Media Psychology Awareness Survey

I am part of a research team looking at the current definition and understanding of media psychology. This is the write-up submitted to APA Division 46 (Media Psychology) explaining the research project on Media Psychology awareness in hopes of generating a better response rate to the survey. Anyone, however, can take it by going to: Media Psychology Survey

In May 2006, a Fielding Graduate University research group formed to explore the changing attitudes and definition of Media Psychology. Under the direction of the Division 46 Education Committee chair Dr. Bernie Luskin and Fielding Graduate University professor Dr. Erik Gregory, the doctoral-level project is aimed at promoting understanding of and increasing familiarity with Media Psychology. To support this goal, the researchers will measure how Media Psychology is currently perceived by the psychological community as well as by the greater public.
The research group used collaborative communications and technology to develop a survey that is designed to explore the changing attitudes and definition of Media Psychology. Preliminary results for Phase I of the project were presented at the Fielding Graduate University Winter Meetings in January 2007. In Phase II, the group hopes to engage the help of Division 46 members who, as pioneers in the field, can provide a rich assessment of where Media Psychology is today and what lies ahead. (A link to the survey is available at the end of this article.)

The research project uses the Luskin & Friedland (1998) APA Division 46 study entitled “Task Force Report: Media Psychology and New Technologies” as a foundation. The researchers will examine whether the eleven areas of Media Psychology applications outlined in the Task Report need updating. The researchers are interested in expanding upon the academic and practical potential for media psychologists and using the knowledge gained from this project to enhance awareness of the field.

The primary goals of the group are:
• To create a current working definition of Media Psychology
• To devise plans using the fundamentals of Media Psychology to promote the field in and out of academia with an emphasis on increasing the awareness of the breath and significance of its applications

The group formed in response to the many people from both academia and business who expressed interest in understanding and knowing more about Media Psychology. In the process of answering that question, the group has discovered that there are many different ideas and definitions. Because Media Psychology overlaps with disciplines such as communications, critical studies and popular culture, many people are unclear as to the distinctions. The group felt it was important to address this gap, especially since many communications practitioners have come to be perceived by some, not always accurately, as psychology practitioners.

Beyond the Task Force study, an examination of the literature confirms that there is little agreement as to the definition of Media Psychology. There is, however, widespread agreement that a better understanding of the field is critical. Areas of discussion include ethics (e.g. Diesch and Caldwell, 1993), public opinion of professional psychology (e.g. Carll, 2001), and the need for expanded definitions of media in research (e.g. Fischoff, 2005). The interest in Media Psychology is on the rise, both in research and practice (e.g. Oliver, Shrum, & Vorderer, 2006; Luskin, 2002).

As an emerging field, Media Psychology will be defined by the actions and accomplishments of its students, scholars and practitioners. Media psychology applications cover a broad range, including education and learning, health care, technology development, business communications, interactive technologies, public policy, social welfare, and entertainment. Yet this breadth is not apparent in the literature, where the preponderance of research examines effects and interactions within a narrow field of Media Psychology: broadcast media, advertising, the cinema, and video games.

This research project plans to address the current need for an expanded awareness that minimizes the gap between existing research and real world application. Phase I results, drawn largely from the Fielding community, suggested that while there is uncertainty as to the purview of Media Psychology, there is widespread and positive interest in gaining a better understanding. Most notably, most respondents stated that Media Psychology is an extremely important field.

Phase II will focus on the feedback of Division 46 to help identify emerging trends and current practical challenges, as well as possible evidence of diversity and/or dominant issues in a historical perspective. A comparative analysis of Division 46 and Fielding group survey findings will elucidate positioning and awareness-building opportunities in a variety of target populations.
The Phase II research group, which includes Erik M. Gregory, PhD, Jon Cabiria, Jerri Lynn Hogg, Pamela Rutledge, Lynn Temenski, and Timothy Wells, will present the results at the 2007 APA Annual Convention in San Francisco. Additionally, the survey results will be available through a link at the website http://www.mediapsychology.info. This website was established in 2005 by Dr. Erik Gregory to help centralize and disseminate Media Psychology-related information.

Researchers on the Phase I team were: Erik M. Gregory, PhD , Mark Avnet, Jon Cabiria, Jenny Fremlin, Elise Levy, Lisa Gaumond, Jerri Lynn Hogg, Kelly McAtee, Pamela Rutledge, Lynn Temenski, and Timothy Wells,.

Division 46 members who have not had a chance to complete the survey are encouraged to do so at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=437602956794. The survey has IRB approval. Questions regarding the survey or study are welcome at mediapsy@gmail.com.

References
Carll, E. (2001). Psychology and the News Media: Reflections on a Ten Year Initiative [Electronic Version]. Independent Practitioner. Retrieved December 24, 2006 from http://www.apa.org/divisions/div46/articles/carll.pdf.
Diesch, C. L. F., & Caldwell, J. (1993). Where are the Experts? Psychologists in the Media. Paper presented at the 101st annual convention of the American Psychological Association.
Fischoff, S. (2005). Media psychology: A personal essay in definition and purview [Electronic Version]. Media Psychology, 10.
Luskin, B. (2002). Casting the Net over Global Learning. Irvine, CA: Griffin Publishing Group.
Luskin, B., & Friedland, L. (1998). Task Force Report: Media Psychology and New Technologies: American Psychological Association, Division 46.
Oliver, M. B., Shrum, L. J., & Vorderer, P. (2006). Moving On [Electronic Version]. Media Psychology, 8, 61-63. Retrieved August 30, 2006 from http://www.leaonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1207/s1532785xmep0802_1.