A Survey on Effects of Mass Media on People

NAME (optional): AGE:

NATIONALITY: GENDER:

1. Which type of media do you usually acquire information regarding current issues?
Answer the table below from 8 to 1, eight being your most used media channel.
Particulars Rank
Newspapers
Magazines
Posters
Television
Radio
Mobile Text Blast
Internet Websites
Social Media

2. Which type of media do you believe is the most reliable?

Answer the table below from 8 to 1, eight being the most reliable source for you.
Particulars Rank
Newspapers
Magazines
Posters
Television
Radio
Mobile Text Blast
Internet Websites
Social Media

3. Please choose the effect of corresponding media issues that are given below.
Kindly check the box of your choice.

NEITHER
STRONGLY STRONGLY
ISSUES AGREE
AGREE AGREE NOR DISAGREE DISAGREE
DISAGREE
Mass media can create new
cultures which change old
norms and values.
Mass media can be used to call
attention to issues.
 Media enables audiences to
travel to different places and
witness important events within
their homes.
Television, movies, internet and
radio are the best source of
entertainment.
Mass media reaches more
people in a shorter period.
New media such as the Internet
and mobile phones give people
unlimited access to information.
New info at the click of the
mouse.
Media coverage during times of
crisis can improve the situation.
Media coverage during times of
crisis can worsen the situation.
People have become very
dependent on media for
information.
Interpersonal relationships can
be affected by mass media.
Media can create conflict within
communities.

SHUKRAN!
Thanks for your help and cooperation!
 TMA 2: Report and Analysis on Survey Regarding the Effects of Mass Media on People

Methodology and Rationale

The respondents are composed of fifteen diverse nationalities; 1 Egyptian, 3 Jordanians, 4

Indians, 2 Saudis, and 5 Filipinos currently working in a multinational company in Dammam,

Saudi Arabia. Questionnaires were given through hard copies and administered individually

last October 1-5, 2016. The respondents were asked to choose their most used media channel

in acquiring information regarding current events. Respondents most reliable source of

information was also asked to know the most trusted media channel nowadays. These two

primary questions will help the researcher know and understand the way on how people are

being informed with regard to the pressing issues at the present time. Different effects of

mass media based on the web were enumerated and respondents had the freewill to agree

or disagree on the effects given.

Results and Analysis

MOST USED MEDIA CHANNEL

Newspapers Magazines Posters Television
Radio Mobile Text Blast Internet Websites Social Media

18% 18%

9%
17%
11%
3%
5%
19%

As seen above, television, social media, and newspapers are still the most used media

channels by many. However, magazines and mobile text blast are the least channels being

patronized by people these days.

 MOST RELIABLE MEDIA CHANNEL
Newspapers Magazines Posters Television
Radio Mobile Text Blast Internet Websites Social Media

15% 20%

11%
5%
3%
9%
16%
21%

Even cultural hegemony is present on social media and television, most of the respondents

are still relying and looking forward on legitimate news and information from these channels.

Q1: MASS MEDIA CAN CREATE Q2: MASS MEDIA CAN BE

NEW CULTURES WHICH USED TO CALL ATTENTION TO
CHANGE OLD NORMS AND ISSUES.
VALUES. Strongly Agree Agree
Strongly Agree Agree Neither/Nor Neither/Nor Disagree
Disagree Strongly Disagree Strongly Disagree

20%
30%

80% 70%

Majority of the respondents say that mass media can create new culture and it can be a

useful tool in getting the attention of people to react and join on some important issues in

the society.
 Q3: MEDIA ENABLES Q4: TELEVISION, MOVIES,
AUDIENCES TO TRAVEL TO INTERNET AND RADIO ARE
DIFFERENT PLACES AND THE BEST SOURCE OF
WITNESS IMPORTANT EVENTS ENTERTAINMENT.
WITHIN THEIR HOMES. Strongly Agree Agree
Strongly Agree Agree Neither/Nor Disagree
Neither/Nor Disagree Strongly Disagree
Strongly Disagree 10%
10%
30%
20% 20%

70% 40%

As seen above, with regard to entertainment, there are some respondents that find television

and other channels not pleasurable for them. Maybe because not all shows, websites and

mobile applications are available nor accessible in their respective countries. Meanwhile,

because of travel shows and vlogs, most of the respondents strongly agree that media enables

them to travel and see other events without traveling nor spending any amount of money.

Q5: MASS MEDIA REACHES Q6: NEW MEDIA SUCH AS THE

MORE PEOPLE IN A SHORTER INTERNET AND MOBILE PHONES
PERIOD. GIVE PEOPLE UNLIMITED ACCESS
Strongly Agree Agree Neither/Nor
TO INFORMATION. NEW INFO AT
Disagree Strongly Disagree
THE CLICK OF THE MOUSE.
Strongly Agree Agree
Neither/Nor Disagree
10% Strongly Disagree
20%
20%
70%
80%

On the efficiency of media, respondents say that mass media is more accessible and it can

reach more audience and listeners over a short period of time compared to word of mouth

and other avenues.

 Q7: MEDIA COVERAGE DURING Q8: MEDIA COVERAGE DURING
TIMES OF CRISIS CAN TIMES OF CRISIS CAN WORSEN
IMPROVE THE SITUATION. THE SITUATION.
Strongly Agree Agree Neither/Nor Strongly Agree Agree Neither/Nor
Disagree Strongly Disagree Disagree Strongly Disagree

20% 20%

20% 60%
80%

Even majority of the respondents say that media coverage can improve the situation of

society in times of crisis, there is still a number of them that finds it the other way around.

When they were asked the opposite question, most of them also thought that if media can

improve it could also worsen the scenario depending on the matter that has been or will be

raised.

Q9:PEOPLE HAVE BECOME Q10: INTERPERSONAL

VERY DEPENDENT ON MEDIA RELATIONSHIPS CAN BE
FOR INFORMATION. AFFECTED BY MASS MEDIA.
Strongly Agree Agree Neither/Nor Strongly Agree Agree
Disagree Strongly Disagree Neither/Nor Disagree
Strongly Disagree

20%
30%

70%

80%

Given the fact that people of today are very dependent on mass media when it comes to news

and acquiring other information, it also means that there is a high tendency of media affecting

the interpersonal relationship of people with each other.

 Q11: MEDIA CAN CREATE CONFLICT WITHIN
COMMUNITIES.
Strongly Agree Agree Neither/Nor Disagree Strongly Disagree

10%
10%

10%
60%
10%

Base on the projection above, sixty percent of the respondents think that media can create

conflict within communities. However, there are twenty to twenty five percent of them

believe that media cannot generate problems within the community. Obviously, if things are

not properly transmitted, conflict may arise, but if things are communicated well, everything

will go smooth and fall in its proper place.

CONCLUSION

Certainly, mass media has improved and integrated our ways of communication, though, it is

vital that we have to be mindful on what we see, hear and believe. Mass media can be useful

and unhelpful and it can be beneficial and damaging. At the end of the day, its our

responsibility to handle and cater everything not only for our good but for societys

betterment also. Media can inspire us and even enhance our lives, but at some point there is

a high tendency that we become unconscious of what is really happening to our community.

That even sometimes we tend to tolerate negative things like; discrimination, stress and

communal conflict. This survey that has been conducted might open our eyes into a better

realm of appreciating and embracing media as an important tool for common growth and

societal development.