Media and society relationships

This book is about theories of mass communication, but it is hard to draw a line between ideas concerning mass media and wider theories of society. Yet one can at least try to recognize some of the fundamentals underlying assumptions about the relation between media and society. Most basic is a view of the mass media as an established social institution, with its own distinctive set of norms and practices but with the scope of its activities subject to definition  and limitation by the wider society. The implies that the media are essentially dependent on ‘society’, especially on the institutions of political and economics power, although there is scope for influence in return, and the media institutions may be gaining in autonomy, simpli as a result of the extending volume and scope of media activities. Even so, the forces historically at work in society and the wider world are more potent than the media or the immediate influence which these might exert.

The nature of the relations between media and society depends on circumstances of time and place. This book largely deals with mass media and mass communication in modern, ‘developed’ nation states, mainly elective democracies with free-market (or mixed) economies which are integrate into a wider international set of economic and political relations of exchange, competition and also domination or conflict. The author’s view is that the theory and related research discussed in this book relate generally to social contexts characterized by structured differences in economics warefare and political power between social and economic classes.

            Despite apparent stability in these social context, deep latent conflicts and tensions exist nationally and internationally, which find expression in conflicts of ideology, competing claim of resources and, occasionally, social crisis. The media are deeply involved in these matters as producers, disseminators and stores of meaning about events and contexts of public social life. It follow that the study of mass  communication cannot avoid dealing in questions of values or easily achieve neutrality and scientific objectivity.

            This particular problem arises in another form when its comes to questions of interpreting the meaning of what media carry or the meanings which are perceived by the ‘recievers’. Again the possibility of objective knowledge is at issue and, therefore, also the possibility of formulating or testing theory. This problem is similar enough in the social sciences, though it may be posed in an unusually sharp form in respect of communications, since values and meaning are at the heart of the matter.

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Media of Mass Communication

It is the basic assumption that the mass media (newspaper, television and radio especially) are of considerable, and still growing, importance in modern societies. This view of the media is widely shared, and the reasons seem to lie in the fact that the media are :

·       a power source – a potential means of influence, control and innovsation in society; the primary means of transmission and source of information essential to the working of most social institutions.

·       the location (or arena) where many affairs of public life are played out, both nationally or internationally.

·       a major source of of definitions and images of social reality; thus also the place where the changing culture and the values of societies and groups are constructed, stored and most visibly expressed.

·       the primary key to fame and celebrity status as well as to effective performance in the public arena.

·       the source of an ordered and public meaning system which provides a benchmark for what is normal, empirically and evaluatively; deviations are signalled and comparisons made in terms of the public version of normally.

            In addition, the media are the single largest focus of leisure-time activity and means of entertainment. They also help organize and interrelate the rest of the leisure. As a result, they are a major and expanding industry, providing employment and a wide range of potential economics benefits.

            If these claims are accepted, it is not difficult to understand the great interest which the mass media have attracted since their early days, nor way they have been subject to so much public scruntiny and regulation as well as theorizing. The conduct of democratic (or undemocratic) politics, nationally and internationally, depends more and more on mass media, and there are few significant social issue which are addressed without some consideration of the role of the mass media, whether for good or ill. As will appear, the most fundamentals questions of society – those concerning the distribution and exercise of power, the management of problems and the processes of intregation and change – all turn on communication, especially the messages carried by the public means of communication, whether in the form of information.

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Goal-Setting Theory

            While goal setting is originally viewed as a technique, it is developing into a motivational theory as researchers attempt to better understand the cognitive factors that influence its succes. Goal-setting experts argue that goal setting works by directing attention and action, mobilizing effort, increasing persistence, and encouraging the development of strategies to achieve the goals. Feedback regarding result is also an essential element. The succes of goal setting in motivating performance depends on establishing goals that have the appropriate atributes, or characteristics. In particular, goals should be specific and measureable, chalalenging, attainable, relevant to the major work of the organization, and time-limited.

            Goal commitment, one’s attachment to determination to reach a goal, is another important element in the goal setting process. Goal commitment is affected by the major components of expectancy theory: effort-performance expectancy (can i reach the goal?), performance-outcomes expectancy ( if i reach, will i be rewarded?), and valence ( do i value the potential rewards?). Individuals are more likely to be commited to attaining goals when they have high expectaion of succes in reaching the goals, see strong connections between goal accomplishment and rewards and value the rewards. Hence expectancy theory and goal setting theory are largely compatible. The usefulness of goal setting in enhancing performance has strong research support. As a result, managers are likely to find it a very helpful motivational tool.

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Equity Theory J. Stacy Adams

            Equity theory is a theory that argues that we prefer situations of balance, or equity, which exist when we perceive the ratio of our inputs and outcomes to be equal to the ratio of inputs and outcomes for a comparison other. The selection of the person with whom we compare ourselves depend on our own view of appropriate comparisons. For example, in considering the equity of pay raise, a person might compare her or his pay with that of certain coworker, peers in other units, or a friend with similar credentials who works for another company. In making equity judgement, we consider equity in relative terms (comparison with other) rather than absolute terms (comparison with a set standard). The inputs we consider in assessing the ratio of our inputs and outcomes relative to the ratio of other may cover a broad range of variables, including additional background, skills, experience, hours worked, and performance result. Outcome might include such factors as pay, bonuses, praise, parking place, office space and work assignments. The inputs and outcomes that we use assess the equity of a situation are based strictly on our own perceptions of what is relevant.

            According to the theory, two types of inequities create tension within us. In the first, underreward, we percieve our inputs-outcomes ratio to be less than the inputs-outcomes ratio of a comparison other. In the second, overreward, we percieve our inputs-outcomes ratio to be greater than the inputs-outcomes ratio of the comparison other. Interestingly, research on equity theory suggest that we are usually able to overreward condition rather quickly-apparently concluding that our inputs are worth considerably more than we originally thought. Situations of underreward are usually more difficult to rectify.          

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Expectancy Theory Victor H. Vroom

 

The expectancy theory of motivation, originally proposed by Victor H. Vroom, argues that we consider three main issues before we expend the effort necessary to perform at a given level. 

EFFORT-PERFORMANCE EXPECTANCY

            When we consider effort-performance (EàP) expectancy, we assess the probability that our effort will lead to the required performance level. Our assessment may include evaluating our own abilities, as well as considering the adequacy of contextual factors such as the availability of resource. To see effort-performance expectancy works, imagine that you are well qualified for the project and that the  available resources are adequate, you might assess the probability of your effort leading to high performance (the E-P expectancy) quite high.

PERFORMANCE-OUTCOME EXPECTANCY

            With performance-outcome (PàO) expectancy, we assess the probability that our succesful performance will lead to certain outcomes. The major outcomes we consider are potential rewards (such as a bonus or a good feeling of accomplishment), although we are likely also to take into account possible negative result (such as loss of leisure time or family diruption).  In any given situation, there may be many potential rewards associated with performance. Reward provided by others, such as bonuses, or promotion are known as extrinsic rewards. In other hand, rewards that are related to our own internal experiences with succesful performance, such as feelings of achievement, challange, and growth, are known as intrinsic rewards. Considering various possible outcomes (both positive and negative), we form an assessment of the probability of our performance’s leading to desired outcomes. If our assessment of the P-O expectancy is high, the expectancy will contribute to our motivation. If our assessment is low, the expectancy could have a detrimental effect on our willingness to perform at a high level.

VALENCE

            With the valence component, we assess the anticipated value of various outcomes. If the available rewards interest us, valence will be high. However, the valeu of possible negative outcomes, such as the loss of leisure time or diruption of our family, may offset the valeu of rewards in a given situation. The available rewards will have a motivating effect only when we attach a high overall valence to the situation.


source

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Cognitive Theories

Need theories try to identify the internal desires that influence our behavior, but they do not go very far in explaining the thought processes that are involved. In contrast, cognitive theories attempt to isolate the thinking patterns that we use in deciding whether or not to behave in a certain way. Cognitive theories are not necessarily at odds with need theories; rather, they look at motivation from a different perspective. Because they focus on the thought processes associated with motivation, cognitive theories are sometimes called process theories. Three major cognitive theories that address work motivation are expectancy, equity, and goal setting theories.

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Clayton Alderfer ERG Theory

            Because of the criticism of maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory, motivation researcher Clayton Aderfer proposed an alternative known as ERG theory. The name stems from combining maslow’s five levels of needs into three levels: existence, relatedness, and growth. Existence needs include psychological desires, such as food and water, and work-related material desires, such as pay, fringe benefits and physical working conditions. Relatedness needs address our relationship with significant other, such as families, friendship groups, work groups, and profesional groups. They deal with our desire to be accepted by others, achieve mutual understanding on matters that are important to us, and exercise some influence over those with whom we interact on an ongoing basis. Growth needs impel creativity and innovation, along with the desire to have a productive impact on our surroundings.

            According to ERG theory, we generally tend to concentrate first on our existence requirements. As existence needs are resolved, we have more energy  available for concentrating on relatedness needs. Then, as relatedness needs are somewhat fulfilled, we have the energy and support needed to persue growth needs. Thus ERG theory incorporates a satisfaction-progression principle similar to that of maslow’s hierarchy, since satisfaction of one level of need encourages concern with the next level.

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