SFL 358 Test Questions with 100% Correct
Answers
Describe the research done on Sesame Street (all mentioned in class.) If you were a
producer of Sesame Street, what are some ways you would fulfill the Sesame Street
"world vision"?
Anderson research: those who viewed Sesame Street at age five had better grades in high
school, read more books, were highly motivated, and had less aggressive attitudes
Mares research: kids who watch SS are more aware of what is happening in the world and
cultures, better cognitive outcomes, better attitudes towards people who are different from
them.
World vision: teaches children about different cultures. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, I
would have a segment on Asian culture to help break down stereotypes and prejudices.
Describe the four schedules of reinforcement described in operant conditioning theory.
Give an example of a type of media that works on each schedule of reinforcement.
- Fixed-ratio schedule: after a certain number of times doing something you receive
something you desire (video games; you pass the level if you beat the bad guy 3 times)
- Variable-ratio schedule: don't know the number of times you have to do something to
receive what you desire (social media: you don't know how many times you have to open
Instagram to get a like, DM, or comment)
- Fixed-interval schedule: a set amount of time you have to do something to receive a reward
(TV shows: you have to wait for the 90 second commercial break to be over before you can
keep watching your show)
- Variable-interval schedule: don't know the amount of time you will have to do something to
, receive a reward (podcast: you don't know how long you will have to wait for the segment
you're interested in)
What is the theory of catharsis? Does research support this theory? Describe at least
one study to support your answer
catharsis: you can emotionally purge yourself of bad feelings by participating in theater
Research does not support this theory.
Bushman research: those who read pro-catharsis material felt more aggressive
Describe Dutton & Aron's (1974) high suspension bridge study. How would excitation
theory describe their results?
They had men cross a bridge and an attractive research assistant stopped them and asked
them to fill out a questionnaire and make up a story. Sometimes the men were stopped in the
middle of the bridge and some at the end. The men asked in the middle of the bridge were
more likely to make up sexual stories and ask the woman for her phone number opposed to
the men asked at the end of the bridge. This study determined that the men stopped in the
middle were transferring the physiological arousal from the scariness of being on the bridge
and mistaking it for attraction towards the assistant (the emotions from the bridge transferred
into emotions towards the woman)
What is a content analysis? Why is it important in media research? Give one example of
a content analysis from the research literature.
Content analysis helps analyze content in the media. It is important in media research because
it establishes a starting point for potential research by helping describe trends in the media
and comparing media content to the real world (seeing if certain ethnicities are over or under
represented in certain TV shows)
Answers
Describe the research done on Sesame Street (all mentioned in class.) If you were a
producer of Sesame Street, what are some ways you would fulfill the Sesame Street
"world vision"?
Anderson research: those who viewed Sesame Street at age five had better grades in high
school, read more books, were highly motivated, and had less aggressive attitudes
Mares research: kids who watch SS are more aware of what is happening in the world and
cultures, better cognitive outcomes, better attitudes towards people who are different from
them.
World vision: teaches children about different cultures. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, I
would have a segment on Asian culture to help break down stereotypes and prejudices.
Describe the four schedules of reinforcement described in operant conditioning theory.
Give an example of a type of media that works on each schedule of reinforcement.
- Fixed-ratio schedule: after a certain number of times doing something you receive
something you desire (video games; you pass the level if you beat the bad guy 3 times)
- Variable-ratio schedule: don't know the number of times you have to do something to
receive what you desire (social media: you don't know how many times you have to open
Instagram to get a like, DM, or comment)
- Fixed-interval schedule: a set amount of time you have to do something to receive a reward
(TV shows: you have to wait for the 90 second commercial break to be over before you can
keep watching your show)
- Variable-interval schedule: don't know the amount of time you will have to do something to
, receive a reward (podcast: you don't know how long you will have to wait for the segment
you're interested in)
What is the theory of catharsis? Does research support this theory? Describe at least
one study to support your answer
catharsis: you can emotionally purge yourself of bad feelings by participating in theater
Research does not support this theory.
Bushman research: those who read pro-catharsis material felt more aggressive
Describe Dutton & Aron's (1974) high suspension bridge study. How would excitation
theory describe their results?
They had men cross a bridge and an attractive research assistant stopped them and asked
them to fill out a questionnaire and make up a story. Sometimes the men were stopped in the
middle of the bridge and some at the end. The men asked in the middle of the bridge were
more likely to make up sexual stories and ask the woman for her phone number opposed to
the men asked at the end of the bridge. This study determined that the men stopped in the
middle were transferring the physiological arousal from the scariness of being on the bridge
and mistaking it for attraction towards the assistant (the emotions from the bridge transferred
into emotions towards the woman)
What is a content analysis? Why is it important in media research? Give one example of
a content analysis from the research literature.
Content analysis helps analyze content in the media. It is important in media research because
it establishes a starting point for potential research by helping describe trends in the media
and comparing media content to the real world (seeing if certain ethnicities are over or under
represented in certain TV shows)
