Question 1

Godwin's Law argues that online discussions that go on long enough eventually ______.

Accepted Answer

Godwin's Law states that as an online discussion continues, it becomes more and more likely that someone will compare someone else to Hitler or Nazis. Therefore, the discussion ends up with such a comparison.

Question 2

Which of the following best describes the findings of the People's Choice study from 1940?

Accepted Answer

The People's Choice study from 1940 found that audiences are indirectly affected by media campaign messages. This means that media messages can influence and affect audiences, but not necessarily in a direct, straightforward manner. The study highlighted the importance of considering the context and individual factors in understanding how media messages are received and processed by audiences.

Question 3

An important consequence of the critical/cultural model is that researchers pay more attention to ______.

Accepted Answer

The critical/cultural model emphasizes the importance of understanding how meaning is created within society and how power structures influence communication processes. It encourages researchers to examine media messages and practices within their social context, rather than simply analyzing them as isolated phenomena.

Question 4

A study that looks whether press coverage of massive tax cuts made audiences talk more about government deficits would be an example of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Agenda setting theory posits that the media plays a significant role in determining what issues the public deems important. In this case, the study seeks to determine if press coverage of massive tax cuts affects how much people talk about government deficits, thereby demonstrating the agenda-setting function of the media.

Question 5

A study that looks at why teenagers like to go to horror movies like The Purge or Insidious would be an example of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A study that analyzes why teenagers like certain media content, such as horror movies, falls under the uses and gratifications theory, which studies how individuals use media to satisfy their specific needs, including entertainment and arousal.

Question 6

The way that a dramatic movie score by composer John Williams makes you feel during a Star Wars movie would be an example of a _________ effect.

Accepted Answer

The way a dramatic movie score by John Williams makes you feel during a Star Wars movie would evoke psychological effects, as it influences emotions, mood, and perception.

Question 7

Why weren't stories by women in Hollywood who say they were abused or harassed by movie producer Harvey Weinstein published until 2017?

Accepted Answer

Women may have been hesitant to come forward because of the embarrassment or shame they felt, fear of losing work opportunities or being blacklisted in the industry, and the possibility that they would not be believed.

Question 8

A media scholar is trying to find out if children who watch Sesame Street do better in second grade than children who watch SpongeBob SquarePants.What kind of effects is this scholar looking for?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A media scholar is trying to find...

Question 9

Research on opinion leaders conducted in the 1940s provides an example of ______.

Accepted Answer

Research on opinion leaders in the 1940s showed that media influence is often mediated through social interactions, highlighting the social nature of media consumption.

Question 10

A media scholar is trying to find out whether Internet or television political ads are more persuasive.What kind of effects is this scholar looking for?

Accepted Answer

Media effects refer to the ways in which media consumption shapes individuals' beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. In this case, the media scholar is interested in comparing the persuasive effects of Internet and television political ads. Therefore, the scholar is examining the media effects of these two types of ads.

Question 11

Critical theory arose from a group of scholars known as the ______.

Accepted Answer

Critical theory originated from the Frankfurt School, a group of scholars primarily based in Frankfurt, Germany in the 1920s and 1930s. The Frankfurt School was made up of intellectuals who were discontent with traditional Marxist theory and sought to adapt it to contemporary society.

Question 12

A media scholar is trying to find out if the editorial focus of a television station's news programming changed after it was purchased by a large media conglomerate.What kind of effects is this scholar looking for?

Accepted Answer

The scholar is specifically looking for ownership effects, which refer to changes in the editorial focus, content, or presentation of media programming that come as a result of changes in ownership or control of media organizations.

Question 13

The way that a television commercial can convince a 5-year-old to ask his or her parents for a particular brand of breakfast cereal would be an example of a _________ effect.

Accepted Answer

The commercial having an impact on the child's behavior to ask for a specific brand of cereal demonstrates a behavioral effect. The child's actions are influenced by the commercial, and they are exhibiting a different behavior (asking for a specific brand of cereal) than they would have otherwise.

Question 14

Fears that media messages would have strong,direct effects on individuals grew out of propaganda campaigns during which of the following conflicts?

Accepted Answer

The fears that media messages would have strong, direct effects on individuals grew out of propaganda campaigns during World War I. This led to the development of theories like the hypodermic needle model, which suggested that media could inject ideas and messages directly into the minds of audiences, and the limited effects model, which suggested that media messages have minimal impact on individuals.

Question 15

Each cast of The Voice becomes famous after appearing on the show for a season.This is an example of the ______ function of the media.

Accepted Answer

The example given is of surveillance/status conferral, as the media is highlighting the fame and recognition gained by the contestants on The Voice after appearing on the show.

Question 16

A study that attempts to explain why a radio program about the death of an attractive young woman is more popular with audiences than one about a male soldier who deserts his unit on the battlefield would be an example of ______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A study that attempts to explain why...

Question 17

Which of the following is not a key principle of the critical/cultural model?

Accepted Answer

The principle described in choice B is actually the Spiral of Silence theory, which is not a principle of the critical/cultural model but rather a theory of public opinion in the field of communication studies. The critical/cultural model focuses on power, context, and the role of media and culture in society, rather than on individual perceptions of majority or minority opinions.

Question 18

A media scholar is looking at why so many Americans are watching This Is Us on television.What kind of effects is this scholar looking for?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A media scholar is looking at why...

Question 19

The critical/cultural model assumes which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The critical/cultural model assumes that audiences actively use the media to construct their view of the world. This means that they are not passive receivers of media messages, but instead are actively engaging with and interpreting media content.

Question 20

Correlation is accomplished by persuasive communication through which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Correlation is accomplished through various forms of persuasive communication, including editorializing, commentary, and advertising, so the correct answer is D, all of these.

Quiz 2: Mass Communication Effects: How Society and Media Interact