INFLUENCE OF
TELEVISION PROGRAMMES ON THE MORALITY OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS
CASE STUDY OF MINA,
NIGER STATE
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
The
various broadcast media, particularly the television has steadily become a part
of our everyday lives, and a source of information. Television combines
pictures with sound and can communicate messages which are impossible to convey
as effectively by radio and or via the print media. In the television system of
communication, an image of the scene is transmitted, without the viewer having
any problem in recording the information. It is the transmission of information
accompanied with sound. Television is seen globally as a medium of information,
entertainment and education (Miles, 2000).
Television
is widely acknowledged as “a powerful medium of our age” its visual immediacy
gives its audience a feeling of participation more than any other medium
(Miles, 2000). According to Wikipedia, in 2009, 78percent of the world’s
households owned at least one television set, an increase of 5percent in 2003.
In
Nigeria, television started in Ibadan in 1959, it was called Western Nigerian Television
(WNTV) now Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Ibadan, the Benue Plateau Television
now NTA Jos in 1974 was the first television station to transmit coloured
pictures to the homes of Nigerians (NBC, 2006). In 1993, licenses were issued
for the transmission of cable signals to many homes in Nigeria (NBC, 2006). Today,
almost every state capital has at least one television station.
In
Niger State, NTA Minna was the first station to commence transmission of signals.
Over the years, other stations e.g. Niger State Television (NSTV), and most
recently cable networks– Multichoice Nigeria (DSTV), Star Times Digital TV,
amongst others. These cable networks transmit for 24 hours in a day. The advent
of cable and satellite television has boosted TV viewing in recent years
(Johnsson-Samaragdi, 1994).
Irrespective
of the age, sex, social status, culture and background, people have different
and specific motives and use for the television. Côté and Allahar (1996) argue
that the manner in which the mass media is used, especially television could
affect how people view the outside world and also actively prevent young people
from developing a critical consciousness that will allow them prioritize larger
issues of personal and social responsibility.
Television could serve as a means of
communication by sending information to the overall public as well as receiving
comments from viewers. It could also be for education, sport and entertainment.
The usage of television depends on individuals, however, adults rely on the
television as a source of information and getting familiar with various things
happening in the society they belong and even beyond while the adolescents are
more interested in the entertainment and other fun part of television. It is
widely assumed that young adolescents are affected more directly and negatively
by the media than any other age group (Miles, 2000).
Television
entertainment programmes contain a variety of elements that are of interest to
people. Such programmes include movies, music videos and reality television
shows both of foreign and local origin. These entertainment programs have
become such a daily fixture of people’s lives. Although it can also be
educative, entertainment television can have an enormous influence on
adolescents, many critics opine that by the age of 18 an average adolescent
will have spent more time watching television than any other activity besides
sleep (Miles & Anderson, 1999) and this is especially true when they have
unrestricted access to the television. It is found out that adolescents who
spend a lot of time in front of television tend to build an identity based on
the content they consume; George-Okoro (2008, p.11) opines that:
One
of the most important features of childhood and adolescence is the development
of an identity. As children shape their behaviour and values, they may look to
heroes and role models for guidance. They may identify the role models they may
wish to emulate based on possession of certain skills or attributes. While the
child may not want to be exactly like the person, he/she may see possibilities
in that person.
Consequently,
though the audience might consume entertainment programmes for diverse reasons,
no one is certain of their outcome in terms of their influence on the morality
of secondary school adolescents. Young school adolescents’ possess a youthful
exuberance and enthusiasm. The secondary school adolescents of Minna are not an exception. Their
exposure to television entertainment programmes has been recently enhanced by
the advent of Star Times Digital TV which transmits local and foreign channels.
Some of these channels include NTA entertainment channels, MTV Base, E! and
many others. These television channels turn out programmes which are diverse in
content, for the entertainment of their audience (to which the adolescents of
Minna, Niger state belongs). Some of these programmes include “Keeping up with
the Kardashians” on E! “Movies” on African Magic and “Super Story” on NTA.
Not
much attention has been paid to the actual influence of these and many other
entertainment programmes that are aired on our television stations on the
morality of Nigerian Adolescents especially those of Minna. The influence of
such entertainment programmes forms the background of this study. Therefore,
this study attempts to investigate the influence of television entertainment
programmes on morality of secondary school adolescents in Minna.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
With
the emergence and alliance of different television stations and service
providers presenting diverse television programmes, it cannot be overstated
that the television has taken a center stage in our everyday activities.
Television has seemingly become a very vital part of the society. Most of the
programmes adolescents watch on the television are entertainment related. For
example, music videos, movies, reality shows and so on.
The
consumption of television entertainment programmes could have positive or
negative influence depending on manner of use. The more secondary school
adolescents in Minna get exposed to television entertainment programmes, the
greater their chances of developing a world view and perception of reality
similar to what the watch over time on the television. Morality is a paramount
issue in most African contemporary societies including Minna, Niger state. With
most adolescent students consuming more television entertainment programmes,
and various research including George-Okoro (2008) suggesting its influence on
development of an identity, behaviour and values on adolescents, are adolescent
students of Minna morally influenced (in terms of lifestyle, attitudes,
behaviour etc.) by these television programmes?
In
other words, this study investigates the question: To what extent can it be argued
that television entertainment programmes influence the morality of secondary
school adolescents in Minna?
1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study
The study is generally aimed at
determining the extent to which television programmes influence the morality of
secondary school adolescents in Minna. Specifically the objectives are to:
- Find out whether secondary school adolescents in Minna
watch television entertainment programmes. - Determine how frequently secondary school adolescents
watch television entertainment programmes. - Ascertain the kind of television entertainment
programmes that secondary school adolescents watch on television stations. - Establish the influence of television entertainment
programmes on the morality of secondary school adolescents.
1.4 Research Questions
1. Do
secondary school adolescents in Minna watch television entertainment
programmes?
2. How
frequently do secondary schools adolescents in Minna watch television
entertainment programmes?
3. What
kind of entertainment programmes do secondary school adolescents in Minna watch
on television stations?
4. What
is the direction of the influence of television entertainment programmes on the
morality of secondary school adolescents?
1.5 Justification for the Study
This
study was carried out to assess the influence of television entertainment
programmes on the morality of secondary school students in Minna, Niger State.
The significance of this study for future researchers is that its result will
provide headway to information concerning their inquiries and also an added
resource to available literature. Findings
of this study will also help educate parents on the
significance of checking the type of entertainment programmes their young
adolescents watch. It is also hoped that findings would also assist secondary
school adolescents to understand more on how they can use the entertainment
function of the television to their own benefit.
1.6 Delimitation of the Study
This
study is focused on the influence television entertainment programmes has on
the morality of secondary school adolescents, however the sample population for
the study was taken from selected secondary schools in Minna. The
representativeness of this sample may affect external validity and also the
findings of the study cannot be easily generalized beyond the population of
study (Minna). There was also reluctance and lack of cooperation on the part of
the prospective respondents in accepting the researcher’s questionnaire copies
for undisclosed reasons and answering the questions in the questionnaire
appropriately.
1.7 Operational Definition of Terms
·
Adolescents: Learner/persons
studying in secondary schools in Minna.
·
Influence:
This is the change in character or
behavior by secondary school students as a result of what they watch from
television entertainment programmes.
·
Morality:
The distinction between right and wrong
or good and bad behavior, communication, values, dressing, social interaction,
etc. among students.
·
Television
Entertainment Programmes: A
television programme containing a variety of entertainment elements that are of
interest to secondary school students.