Before each seminar, submit your answers to the reading questions for that week's literature
under Assignments in Blackboard.
Seminar 1:
- Reading questions lecture 1 + 2
Seminar 2:
- Reading questions lecture 3 (prepare before lecture)
- Selection topic + 2 articles
Seminar 3:
- Reading questions lecture 4
- Article/report on policy advice
Seminar 4:
- Reading questions lecture 5 + 6
- Pitch
Seminar 5:
- Reading questions lecture 7
- Pitch
Seminar 6:
- Reading questions lecture 8
- peer feedback
, Lecture 1 Introduction
Gentile & Semsa (2003) Developmental approaches in understanding media effects
1. Which developmental approach can you use to explain why adolescents show increased
interest in celebrities and interactions with influencers during adolescence?
a. The developmental tasks approach -> As kids individualize themselves from their
parents, they try to establish psychological and emotional independence. They need
somebody to look to, aside from their parents, for guidance and a model for
becoming an adult. This can be a celebrity or influencer. It provides a basis for self-
expression, the construction of self-identity, and the achievement of independence.
Subrahmanyam & Šmahel (2011) – Digital Youth chapter 4: Constructing Identity Online: Identity
Exploration and Self-Presentation
1. The authors suggest that online spaces, like Blogs and Myspace, provide chances for
people to explore and express their identities. Now, think about a newer platform, like
TikTok. How do you think it offers opportunities for self-presentation?"
a. People can make TikToks about their own views and opinions and talk about it. It is
also possible to have discussions with other people on a certain topic, to make clear
what your point of view is. On blogs or Myspace, you can only write about it,
without the reader knowing who has written it. TikTok makes it very open and not
anonymously.
Lecture 2 Media effect theories
Valkenburg & Oliver (2019) Media effects theories: an overview
1. What are the “evergreen” theories and why are they still so popular?
a. Cultivation theory.
b. Agenda setting theory.
c. Diffusion of innovations theory.
d. Uses and gratifications theory.
e. Social learning/social cognitive theory.
f. Media system dependency theory.
Still so popular because they remained prominent in every decade. Are still relevant nowadays,
several authors have observed that some theories are used over and over again until the present
day. One explanation for this phenomenon may be that these theories have managed to become
part of the shared identity of media effects researchers, who, by referring to or adjusting these
theories in their work, are able to communicate this identity. Another explanation may be the high
“tolerance” of evergreen theories for multiple interpretations of their claims.
2. What three core features distinguish contemporary media effects theories from the earlier
ones? Briefly describe what each core feature entails.
a. Selectivity: Selectivity is one of the oldest paradigms in communication. Lazarsfeld et
al. (1948) discovered that individuals predominantly select media messages that
serve their needs, goals, and beliefs. These early ideas have been further
under Assignments in Blackboard.
Seminar 1:
- Reading questions lecture 1 + 2
Seminar 2:
- Reading questions lecture 3 (prepare before lecture)
- Selection topic + 2 articles
Seminar 3:
- Reading questions lecture 4
- Article/report on policy advice
Seminar 4:
- Reading questions lecture 5 + 6
- Pitch
Seminar 5:
- Reading questions lecture 7
- Pitch
Seminar 6:
- Reading questions lecture 8
- peer feedback
, Lecture 1 Introduction
Gentile & Semsa (2003) Developmental approaches in understanding media effects
1. Which developmental approach can you use to explain why adolescents show increased
interest in celebrities and interactions with influencers during adolescence?
a. The developmental tasks approach -> As kids individualize themselves from their
parents, they try to establish psychological and emotional independence. They need
somebody to look to, aside from their parents, for guidance and a model for
becoming an adult. This can be a celebrity or influencer. It provides a basis for self-
expression, the construction of self-identity, and the achievement of independence.
Subrahmanyam & Šmahel (2011) – Digital Youth chapter 4: Constructing Identity Online: Identity
Exploration and Self-Presentation
1. The authors suggest that online spaces, like Blogs and Myspace, provide chances for
people to explore and express their identities. Now, think about a newer platform, like
TikTok. How do you think it offers opportunities for self-presentation?"
a. People can make TikToks about their own views and opinions and talk about it. It is
also possible to have discussions with other people on a certain topic, to make clear
what your point of view is. On blogs or Myspace, you can only write about it,
without the reader knowing who has written it. TikTok makes it very open and not
anonymously.
Lecture 2 Media effect theories
Valkenburg & Oliver (2019) Media effects theories: an overview
1. What are the “evergreen” theories and why are they still so popular?
a. Cultivation theory.
b. Agenda setting theory.
c. Diffusion of innovations theory.
d. Uses and gratifications theory.
e. Social learning/social cognitive theory.
f. Media system dependency theory.
Still so popular because they remained prominent in every decade. Are still relevant nowadays,
several authors have observed that some theories are used over and over again until the present
day. One explanation for this phenomenon may be that these theories have managed to become
part of the shared identity of media effects researchers, who, by referring to or adjusting these
theories in their work, are able to communicate this identity. Another explanation may be the high
“tolerance” of evergreen theories for multiple interpretations of their claims.
2. What three core features distinguish contemporary media effects theories from the earlier
ones? Briefly describe what each core feature entails.
a. Selectivity: Selectivity is one of the oldest paradigms in communication. Lazarsfeld et
al. (1948) discovered that individuals predominantly select media messages that
serve their needs, goals, and beliefs. These early ideas have been further
