Audience Research on TV Viewing
and Internet Activities Related to TV Viewing
(for book: Extending the TV Text)
You have been invited to participate in a study that will examine the role of the Internet in TV Viewing and TV creating. In particular, this study aims to investigate how viewers of TV in general and of specific TV shows use the Internet to expand their experience of watching TV shows. This study is part of a larger book project called Extending the TV Text. I am a professor in the Television Department at Columbia College Chicago, where I teach classes in TV History, TV Program Development, and TV Criticism. I received my PhD from the University of Texas in Austin in 2002. As part of my academic work, I am writing this book.
In an era of profound technological and industrial change related to television, myriad understandings of “watching TV” confront us, demanding fresh explorations. Extending the TV Text aims to explore a particular aspect of the current U.S. environment for watching TV: specifically, the role that Internet fandom has come to play in both the production of TV series and their reception. Beginning with fan research conducted on the shows Xena: Warrior Princess and Buffy the Vampire Slayer and continuing through to look at newer hits such as Lost and The O.C., the author argues that online forums for discussing TV series have become an increasingly common site for “regular viewers” to visit as they “extend the TV text” past the episodes proper. This book examines how TV writers, producers, and promoters seem to be increasingly incorporating an awareness of viewer online activity into the shows themselves. Through an examination of the basic narrative structure of various shows, exploration of online fan activity concerning the same texts, and interviews with fans, writers, producers, and popular critics, Extending the TV Text examines shifting understandings of what it means to “watch TV” in a multimedia world. A key element of the book, then, involves the participation of TV viewers—both those who use the Internet regularly and those who do not—and the participation of TV critics, writers, producers, and programmers.
You have been selected as a potential participant because of your response to my request posted online for TV viewers who are 18 years or older to contact me if they were interested in participating in an email survey asking questions about Internet activity related to TV viewing. (If you are under 18, you will need to have parental consent; please email me and we can arrange this.) You will be one of an estimated 20-50 participants chosen to fill out this survey. You may fill out the attached survey and email it to me at the email addresses listed; you may also choose to mail the survey to me by post and if you select this option I will mail to you upon your request a copy of the survey and a stamped envelope in which to return it. It is anticipated that this survey will take an hour to fill out; you may choose to ignore any questions to which you do not wish to respond.
If you decide not to participate at this time, this decision will not affect any current or potential future relations with Columbia College Chicago or its Television Department in any way. You may also choose to withdraw from this study at any time. There are few risks associated with this study. The clearest risk is the potential loss of confidentiality. I will take every precaution to ensure that your confidentiality is protected if you so wish; you may provide an alias of your choice in the survey. In addition, all information collected will remain kept in a lock box to which only I have access. Further, since the goal of this research is to eventually publish a book containing information collected, including quotes from your survey responses, any chapters you wish to see before publication will be provided to you in advance. Benefits to you will not be direct; the larger benefit (and goal of this book) involves expanding awareness within the academic community of Media Arts about significant changes occurring in TV making and watching today. For the researcher, benefits also include the publication of a book.
After completion of the initial survey, it is possible that I will want to ask you further questions. You are not obligated to do so, and any decision to refrain from answering follow-up questions will not affect your participation in this study.
Thank you so much for your interest in assisting me with this project! If at any time you have questions or concerns, you can contact me as follows:
office phone: 312-344-7166
office email: sross@colum.edu
home email: sharonbuffy@msn.com
(If you are unable to reach me, you may also contact the Television Department’s main office at 312-344-7347 and an administrative assistant will work to contact me on your behalf.)
For any answers to questions concerning your rights as a participant, or if you feel you have been placed at risk, you can contact the Institutional Review Board at Columbia College at: Jo Cates, 663-1600, Associate Vice President for Research/Dean of the Library
Sincerely, Dr. Sharon Ross
You can take the Survey here (SAVE the file to your computer):
email to:
office email: sross@colum.edu
home email: sharonbuffy@msn.com