The purpose of this study is to contribute to a better understanding of the process by which communication technologies are defined, constructed, and developed. The technology chosen for examination is High Definition Television (HDTV). The data set consists of a body of HDTV forecasts and predictions concerning HDTV released between the years 1985 and 1990. Utilizing the methodology of the integrative research review, a coding scheme is employed to analyze the data along eight significant variables. They include: (1) the author(s) of the study, (2) the sponsor of the study, (3) the date of the study, (4) the intended audience of the study, (5) the primary methodology employed by the author(s), (6) the degree of audience preference for HDTV, (7) the time frame envisioned for deployment of HDTV, and (8) the degree of success that is depicted for the technology. These eight variables are arranged in a data matrix. Analysis of the data matrix reveals a high level of disagreement and discrepancy concerning the development of HDTV. In interpreting this pattern of divergence, three issues are discussed: how the forecasters define the technology, the positions the forecasters take with respect to the technology, and the sort of strategic response to the technology the forecasters feel is the most appropriate for the U.S. Important conclusions are offered concerning our understanding of the way in which this particular technology is being developed and constructed, and the methods and techniques which are utilized in understanding and predicting this process. The limitations of HDTV as a representative case study are discussed, and areas requiring further research are outlined.

Television contributes to social learning. Most people believe in supporting the environment yet high-polluting, gas-guzzling SUVs and trucks are the most popular vehicles purchased by Americans. The literature supports the view entertainment television talks very little about the environment and the causes or solutions to pollution. Television informational programming rarely reports on environmental issues and may actually vilify the environment by emphasizing natural disasters, storms, etc. Some informational programs trivialize nature. Into this milieu, ubiquitous ads trumpet the automobile as a means to access and dominate nature. Mobility and the status of owning an automobile are lifestyle values advanced by the Dominant Social Paradigm and its cultural arm, television. The automobile is the most advertised product in history. Manufacturers have made automobiles an integral part of the American lifestyle by placing automobiles prominently in cultural products such as movies, songs and television shows and supporting the products with billions of dollars in advertising. For over 100 years, ads portrayed the automobile as a means to access and dominate nature, a form of status and an integral component of the American Dream. This project documents the role of automobiles and mobility in popular culture through a cultural history of the automobile. A content analysis of 200 automobile commercials was conducted to investigate natural images in television ads. Finally, focus group research was used to hear discourses about automobiles, the environment and automobile advertising. Americans privilege mobility. The role of the automobile in American society and culture is quite salient. Although people articulate concern for the environment in the abstract, the root causes of these problems do not seem apparent to most people. Immediate action or action by individuals to address environmental problems is not critical. There is considerable faith that technology, industry or the government will solve environmental problems before they impact lifestyle. Industry causes pollution, not people or the consumerist lifestyle.

Despite extensive research into memory and violence, relatively little is known about the relationship between violent media and memory of advertised products. Research has yielded contradictory evidence ; some scholars have found a negative relationship, others a nonexistent one... This research investigated the role of emotion in the relationship between violent media and product placement memory. This study creates insight into inconclusive previous findings by providing evidence that violence influences product memory. Specifically, participants were significantly worse at remembering products placed within violent clips (e.g., free recall, cued recall, recognition. Participants' emotional responses to the violent clips also appeared to influence their memory for embedded products ; product recognition was significantly correlated with disgust, avoidance, and interest ratings.... Interestingly, stronger negative responses to the violent clips were correlated with decreased preference for the embedded products. Furthermore, the pattern of differences for product preference between target and non-target violent products varied according to negative emotional reaction. Therefore, this dissertation provides insight into the role emotion plays in the relationship between viewing violent media and product placement memory. / by Johanna D. Berger. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.

The thesis deals with the influence of marketing on the customer in the choice of food. It examines whether the influence of marketing prevails over customer´s own judgment about the choice of appropriate food for daily use in terms of monitoring its nutritional composition. The theoretical part deals with the basics of marketing, with a lot of attention being paid to food goods, food labeling, nutrition and the quality of food products, which can greatly affect the quality of life. The research was conducted through a questionnaire survey. The obtained data are processed in the form of tables and graphs, supplemented with verbal commentary. The validity of the set hypotheses is statistically evaluated and processed. Based on the results of the research, at the end of the thesis, the factors influencing the purchasing decision and the individual preferences of the respondents in the food selection are evaluated. The appendix provides an overview of practical information and general advice that should help shoppers to make choices when purchasing basic foods and to better understand the information given on individual product packaging.