BCST 110 TV Content Analysis Assignment
Content analysis is a method for summarizing any form of content by counting various aspects of the con-
tent. You will watch a TV show and note instances of either sex, drugs, violence and language or ethnic
and gender representation. You will turn in the numerical data in some chart form as well as a 3 page pa-
per (dbl spaced, 1” margins) answering the questions below and formulating your own conclusion.
Content analysis is a quantitative method. The results of content analysis are based on numbers. Include
the following information in your paper.
I. Program Description
✦Name of Show
✦Title of Episode
✦V chip Rating
✦Date & Day of Week
✦Air time
✦Summary of story line (include what city the show is set in).
EVERYONE does parts I & III. For part II, choose to count instances of SDVL or Representation.
II. Sex, Drugs, Violence, Language (SDVL)
Each time the program depicts or discusses sex, drugs, violence, or foul language, you will make a note
of it and its context.
As a reminder, SDVL includes physical visual depiction AND dialogue. A physical gesture could count as
foul language.
# of in-
stances
Description/Characters
Consequences Shown?
Drug Use
Violence
Sex
Language
2
minor characters smoked pot in
two scenes
none
3
1 Domestic violence
2 Gun fights, 1 death
Only showed pain victim experi-
ences, no legal or moral conse-
quences.
0
0
Questions for SDVL
1.How much screen time, in minutes and seconds, did SDVL get?
2.What was the nature/context of the action (violence, sex, drugs, obscenity)?
3.How graphic or realistic was the SDVL content?
4.What were the effects of the SDVL on the characters?
5.Who did the SDVL act: heroes or villains? Gender, age, socio-economic status, race, religion, educa-
tion, occupation.
6.Were there victims? Who were they? Gender, age, socio-economic status, race, religion, education,
occupation.
7.To what extent did the SDVL seem provoked or justified?
