VIOLENT FILMS AND CHILDREN IN YENAGOA: EVALUATION OF PARENTAL MEDIATION AWARENESS

VIOLENT FILMS AND CHILDREN IN YENAGOA: EVALUATION OF PARENTAL MEDIATION AWARENESS

ABSTRACT

People, especially children, copy a lot of behaviours from television including violent and aggressive ones. Violent and aggression are newer programmed as such, but are portrayed, through unintentionally by television in the discharge of its basic functions like information, education and entertainment. Children are cognitively immature set of people seeking social relevance and integration copy these are acceptable social behaviour. This study was undertaken to find out how parents in Yenagoa mediate the use of television by their children. Using the survey method, a sample of 286 was drawn from the population. It was found that Yenagoa youths watch violent films and their parents rarely mediate their television use. It was recommended that every station should follow the telecommunication Act of 1996.

TABLE OF CONTENTS                                                                PAGES

Title page    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -       

Certification         -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -

Dedication  -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -

Acknowledgements -               -        -        -        -        -        -

Abstract -   -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -

Table of contents -        -        -        -        -        -        -

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0            Introduction         -        -        -        -        -        -        -

1.1     Statement of the problem

1.2     Objectives of the study

1.3     Significance of the study

1.4     Research questions

1.5     Scope of the study

1.6     Limitations of the study

1.7     Operationalization of terms

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0     Introduction

2.1     Conceptual review

2.2     Empirical review

2.3     Theoretical framework

2.3.1  Theory of parenting style

2.3.2Social learning theory

2.3.3Rational choice theory

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1     Research design

3.2     Population

3.3     Sample size

3.4     Sampling technique

3.5     Method of data analysis

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION, INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS

4.0     Data analysis

4.1     Respondents personal data

4.2     Discussion of findings

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1     Summary

5.2     Conclusion

5.3     Recommendations

REFERENCES

Appendix I

Appendix II (Questionnaire)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0     INTRODUCTION

          Film is a series of moving picture(s) recorded with sound that tells a story or to established a fact, shown on the television or at the cinema. As part of mass communication it involves the use of (audio-visual) audio/sound and visual/vision/pictures in transmitting and disseminating information/messages large and scattered  audiences.

          According to Usua and Asadu (2011),” Communication makes man as man makes the society”. This means that communication is the totality of man, and what is communicated can actually influence man and the society at large either positively or negatively. 

          Mean while, one of the most debated aspects of film is the extent to which its violent content influence social behavior (especially among children and young adults). Also, there has been scientific evidence to prove causal relationship between violent in film and increase in crime rate in the society.

          In North America concern about the possible effects of media violence and most especially its effects on youths has also  been the debate various scholars, political groups, and organizations have reported that there is clear and consistent evidence that violent in the media causes real – life aggression and violence.

          According to the American medical Association and the American Psychological Association’s joint statement in (2000), revealed the aforementioned effects in their research on the pathological effects of these violent films.

          However, since the invention of film in 1885 by Auguste and Louis where it was first named cinematography, it has been shown to the public by means of projector machine in cinema halls. But the story improved drastically in modern day films.

          Usua (2012), “violent films have moved to television screens, transferred or recorded on video cassettes and compact discs from where individuals can take home and with the help of video and disc player, watch individually at home”.

          Aggressive and violent behavior among children is said to be caused by multiple factors (violent film, violent lyrics, lies as well as hurtful things) done which these children must have read, seen or heard. These multiple factors converge in them over time. It has been argued that influences that promote aggressive behavior in children, such as media violence, can effectively contribute to  increasingly aggressive and violent behavior years later (Anderson et. al. 2003). On the other hand, promoters and producers of these violent films including the media that show these films, have argued that, nothing can make a non-violent person to be violent, that everybody has the rational ability to be either violent or non-violent (Cesarona, 1994).

          Interestingly, whether violent films do evoke violent behavior among children or not, general tips have been given to parents of all kids to mediate between films their kids watch and the children. Parental mediation should always focus on exposing children to media that reflect our personal values and say ‘no’ to the ones that do not, explain the true consequences of violence to their children, teach verbal resolution (teach kids how to use their words responsibly to stand up for themselves without through a punch), know their kids media (check the age limit on which that film is rated for), and finally, keep an eye on the clock (do not let your kids/children spend too much time on virtual violence- (Ivory, 2001).

          Therefore, the aim of this work-violent films and children in Yenagoa: Evaluation of Parental Mediation Awareness to show a nexus between the rising rate of crime and violence amongst children and that of film violence as well as to ascertain level of parental mediation, since it has been asserted by (Ivory, 2003), that “violence is literally everywhere in media and it’s becoming harder to avoid”.

1.1     STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

          Since the invention of film which was first publicly presented in France by the Lumiere brothers in 1885, attention seems to have been shifted from the initial primary communication (spoken) and secondary communication (written) to passing on information and messages through motion pictures (film/movies).

          Sometimes information is passed deliberately or implicitly to children who get expose to different media stumble on some lantent and manifest content of the media. They have no knowledge of why what happens in the media happens. They are not cognitively matured. Unfortunately, there is no station dedicatedly primarily to children. For this reasons, parents should make them understand media messages through mediation. But the big question is do Yenagoa parents mediate children’s access to films?

1.2     OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study is to find out the following:

1.     To find out if children in Community Secondary School Biogbolo Yenagoa are exposed to violent films.

2.     To know if the Yenagoa parents are aware of parental mediation.

3.     To know the impact of violent films on children of Community Secondary School and the influence these films have on them.

1.3     RESEARCH QUESTIONS

          The following research questions have been formulated to guide this study. They are:

1.     Do students of Community Secondary School, Biogbolo, Yenagoa, watch violent films?

2.     What is the level and effectiveness of parental mediation awareness from the parents and children of this school? (Community Secondary School, Biogbolo, Yenagoa).

3.     Does the watching of violent films among these students have any impact, effect or influence on them?

1.4     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

          In this area era of violent films proliferation in the media, both children who currently view violent films, play violent video games, cartoons that are crime oriented, will find this work useful. Also prospective viewers and parents who will want their children to eschew violence and pursue and morality, in the sense that it will highlight the reasons why children like violent films, the effects these violent films have on children, educate parents why they should guide their children (parental mediation tips), as well as evaluate the level of parental mediation awareness in our society on violent films. Also, it will serve as a reference material for future researchers who will venture into this are or similar field.

1.5     SCOPE OF THE STUDY

          Considering that fact that films are watched by millions of children/students in Nigeria and beyond, this work will be limited to children/students in Community Secondary School, Biogbolo, Yenagoa.

1.6     LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

          The major limitation to this work is the insufficient time available to make the study as thorough as desired. Also, unavailability of enough scholarly texts as would have wanted by the researcher on this field, and attitude of the respondents are threats to this study as they may be unwilling to give out accurate information that will be relevant to the study. Despite all these hindrances, the researcher will endeavour to manage the resources available in order to make this work reliable.

1.7     OPERATIONALIZATION OF TERMS

       i.            Awareness: The state or condition of being aware having knowledge about something.

     ii.            Evaluation: To assess the level of something.

  iii.            Parental mediation: The attempt or involvement of parent(s) in order to effect peaceful settlement.

  iv.            Violent films: Moving/motion pictures shown mostly on television which portray acts of physical aggression by one human or human like character against another.