UCLA COMM 10 COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
2026 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED
A+
◉ Types of Functions of the Mass Media. Answer: Content function
Medium function
Manifest function
Latent function
◉ Content function. Answer: A function based on what the medium
conveys.
Ex: the weather channel tells us what to wear on a given day.
◉ Medium function. Answer: A function based on how the medium is
used.
Ex: the movies provide a place to go on a date, not only used to watch
the movie, go for the experience.
◉ Manifest function. Answer: Functions that are obvious, intended, and
on the surface.
Ex: couple listens to radio to be informed
,◉ Latent function. Answer: Functions that are unintended, hidden or
beneath the surface.
Ex: the weather channel tells us what to wear on a given day.
◉ Societal Functions of Mass Media. Answer: Status Conferral
Perpetuates Norms, Values, Traditions
Creating Community and Social Cohesion
Narcotizing Function
Servicing the Political System
Servicing the Economy
◉ Status Conferral. Answer: Legitimizes the status of person or idea;
confirms status.
Ex. When the media reported the beating of a gay man, this gave the
issue of gay rights more status and national attention. It became a
national issue
◉ Passes on Norms, Values, Traditions. Answer: The media perpetuate
social norms, teaching right from wrong. Enforces by showing how
deviation from norms is punished. You see that on TV and think, I better
not do that.
Ex: not reporting taxes
,◉ Creating Community and Social Cohesion. Answer: Mass media
provide a common source of narrative that can unite people in the
absence of the old physical meeting spots
- Especially in a time of crisis, like the community of interest and
sympathy created by media coverage of 9/11 or Trayvon Martin.
- Media create a common base of cultural knowledge, giving people
something to talk about. The OJ Trial, or American Idol.
◉ Narcotizing Function. Answer: The media function as the opiate of
the masses. By filling our heads with meaningless, titillating junk, they
lead us not to question the status quo.
◉ Servicing the Political System. Answer: Mass Media let us know what
our government is doing. Candidate messages address information to
public.
Ex: Obama addresses the entire nation at the State of the Union, a
speech broadcast across the mass media
◉ Servicing the Economy. Answer: The mass media are a very large and
profitable business. They facilitate the processes of capitalism
- Like the stock info in news papers
- E commerce - buying things online
- Advertising in media
◉ Individual Functions of the Mass Media. Answer: Guides Behaviour
, Guides Understandings
Develop Self-Concept
Professional Tool
Facilitate Social Interaction
Substitute Social Interaction
Emotional Release
Order, Organize, Ritualize our lives
◉ Guides Behaviour. Answer: Tell individuals how to act, instructs how
to behave in certain situations.
Ex: Weather report tells you how to dress, who to vote for.
◉ Guides Understandings. Answer: Help people make sense of the
world. What kind of place is the world? Violent or peaceful
- Example, the Mean World Syndrome. Violent movies and shows make
people think the world is like that
◉ The Mean World Syndrom. Answer: the more tv people watch, the
more they come to believe the world is a mean and scary place.
◉ Develop Self-Concept. Answer: By exploring depictions of real or
fictional worlds, we use media to decide who to be, and how to fit into
the world.
Ex: provides role models of who we want to be like.
2026 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED
A+
◉ Types of Functions of the Mass Media. Answer: Content function
Medium function
Manifest function
Latent function
◉ Content function. Answer: A function based on what the medium
conveys.
Ex: the weather channel tells us what to wear on a given day.
◉ Medium function. Answer: A function based on how the medium is
used.
Ex: the movies provide a place to go on a date, not only used to watch
the movie, go for the experience.
◉ Manifest function. Answer: Functions that are obvious, intended, and
on the surface.
Ex: couple listens to radio to be informed
,◉ Latent function. Answer: Functions that are unintended, hidden or
beneath the surface.
Ex: the weather channel tells us what to wear on a given day.
◉ Societal Functions of Mass Media. Answer: Status Conferral
Perpetuates Norms, Values, Traditions
Creating Community and Social Cohesion
Narcotizing Function
Servicing the Political System
Servicing the Economy
◉ Status Conferral. Answer: Legitimizes the status of person or idea;
confirms status.
Ex. When the media reported the beating of a gay man, this gave the
issue of gay rights more status and national attention. It became a
national issue
◉ Passes on Norms, Values, Traditions. Answer: The media perpetuate
social norms, teaching right from wrong. Enforces by showing how
deviation from norms is punished. You see that on TV and think, I better
not do that.
Ex: not reporting taxes
,◉ Creating Community and Social Cohesion. Answer: Mass media
provide a common source of narrative that can unite people in the
absence of the old physical meeting spots
- Especially in a time of crisis, like the community of interest and
sympathy created by media coverage of 9/11 or Trayvon Martin.
- Media create a common base of cultural knowledge, giving people
something to talk about. The OJ Trial, or American Idol.
◉ Narcotizing Function. Answer: The media function as the opiate of
the masses. By filling our heads with meaningless, titillating junk, they
lead us not to question the status quo.
◉ Servicing the Political System. Answer: Mass Media let us know what
our government is doing. Candidate messages address information to
public.
Ex: Obama addresses the entire nation at the State of the Union, a
speech broadcast across the mass media
◉ Servicing the Economy. Answer: The mass media are a very large and
profitable business. They facilitate the processes of capitalism
- Like the stock info in news papers
- E commerce - buying things online
- Advertising in media
◉ Individual Functions of the Mass Media. Answer: Guides Behaviour
, Guides Understandings
Develop Self-Concept
Professional Tool
Facilitate Social Interaction
Substitute Social Interaction
Emotional Release
Order, Organize, Ritualize our lives
◉ Guides Behaviour. Answer: Tell individuals how to act, instructs how
to behave in certain situations.
Ex: Weather report tells you how to dress, who to vote for.
◉ Guides Understandings. Answer: Help people make sense of the
world. What kind of place is the world? Violent or peaceful
- Example, the Mean World Syndrome. Violent movies and shows make
people think the world is like that
◉ The Mean World Syndrom. Answer: the more tv people watch, the
more they come to believe the world is a mean and scary place.
◉ Develop Self-Concept. Answer: By exploring depictions of real or
fictional worlds, we use media to decide who to be, and how to fit into
the world.
Ex: provides role models of who we want to be like.
