If the arts are an essential means for cultural expression, then the study of arts participation is central to the understanding of U.S. culture and its evolution. This document aims to provide an understanding of arts participation at the national and local levels. To this end, the historical development of arts research is summarized and an…

The Qualitative Studies section of the Proceedings contains the following 10 papers: "An Alternative to Alternative Media'" (James Hamilton); "A Critical Assessment of News Coverage of the Ethical Implications of Genetic Testing" (David A. Craig); "Earth First! and the Boundaries of Postmodern Environmental…

The uses and gratifications paradigm, like the initial conceptions of media effects, can be viewed as a compatible elaboration of contemporary social and political theory. The fundamental assumptions of the uses and gratifications approach, particularly the assumptions regarding the nature and extent of audience activity and the ability of the…

While the capacity to recognize and appreciate beauty may be inborn in all of us, participation in the arts as an audience or artist usually involves a learning process. What is the relationship between childhood and early adult experiences with the arts and later participation? In 1982, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the…

As a result of the overwhelming amount of print and electronic advertisements which compete for consumer attention, advertisers must find effective methods to get through the ad clutter and capture their audience's interest. Several tactics can accomplish this strategy, including the tactic of breaking or reversing audience expectations or…

The twentieth century history of the academic study of political communication can be divided into three parts: the period between the World Wars, the period 1940-1965, and the period from 1965 to the present. In the first period, social scientists were greatly concerned that the democratic process might be subverted by propaganda; they were…

This paper stresses the potentially enormous power of new communications technology and urges communicators to use this power cautiously and wisely. Among the topics considered are the power potential of using communication satellites; the conflict in developing countries between the concept of free communication and the need to protect a people…

Athletic programs in the public schools and colleges are often justified by assertions that competitive team sports build character and sportsmanship for participants and spectators, and that sports reinforce such school and community ideals as the virtues of competition, patriotism, and the desirability of healthy living. Spectator behavior at…

This (London) group teaches English by presenting short humorous skits, in which a language problem is unobtrusively presented. Afterwards the audience repeats the pattern(s), which a member of the group pronounces for them. At the end of each unit, a rousing song is sung, with all joining in the refrain. (IFS/WGA)

Notes that to succeed in television both the audience and what is trying to be achieved with them must be known. Also important is a knowledge of what appeals to the audience, what their needs and interests are, and how the educational objectives planned for them can connect with these characteristics. (Author/AM)

Analyzing data from the 1982, 1985, and 1992 Surveys of Public Participation in the Arts (SPPA), this study defined arts participation as involvement in a listed activity at least once in 12 months. Respondents were considered crossover participants if they were involved in a single art form in more than one way or if they were involved in more…

Socialization is a process by which children learn the attitudes and orientations that will guide their behavior as adults. The analyses described in this report use this socialization model as a basis for describing the relationship between childhood and early adult arts-related experiences and current arts-related leisure participation. Three…

This guide offers suggestions and lists resources that are of aid in telling stories in which children can actively participate. Five types of participation stories are discussed: (1) stories in which children participate verbally; (2) stories in which children respond to story cues with appropriate actions; (3) song stories in which children sing…

In order to understand the communicative interaction of film, it is necessary to carefully analyze the special qualities of film as a visual medium, to understand the elements of audience identification with what happens in the film, and to interpret the use of symbolism that enables an audience to derive meaning from it. Among the special…