Minority+Report+by+Danielle+Townsend

Danielle Townsend Mass Media and Children Prof. Renee Hobbs Due: 3/18/2011

Minority Report: iCarly Research Proposal **Research Question**: How do minority children between the ages of 8 and 10 view and interpret the homogenous cast of “iCarly”? **Rationale**: With television as a molding institution, children begin to form beliefs based on what they view. If minority children are only seeing one group of people being viewed in a positive light it may diminish their sense of power and motivation. It may also provoke a sense of self-doubt or lower self-esteem. **Method**: I will research and review studies that prove the link between homogenous television images and childrens self-esteem or self-perceptions. Field-work; before viewing an episode of iCarly, an interview will be conducted asking children between the ages of 8 and 10 for their thoughts about themselves, television, if they think television has an effect on how they view themselves, what they see, what kinds of messages they receive from television etc. Then have the children view the episode of iCarly. Afterwards, ask them a series of questions pertaining to their thoughts about the show in general, what messages they get from the episode, what they what they think of the cast, and how that makes them feel. **Expectations**: I expect to see mixed responses; some children saying that it absolutely has no affect and children saying that it may have effects on their thinking and how they view themselves. Although some children may say that the show has no effects I expect to find some affects being expressed in other ways such as attitudes or perceptions of others, how they view themselves in general etc.

Good start there. The rationale isn't quite right given the diversity of programming choices available to young viewers. With interview data, you can't measure self-doubt or self-esteem in a global sense and pin it to viewing of the show. But you can determine the extent to which children would like to be "like" ICarly (ie, their sense of identification). You predict that black kids may not identify with Carly, Sam, or Freddie, right? What kinds of comments might kids say after viewing an episode that would indicate their lack of identification with the characters?

Please review the relevant chapters in Sarah Banet-Weiser to more fully understand Nickelodeon's history/context re: race. At least some questions should invite children to compare and contrast different types of shows so we can see how ICarly compares to shows like True Jackson and other teen shows that feature African-Americans.

**Research Question**: How do minority children between the ages of 8&10 and 11&12 identify with the homogenous cast of iCarly?

**Rationale**: According to Carlos E. Cortes’ “The Children Are Watching: How the Media Teaches About Diversity” children are always extracting information from what the see on the screen whether is consciously or subconsciously, educational or pure entertainment. People tend to over-estimate the impact and power of media messages. However, according to Sarah Banet-Weiser, author of "Kids Rule!: Nickelodeon and Consumer Citizenship" minorities are cleverly placed in programs to validate the shows "coolness" “Relatively rare are studies based on actual observation of the response of young children to the media.” (Cortes pg. 9, Davies, 1997).

**Method**: First, I will research and review studies that investigate how minority children identify with homogeneous television images. Then I will conduct a research study of my own. I will base my method of research on that of Cortes’ where he conducts an observatory research study with his grandchildren. I will ask two groups of children between the ages of 8&10 and 11&12 open ended questions about who their favorite character is on the show and why.

**Expectations**: Based on what Cortes found in his research with his grandchildren who were younger and did not have a open dialogue about race or racial tensions, I expect for minority to children notice that there aren’t any characters that reflect who they are as minorities but still find a way to identify with them.