Growing Under the
Shadow of Mass Media:
Explorations into Family Lives and Psycho-Social
Well-Being
A Research Proposal
Under
the Scheme of Innovation Project of
Delhi University
Submitted
by
Navin Kumar, Indiwar Misra and Vishnu Mohan Das
B.R.
Ambedker College
Delhi
University, Delhi
Delhi
-110092
Growing Under the
Shadow of Mass Media:
Explorations into Family Lives and Psycho-Social
Well-Being
Contemporary life has a
pervasive influence of media in almost all walks of life. The innovations coming
from the revolution in information and communication technology (ICT) are redefining
the contours of human existence at physical, social, and psychological planes. The
presence of gadgets such as mobile phone, television (TV), personal computer
(PC), lap top, Internet, and I Pod are reorganizing life experiences in terms
of time, space, and efficiency. The consequences of these interventions are
resulting in changes in mental habits, pattern of time use, quality and nature
of social interaction, and well-being. At societal level institutions like
banking, travel, schooling, health care, and official/bureaucratic processing
of information in different walks of life are organizing live in newer ways. At
individual level people are feeling empowered. By amplifying human capacity,
enhancing performance, and facilitating various goals these technologies are
shaping the motives, emotions, and choices in significant ways. Indeed they are
deeply entrenched in today’s lives in urban India. The consequences are,
however, not free from problems. They are interfering with many activities in
the life world and their fruitful integration with personal, family, and
organizational domains often become problematic.
There are indications that
greater use of these gadgets leads to increase in individual level psychopathology
(e.g. loneliness, attention-deficits, and poor interpersonal relationship),
disruptions in family functioning, and poor work-life balance. Unrealistic
aspirations, consumerist orientation, over concern for body image, and
preference for materialistic possessions are often reported to dominate
their lives. Such consequences have implications for parenting, schooling and
social policy.
Objectives
Against this backdrop
this project is conceptualized to address the following specific objectives:
1.
to
document and understand the pattern of use and exposure to mass media (TV) by children
and adults in urban family settings from high, middle and low social class
backgrounds,
2.
to
see the relationship of media experience , in terms of content , frequency and
intensity with psycho-social well-being; and
3.
to
analyze the relationship of media experience with normative and deviant behavior patterns, and
4.
to
bring out the pattern of healthy media experience and develop psycho-education
module for its promotion.
Method
Keeping the objectives
and the nature of project in view this study would consist of four inter
related phases i.e. (1) preparation, (2) pilot study, (3) main study, and (4)
report writing. During all these stages the participating faculty and students would
act as co-researchers and learners. They would jointly co-construct the
understanding of media influences. The study would involve qualitative as well
as quantitative methodological approaches to tap the variables and processes. Also,
it would approach the issues under study from the perspective of children as
well as parents.
The students shall get firsthand
experience of planning and undertaking research that would enable them to build
social sensitivity, research skills and problem solving orientation. The
students would be encouraged to master interviewing, observation, data analysis
and report writing. They will be encouraged to develop interest in academic and
applied problem solving and to get a feel of accomplishment.
Sample
Three types of families
representing high, middle and low social class backgrounds would be drawn from
Delhi metro area. There will be 40 families from each setting with a total of
120. Within each category nuclear and joint/extended families will be included.
Measures
/Tools
The measures will be
developed and or adopted on the basis of a review of related measures and
related studies. They will pilot tested on a small sample before use in the
study. A brief description of the coverage and purpose of these measures is
described below.
Background Datasheet:
This would include relevant demographic details about participants.
Observation Schedule
for Children: The study proposes to use participant
observation for obtaining realistic data about the exposure of media. This
schedule would be used for this purpose.
Interview Schedule for
Adults:
The interview would aim to understand the media experiences of adults
and their views about media influences on children. Attempt will be made to
have interviews of both parents .
Interview Schedule for
Children: the purpose of this schedule is to engage
children in meaningful conversation and get their reports on various aspects of
media exposure.
Life Goals and Aspirations:
This measure will try to assess the life goals chosen by the children and their
aspirations and expectations.
Value Orientation:
This measure shall focus on materialism, consumerism and related values.
Subjective Well-being:
This will be assessed using self report measures dealing with life
satisfaction, positive affect and negative effect.
Social Well-being:
This would provide an index of the
perception of social welfare and person’s own contribution to it.
Academic Orientation:
The study in formal school setting requires performing a variety of tasks and
participation in various curricular and extracurricular activities. This
measure shall include active involvement and performance of children.
Health Screening:
It would involve physical as well as mental health.
Data
Analysis
The study would involve use of qualitative
methods for the analysis of interview and observational data. For this purpose
content analysis and grounded theoretic analysis will be undertaken. The
quantitative data will be analyzed using descriptive and inferential methods.
Report
Writing
The report writing
would be done in two ways. First, an integrated report in the form of a
publishable monograph will be prepared. Second , the students will be trained
to write papers for publication in scientific journals.
