concern. In order to explore young people's perceptions of smoking imagery in the media, 16 focus groups were conducted with 117 school students. Participants were asked to rate smoking images selected from audio-visual and print media, and to discuss their perceptions of these images. The results showed that young people perceived smoking in these media selections to be normal and acceptable. They identified with the stress-relieving and social aspects of smoking, despite being well aware of the harmful health effects. Its acceptability as part of a 'cool' image was also noted. Positive images of smoking in the media have the potential to down-play the serious health consequences of smoking by portraying it in a way that young people interpret as a normal part of everyday life. They may also encourage a more neutral or tolerant attitude towards smoking among young people and therefore act to counteract other health promotion efforts to reduce teenage smoking.

Addressing New Media with Conventional Media Planning

Accepted industry wisdom is that many new, and particularly Internet, media cannot be addressed through conventional media planning procedures. This paper takes a contrary position. It not only argues that new media can be addressed through conventional planning procedures, but it contends that they should be. Increasingly, all media compete for the same budget. Furthermore, they play critical roles in the same integrated marketing communications programs. To suggest that they should be treated differently argues against truly integrated media planning. While this paper does not suggest a comprehensive integrated planning solution, it does outline the directions such a solution should take. Most important, it shows how all media selections can be addressed through a common evaluative process.

Program Context, Sensation Seeking, and Attention to Televised Anti-Drug Public Service Announcements

This study examined effects of message and program sensation value, sensation seeking, and drug use on visual attention to televised anti-drug public service announcements (PSAs) among 318 18–22-year-olds, who were placed individually in a simulated home environment with the opportunity to read from print media selections and/or watch a half-hour TV program including two presentations of the test PSA. The TV program was high or low in sensation value. High sensation seekers paid greater attention to high sensation value programming and to PSA embedded in such programming, whereas low sensation seekers paid greater attention to PSA embedded in low sensation value programs. Ongoing attention to a program may help to sustain attention to a subsequent PSA. The findings relate to an activation model of information exposure and indicate that program sensation value and sensation seeking are important factors to be considered in the placement oftelevised drug abuse prevention messages.

Taxonomic selection of computer-driven visual display systems

A visual display taxonomy guide has been developed allowing a simulation designer to estimate requirements and cost ranges based on visual media selections and human visual limitations. The taxonomy was built from diverse research findings in training system development, instructional design, and human visual perception and performance studies. Results were coupled to basic engineering hardware design constraints associated with computer driven visual display systems. This approach yielded a decision structure based on a user query system and a list of outcomes based on those choices. The resulting list of outcomes is based on a set of training, perceptual and performance correlates of image specifications and display design characteristics. The user interface of the taxonomy was automated using a knowledge-based shell that illustrates and guides the specification process.

An analysis of intuitive and model-directed media-selection decisions

Media-selection decisions of 30 instructional development graduate students were studied under intuitive and model-directed decision-making conditions. Students were given three media-selection problems and were directed to select an appropriate medium for each problem and to write a rationale for the medium selected. The students used thier intuitions to select media for the first problem. They used a formal media selection process to select media for the other two problems. Results indicated that the proportion of students who made correct media selections when they used their intuition was not significantly different from the proportion who made correct selections the first time they used the formal selection process. The proportion of students who made correct selections the second time they used the formal process was significantly greater than the proportion who made correct selection decisions when using their intuition and when using the formal selection process the first time. Subsequent analysis, however, indicated that there was no correlation between the correct use of the formal selection process and making correct media-selection decisions. Implications for the design and use of formal media selection processes in instructional development are described.