Media Audiences

Students in this course will learn about the various theories about people's media use, based on fields of audience and reception research in media studies, and cognitive and social psychological theories in psychology. Furthermore, students will learn about the historical development of audience and effect research, audiences media use, and audience measuring and traditions like Cultural Studies, research on reception and ethnographic audience research.
Students will also gain insight into current issues like the effect of mediated violence, the significance of advertising, as well as children and young people's use of media, such as TV, internet and mobile phones.

Knowledge:
The student has knowledge about people's media use, based on the fields of audience and reception research in media studies, and cognitive and social psychological theories in psychology.
The student has knowledge of the historical development of audience and understanding of theories in the effect research tradition, the theories of media use (uses and gratification) and audience measurement, and research traditions like Cultural Studies, reception research and ethnographic audience research.
The student also has insight into people's relationship with media technology in a changing media landscape.
The student has insight into historical and current issues in the field of audience research, such as the effects of mediated violence, the importance of advertising as well as children and young people's use of media, such as television, internet and mobile phone.

Skills:
The student can discuss the concepts and traditions of research related to people' s media use and reception based on cognitive and social psychological theories in psychology.

General competence:
The student can discuss theories, issues and research findings in a media psychological perspective.

Lectures 4 hours per week