This study intends to discover distinctions between two minority groups, Mormons and Orthodox Jews, compared to a mainstream Protestant group, the Methodists, in terms of newspaper behavior. It intends to probe for differences in newspaper readership frequency and uses (Berelson, 1949) between religious minority group members and majority group members. It originated with the belief that religion (type) and degree of ingroup identification in the minority communities (stronger) would lead to greater newspaper avoidance and limit newspaper use primarily for information/public affairs, rather than Berelson's (1949) other categorizations of socialization, respite, entertainment. Indeed, minority-majority distinctions did not hold. Important differences emerged between religious and more secular individuals in all communities. It was the degree of religiosity that most deeply impacted newspaper use, not denominational ties. The more individuals scored highly on a "religion-as-spiritual-quest" factor, the less they read newspapers, particularly the business newspaper. For "spiritual questors" of all denominations, the house of worship, with its myriad activities, served as a leisure-time base and, for them, recreational use of the newspaper was minimal. / Communication Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Communication)

This thesis focuses on self-tracking, which mean monitoring and recording information about oneself using digital technologies and its use by runners in the Czech Republic. The main aim of this thesis is to describe the Czech running community through a detailed sociological analysis, and to answer a question: Why runners use self-tracking and how they benefit from it? The theoretical part firstly deals with the topic of self-tracking itself, then examines the uses and gratifications theory and the theory of online communities. The analytical part is devoted to description, analysis and interpretation of the results of the author's own survey, in which 844 runners of whom 754 practice self-tracking participated. Several hypotheses concerning sociodemographic structure, running characteristics, motivation, gratifications and safety were formulated. Five key motives (self-control, orientation to result, self-improvement, habit and social interaction) that lead runners to use self-tracking devices were identified through exploratory factor analysis. The motives vary based on gender and running characteristics (experience with running, runner's level, frequency of running, trainer) that also represent the main influencing factor for self-tracking in general. Self-tracking is closely related to sharing...

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie studie ondersoek die behoeftes van Afrikaanse televisiekykers aan Afrikaanse televisieprogramme te midde van die veranderinge wat sedert demokratisering aan die Suid-Afrikaanse medialandskap plaasvind. Hierdie behoeftes word ondersoek by wyse van 'n gevallestudie ender graad 10-leerders in Pretoria. Die gebruike- en bevredigingsbenadering dien as teoretiese onderbou vir die studie en die invloed van 'n aantal veranderlikes word ondersoek. Hierdie veranderlikes is televisiegerig (inhoud, aanbod en struktuur van Afrikaanse programme), tegnologiegerig (nuwe mediategnologiee socs satelliettelevisie en die Internet) en kykergerig (sosio-kulturele, persoonlike en demografiese faktore). Die studie bevind dat daar 'n verband is tussen hierdie veranderlikes en respondente se behoeftes aan Afrikaanse televisieprogramme. Die studie bevind dat Afrikaanse programme nie respondente se behoeftes bevredig nie. Nuwe mediategnologiee verbreed respondente se sosio-kulturele horlE;onne sodat hulle gemaklik met programme in Engels omgaan. Te midde van die toenemende aanbod van oorsese programme in Engels, neem die behoefte aan Afrikaanse programme af. / This study investigates the need for Afrikaans television programmes among Afrikaans viewers in the changing media environment in South Africa. Needs are studied by means of a case study among grade 10 learners in Pretoria. The uses and gratifications approach serves as the theoretical framework of the study and a number of variables are investigated. These variables are television driven (supply, content and structure), technology driven (new media technologies such as satellite television and the Internet) and viewer driven (socio-cultural, personal and demographic factors). The study finds that there is a connection between these variables and the need for Afrikaans programmes among respondents. The supply, content and structure of Afrikaans programmes do not gratify respondents' needs. New media technologies broaden respondents' socio-cultural horizons, enabling them to comfortably watch English programmes. Amidst the increasing supply of overseas programmes in English, the need for Afrikaans programmes is diminishing / Communication Science / M. A. (Kommunikasiekunde)

This research examined lecturers’ perspectives on the academic use of Facebook, specifically for teaching, in a higher education institution in Gauteng, South Africa. A survey research design was followed, and semi-structured interviews were conducted. The study sought to fill the gap in the Social Networking Sites literature by focusing on lecturers’ perspectives, ascertaining how lecturers use Facebook as an academic teaching tool and determining the advantages and disadvantages thereof, and attempting to add to the debate on whether or not higher education settings could add the use of Facebook to their range of practices that may enhance teaching. The sample comprised fourteen respondents. It has emerged that lecturers are not, for the most part, utilising Facebook as an academic teaching tool. Based on the findings, a framework on how lecturers could integrate Facebook into academia is proposed. / Computing / M. Sc. (Computing)

This research is about the spectatorship of Brazilian and Portuguese soap operas in Portugal. The Grounded Theory approach was employed to derive a “SOAP OPERAS SPECTATORSHIP MODEL” firmly rooted in the perspectives of 49 soap operas viewers. The resulting model reveals three groups of motives for viewing soap operas: a) mood management, b) habit, and c) social integration/ learning. Within the model, each motivation group is associated with a particular strategy and level of exposure to soap operas, as well as predominant choices about the soap opera’s national or foreign origin. With regard to Portuguese soap operas, particular attention is paid to the receptor´s social integration and learning, the latter allowing him/her to use the contents in his/her personal context: The receptor is being counseled in the taking of decisions, given the opportunity to evaluate feelings and behaviors, and to confirm or adjust attitudes, styles and behaviors. With regard to Brazilian soap operas, the motive of mood management is highlighted, though not excluding the other above mentioned groups of motives. Establishing the relationships between the concepts identified in the research, the study presents the viewers´ experiences with soap operas in Portugal. / Assistir às telenovelas brasileiras/portuguesas em Portugal é o tema investigado neste trabalho. A abordagem da “teoria fundamentada em dados” foi empregada na investigação para prover um “MODELO DA AUDIÊNCIA DAS TELENOVELAS” firmemente enraizado na perspectiva de quarenta e nove receptores entrevistados. O modelo resultante revela três grupos de motivos para a audiência: a) Gerenciamento do humor, b) hábito e c) Aprendizagem/Integração social. Cada grupo de motivos no modelo se associa a particular estratégia e intensidade de exposição às telenovelas, como também se associa as escolhas preponderantes das telenovelas por sua origem, se nacional e/ou estrangeira. Em destaque para a seleção das telenovelas portuguesas é identificado o uso dos seus conteúdos para integração social e aprendizagem/aconselhamento, este último permitindo ao receptor verificar a validade de sentimentos e comportamentos, aconselhamento para tomada de decisões, reforço/ajuste de atitudes, estilos e condutas para incremento da credibilidade e posição pessoal. Em destaque para a seleção das telenovelas brasileiras é identificado os motivos de Gerenciamento de Humor, muito embora de forma não excludente às outras categorias de motivos mencionadas. Com o estabelecimento das relações entre os conceitos surgidos na pesquisa indutiva, o estudo representa as experiências dos receptores das telenovelas em Portugal. / Lisboa

The advent of the Internet has increased access to information and impacted many aspects of life, including politics. The present study utilized Pew Internet & American Life survey data from the November 2008 presidential election time period to investigate the degree to which political blog reading predicted online political discussion, online political participation, whether or not a person voted, and voting choice, over and above the predication that could be explained by demographic measures of age, education level, gender, income, marital status, race/ethnicity, and region. Ordinary least squares hierarchical regression revealed that political blog reading was positively and statistically significantly related to online political discussion and online political participation. Hierarchical logistic regression analysis indicated that the odds of a political blog reader voting were 1.98 the odds of a nonreader voting, but vote choice was not predicted by reading political blogs. These results are interpreted within the uses and gratifications framework and the understanding that blogs add an interpersonal communication aspect to a mass medium. As more people use blogs and the nature of the blog-reading audience shifts, continuing to track and describe the blog audience with valid measures will be important for researchers and practitioners alike. Subsequent potential effects of political blog reading on engagement, discussion, and participation will be important to understand as these effects could impact the political landscape of this country and, therefore, the world.

Text in English / Born at a time of abundance of technology, including new media, e-teens have their lives woven around the use of new media technologies to the extent that they virtually do everything with the aid of these technologies, including learning, playing, socialising and communicating. E-teens, besides, demonstrate marked expertise in the use of these technologies. Although there have been various studies done on this group of users supported by models and theories on the use, gratifications and appropriation of new media technologies, the premise of this study was on two assumptions. First, there are limited studies that have been conducted in the sub-Saharan African context, especially, Ghana. Second, most available theories and models that guide the study of e-teens’ use, appropriation and the use of new media technologies are generalized and do not sufficiently highlight the unique attributes and gratification needs that are tied to their developmental stage. In light of these assumptions, the study was undertaken to provide empirical evidence on the types of new media e-teens have access to; the types of new media used by e-teens in their scheme of things and e-teens’ purposes for using new media. It also sought to find out the gratifications sought and obtained from the use of new media technologies by e-teens; the key features of new media appropriation and experience among e-teens and to identify the features of new media technologies which are most appealing to e-teens. The other objective, which serves as the main contribution of this study, was to develop a conceptual model representing new media use and appropriation among e-teens, thereby filling the theoretical or conceptual gap that exists in this context. The study adopted a quantitative approach whereby data was collected using close-5ended questionnaires. The target population were teens from age 13 to 19 in senior high schools in the Greater Accra region of Ghana, selected using a simple random sampling. The results of the study show that, overall, the most popular new media technology that e-teens had access to and owned was the smartphone. Leading among the apps that e-teens found to be appealing were educational, entertainment and information/news, with communicative and participatory features of new media technologies appealing to e-teens highly. Also, educational, sociability and social inclusion, respectively, were the most popular gratifications sought and obtained by e-teens. It is submitted that social inclusion, educational and sociability gratifications are considered to be directly in line with the unique developmental needs of e-teens. However, it is recommended, among other things, that educational use of new media, which was one of the strong points for new media use, should be further encouraged as new media provides borderless opportunities for learning. The researcher believes that the conceptual model for e-teen use and appropriation of new media technologies provide a firm ground for further research on topics related to this subject matter. To provide support and substance to the e-teen model, other researchers are encouraged to test and extend it where necessary. In conclusion, the findings provide evidence that new media technologies are highly appropriated by e-teens because the technologies help them meet their unique gratification needs. Therefore, the study recommends that, although new media use among e-teens can be encouraged, it is important to ensure proper usage, which will not be detrimental to them. / Communication Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Communication)

Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Diplomarbeit wurde das Mediennutzungsverhalten von älteren Menschen untersucht. Ausgangspunkt der Arbeit sind die demographische Entwicklung sowie der Wandel zu einer Informations- und Wissensgesellschaft in Deutschland. Aufgrund der steigenden Lebenserwartung und einer sinkenden Geburtenrate stehen einer zunehmenden Zahl älterer eine sinkende Zahl jüngerer Menschen gegenüber. Die Durchdringung nahezu sämtlicher Lebensbereiche mit Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien stellt dabei für die älteren Bevölkerungsschichten aufgrund steigender physischer und psychischer Beeinträchtigungen eine größere Herausforderung dar. Ziel der Arbeit war es, ein Grundmodell zu entwickeln, welches die Einflussfaktoren auf das Nutzungsverhalten von Senioren in Bezug auf IP-basierte Medien abbildet und eine Vorhersage des Mediennutzungsverhaltens ermöglicht. Als Grundlage des Modells dienten die Theorie des geplanten Verhaltens und der Uses-and-Gratifications-Ansatz. Um das Modell zu entwickeln, wurden neben der Analyse der Literatur Leitfadeninterviews durchgeführt. In die Betrachtung wurde neben der Zielgruppe mit 65 bis 80 Jahren eine Gruppe im Alter von 50 bis 64 Jahren einbezogen. Der Vergleich beider Gruppen zeigte deutlich, dass die 50 bis 65-jährigen Probanden IP-basierte Medien bereits stärker in den Alltag integrieren und auch zur eigenen Unterhaltung nutzen, während die Gruppe der 65 bis 80-jährigen vorangig klassische Medien wie Fernsehen, Radio sowie Zeitung nutzt und fast außschließlich Informationen sucht. Für die jüngere Gruppe waren zudem Produkteigenschaften wie Ubiquität, Mobilität und Zeitunabhängigkeit der Nutzung von größerer Bedeutung. Es stellte sich in der Untersuchung auch heraus, dass die Gruppe zwischen 65 bis 80 Jahren ein sehr heterogenes Mediennutzungsverhalten besitzt. Dieses leitet sich aus der individuell wahrgenommenen Verhaltenskontrolle, der Einstellung gegenüber der Nutzung des Mediums und den Nutzungsmotiven ab, die zu sehr unterschiedlichen Erwartungen und Bewertungen IP-basierter Medien führen können. Aus den Interviews ließen sich außerdem spezielle Anforderungen und Gestaltungsempfehlungen ableiten, welche den Einstieg in neuartige IP-basierte Medien und die Mediennutzung nicht nur für ältere Menschen erleichtern können.

This thesis aims to explore the video game medium in depth, to relate it to the stories foundon Internet communities about users’ gameplay experiences during burdensome moments inlife. To achieve that, the phenomena is explored through the lenses of Uses & Gratificationstheory by means of a netnography on the ‘/Persona 5’ official subReddit; interpreting, codingand analyzing all narratives that fit the criteria with the help of a proposed ‘USE’ system. Themodel is in charge of classifying the information into explicit displays of ‘Dissatisfaction’,‘Motivation’, ‘Immersion’ and ‘Emersion’. The resulting codification enabled the creation ofeight different types of reports among a sample of one-hundred threads, all in correlation withthe varied aspects of the game that act as categories. The data derived from the conclusions ofthis study shows that players are not motivated to use the video game for any other purposesthan mere entertainment. Yet, the immersive potential of the virtual world addressed theirdissatisfactions and made them emerge back to reality with, mostly, not-sought gratifications. Still, not all players were able to control their video game uses to regulate their emotions,further implying the importance to continue researching cases of media immersion toestablish guidelines of ethical design and appropriate production and consumption practices.

No description available.