Television Ratings

Paper Summary:

This research proposal identifies the known problems with the rating systems and proposes a study that would help determine if the Q-Score reports are misrepresenting the American television viewing public. In this article, the writer discusses whether Marketing Evaluations'
Q-Scores for television ratings accurately represent the television viewing habits of all Americans, including minority groups, or whether the limited population samples and data analysis methods are skewed in such a way that minority populations are underrepresented in ratings and the media. The writer claims that this is an important study because of the integral role that television and the media play in the lives of all Americans, and as a part of American society overall. The writer concludes that if there is a misrepresentation of minority groups in the current Q-ratings reports, this must be identified and this information made available to the public so that all members of society can make an informed decision regarding media-related activities, such as advertising, that are affected by the quality of television ratings reports.

Outline:
Abstract
Purpose and Rationale
Hypothesis
Literature Review
Limitations
Works Cited

From the Paper:

"If a small-scale study finds a significant problem, other researchers will be interested in doing further analysis on this issue. Also, the public may simply be made aware of the issue, therefore considering these questions when taking stock in ratings reports. It is known that the television media industry and their advertisers depends on ratings reports to make decisions regarding programming and product placement. It is also well documented that minority groups have been significantly underrepresented in the Nielsen ratings, the country's leading marketing provider of television ratings, as will be illustrated by the following literature review. What is not known is whether the Q Rating system, which collected data in different ways than the Nielsen ratings, also has a problem in properly representing minority groups and providing accurate data on the television viewing habits of the American public."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Brancaccio, D. (2002, March 27) Martin Kaplan, of University of Southern California, talks about the television audience ratings service, ACNielsen Company. Marketplace. Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved May 2006 from http://www.learcenter.org/pdf/mp032702.pdf
• Don't Count Us Out Coalition (2005, July 27) Written Testimony. Hearing on Television Ratings Accuracy, FAIR Ratings Bill. United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Sciencec, and Transportation. Senate Russell Office Building. Retrieved May 2006 from http://www.dontcountusout.com/resources/DCUO%20Written%20Testimony.pdf.
• Gertner, J. (2005, April 10) Our Raings, Ourselves. New York Times Magazine [Cover Story].
• Karr, R. (2004, May 28) Critics: New Nielsen Meters Undercount Minority Viewers. Morning Edition. National Public Radio (NPR). Retrieved May 2006 from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1914179
• Marketing Evaluations. (2006) Q Score Official Website. Retrieved May 2006 from http://www.qScores.com/

More papers on Television Ratings:

• Persuasive Essay # 111357 : "Television Rating Systems"
• Research Paper # 75553 : "Television Media in France"
• Persuasive Essay # 118120 : "Television Violence and Children"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: