Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Texas, May, 2007. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--Liberty University, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--Central Connecticut State University, 2004. / Thesis advisor: Bradley M. Waite. " ... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in General Psychology." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 68-75). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Delaware, 2006. / Principal faculty advisor: R. Lance Holbert, Dept. of Communication. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, 2002. / Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 45-06, page: 2711. Typescript. Abstract appears on leaves 1-2. Leaves 75-77 are presented as leaves 1-3. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 66-73).

Despite being dismissed as low brow, nonsensical and a cheap form of entertainment, the present cultural phenomenon of reality television reveals a shared space where people are exposing more personalized, emotional aspects of themselves than typically seen in other genres of television programming or areas of contemporary public life. This recent trend of reality TV is both heightening and challenging many of the long-standing ethical debates over the boundaries between public and private, individual and collective as well as rational and emotional experience and needs to be considered within a pedagogical context. This study will explore reality television's position as a means of popular education, while attending to a broader social context of changing media and corresponding cultural shifts. A McLuhanesque study, this thesis will investigate what socio-cultural changes are occurring in our media environment as a result of our experiences within new media technologies.

Thesis (M.A.)--Carleton University, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 86-88). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2008. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on June 2, 2009) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

Over the last five years, reality-based television has generated some of the biggest, most talked-about hits for broadcast networks. However, academic researchers have given little attention to the genre, specifically the differences among various formats of reality programming and the appeal of these formats to viewers. To understand the appeal of specific aspects of reality television, a better understanding of reality television viewers, types of reality shows watched and gratifications sought was needed. The objective of this study was to compare differences among reality television formats watched and gratifications sought by regular viewers.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306An online survey was made available to 15,000 college students at a mid-sized, public university in the Midwestern United States. Six hundred thirty responses were received, but those who were not regular viewers of reality-based television were eliminated. Regular viewers are defined as those who indicate that they watch at least one reality-based program the majority of times that a new episode airs. By eliminating those who are not regular viewers, 327 cases were left for analysis.An analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant differences within groups of viewers based on the type of reality show that they indicated was their favorite. A Scheffe's test was employed to determine where these differences were. Significant differences existed between docusoap and reality-talent watchers for parasocial relationship gratifications, and reality lifestyle watchers and those who watched all other formats for self-awareness gratifications. Significant differences also existed for reality game watchers and those who watch reality lifestyle formats and docusoap formats for entertainment gratifications, and docusoap watchers and those who watch reality game formats for boredom gratifications. No significant differences existed relating to downward social comparison, social utility or escape gratifications. / Department of Journalism