ZUR110 Introduction to mass communication theory: history of changes in the research on mass media effects

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2019
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Lukas Blinka, PhD. (lecturer)
Mgr. et Mgr. Marína Urbániková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Helga Martinková (assistant)
Mgr. et Mgr. Martin Vérteši (assistant)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Lenka Waschková Císařová, Ph.D.
Department of Media Studies and Journalism – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Bc. Pavlína Brabcová
Supplier department: Department of Media Studies and Journalism – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Wed 16:00–17:40 P51 Posluchárna V. Čermáka
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! ZURb1104 Mass communication theory &&!NOW( ZURb1104 Mass communication theory )&&( ZUR104 Communication studies - intro || TYP_STUDIA(N))
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The main goal is to introduce basic concepts, methods and theories that help to understand the effects media use can have on feelings, behaviours, and attitudes. The course provides an introduction into media effects research and theories. Particularly, the perspective of media studies, social psychology, and sociology will be used. The course is divided into three thematic blocks. The first one introduces media effects as a specific branch of media studies that has its own development, terminology, and methodological specifics. The second block focuses on theories that describe and explain when, why, how and what effects may happen under the influence of media use. The third block applies methodological and theoretical knowledge on traditional media studies topics like media violence, media and sex, stereotypes formation, political communication.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course, students should be able to:
- be familiar with media effect theories and their development;
- understand the research methods, both their usefulness and limits, that are used to study media effects;
- to apply such knowledge;
- critically approach media effect topics, especially in the form of various moral panics;
Syllabus
  • 1. Media impact, media influence, media effect: basic definition
  • 2. The key topics of media impact debate
  • 3. Theory of perception
  • 4. Social perception and media content
  • 5. Selectivity and media
  • 6. Persuasion theory and media
  • 7. Two step flow communication and opinion leaders
  • 8. Agenda setting I.
  • 9. Agenda setting II.
  • 10. Knowledge gap
  • 11. Spiral of silence
  • 12. Cultivation analysis
  • 13. Aggression and violence in media content
Literature
    required literature
  • SPARKS, Glenn Grayson. Media effects research : a basic overivew. Fifth edition. Boston: Cengage Learning, 2016, xx, 348. ISBN 9781305077478. info
  • The Oxford handbook of media psychology. Edited by Karen E. Dill. New York: Oxford University Press, 2013, xviii, 558. ISBN 9780199394821. info
  • GILES, David. Psychologie médií. Translated by Helena Šolcová. Vyd. 1. Praha: Grada, 2012, 185 s. ISBN 9788024739212. info
  • Media effects : advances in theory and research. Edited by Jennings Bryant - Mary Beth Oliver. 3rd ed. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, 2009, xv, 640. ISBN 9780805864502. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, readings
Assessment methods
Written final test (75%) and written in-semester test (25%).
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2000, Spring 2001, Spring 2002, Spring 2006, Autumn 2006, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2019/ZUR110