Description
Mass Media and Society: This course takes and empirical look at the impact of the mass media on individuals and society. First, an overview of the history of media effects research will be presented. Focus will be places in the paradigm shifts of media effects and the implications of these changes for understanding how individuals are influenced by mass media. Second, the major theoretical perspectives used to explain the influences of the mass media(e.g., priming theory, social cognitive theory) as well as the methods employed to test such effects (e.g., content analysis, surveys, experiments, longitudinal studies) will be discussed. Third and most importantly, a substantial portion of the course content will focus on the intended and unintended effects of different types of media content on individuals and society.