Date of Conferral

2019

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Kristen Beyer

Abstract

The depiction of offenders in drama shows may play a significant role in how society views them. The purpose of using Gerbner's cultivation theory in this study is the belief that the frequency of watching, and the content of television shows can influence public perception. Previous research has used cultivation theory to investigate television shows, but no effort was made to differentiate between genres. There is an important gap in the current literature because few studies have examined how particular television shows influence society's views of female parolees. This study intends to address that weakness by limiting the study to female offenders. The purpose of the proposed research is to explore the impact of age, gender, genre, demographic location, and frequency of viewing certain television shows on the perceptions of female parolees by the general public. A sample of 263 participants, recruited through social media, completed the surveys. Data analysis was accomplished using multiple linear regression and logistic regression statistics. Findings indicated that the rate of watching the drama shows did not influence how the television viewers perceived female parolees. However, friendly shows were more likely to make participants more accepting of ex-offenders. The results of this research would make a significant contribution to the existing literature. It would enhance social change through initiatives that highlighted issues in some drama shows, and positively affect the perception of viewers.

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