Cartoons Influence towards Violence and Aggression in School Age Children in Nigeria

113 Pages·2015·0.89 MB·English

Cartoons Influence towards Violence and Aggression
in School Age Children in Nigeria

Elizabeth Ibukunoluwa Odukomaiya

Submitted to the
Institute of Graduate Studies and Research
in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of

Master of Arts
in
Communication and Media Studies

Eastern Mediterranean University
July, 2014
Gazimağusa, North Cyprus
Approval of the Institute of Graduate Studies and Research

__________________________
Prof. Dr. Elvan Yılmaz
Director

I certify that this thesis satisfies the requirements as a thesis for the degree of Master
of Arts in Communication and Media Studies.

____________________________________________
Prof. Dr. Süleyman İrvan
Chair, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies

We certify that we have read this thesis and that in our opinion it is fully adequate in
scope and quality as a thesis for the degree of Master of Arts in Communication and
Media Studies.
__________________________
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bahire Özad
Supervisor

Examining Committee

1. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Agah Gümüş __________________________
2. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bahire Özad __________________________
3. Asst. Prof. Dr. Metin Ersoy __________________________
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study is to explore how violence and aggression in cartoon affects
school age children in Nigeria. The reason for embarking on this research is to know
whether and to what extent cartoon on television makes school age children (both
male and female) violent and aggressive. Children are exposed to cartoon at their
tender age (4-12). Though it serves as a means of entertainment to them, children
learn faster than adults, and their re-enactment of media messages is unrivalled.
Since most children programmes are presented in entertainment form especially
cartoons, it is important to measure the amount of influence these cartoons have on
children. Consequently, this study is motivated by children’s reaction to the violent
contents in the programmes they watch.
This study sets out to explore the children attitudes towards cartoons among Nigerian
children in Saint International Nursery and Primary School and Apostolic Church
Grammar School in 2013 and 2014 academic year spring term. The study seeks to
explore whether or not cartoon violence and aggression affect the children in a long
period. Also, this study sets out to investigate whether there is statistically significant
difference between the children’s attitudes.
In this present study, data have been collected through a questionnaire comprising of
two sections. In the first section of the questionnaire 20 questions are asked in order
to collect data about demographic information of the children and information about
their cartoon uses. The second part of the questionnaire is designed according to the
5 point Likert scale and sought to measure children’s attitudes towards cartoon use
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and addiction. Also, in order to explore whether statistically any significance there is
between the responses of the children, chi-square test is run.
The findings of the study indicate that there is statistically significant difference
between the responses of the school age children in some topics. However, no
addictive behaviour has been detected with respect to cartoon use. The most
important finding is that female children tend to be more violent and aggressive than
the male children in Nigerian Results point out that, female children should be more
monitored.
Keywords: Aggressiveness, Cartoon, Children, Gender and Violence.

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ÖZ
Bu çalışmanın amacı şiddet ve saldırganlık içeren çizgi filmlerin Nijerya’da, okul
çağındaki çocukları nasıl etkilediğini araştırmaktır. Bu araştırmaya başlama nedeni
okul çağındaki erkek ve kız çocukların televizyondaki çizgi filmlerden, ne ölçüde
agresiflik ve şiddet öğrendiklerini belirlemektir. Çocuklar 4-12 yaşları arasında bir
eğlence aracı olarak çizgi film izlemeye maruz bırakılmaktadır. Ancak televizyonun
çocuklar için bir eğlence aracı olmasına karşın yetişkinlerden daha hızlı
öğrenmektedirler ve medyadan aldıkları mesajları canlandırmaktadırlar. Birçok
çocuk programı, çizgi filmler dahil, eğlence şeklinde sunulmaktadır ve özellikle çizgi
filmlerin çocuklar üzerindeki etkilerini ölçmek çok önemlidir. Sonuç olarak, bu
çalışmayı güdüleyen, çocukların izlediklesi şiddet içerikli programlara karşı
tepkilerini ölçmektir.
Bu çalışma, Nijerya’daki Saint International Kreşindeki, İlköğretim Okulu’ndaki ve
Apostolic Church Grammar Okulu’ndaki 2013-2014 akademik yılı Bahar
Dönemindeki çocukların çizgi filmler ile ilgili tutumlarını ortaya çıkarmak için
yapılmıştır. Çalışmanın amaçı çizgi filmlerin çocukların şiddet ve agresif tavırlarını
etkileyip etkilemediginı göstermektir. Ayrıca bu çalışmada, çocukların tutumları
arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark olup olmadığı da araştırılmıştır.
Bu çalışmada veriler iki bölümden oluşan bir anket yoluyla toplanmıştır. Birinci
kısımda, anket sorularından 20’si, katılımcılar hakkında demografik sorular ve
çocukların çizgi film izlemeleri hakkında bilgiler toplamak amacıyla sorulmuştur.
İkinci kısımda ise, beş dereceli Likert ölçeği kullanılmıştır ve bu kısımda sorular,
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çizgi film izleme ve bağımlılığına karşı çocukların tutumlarını ölçmek için
sorulmuştur. Ayrıca, çocukların yanıtları arasında istatistiksel önem olupolmadığı
konusund bilgi edinmek için ki- kare testi yapılmıştır.
Çalışmanın bulguları, bazı konularda okul çağındaki çocukların yanıtları arasında
istatistiksel olarak anlamlı farklılıklar olduğunu göstermektedir. Ancak, çizgi film
izlemek ile ilgili herhangi bir bağımlılık tespit edilmemiştir. Bulgular arasında en
önemli olan, Nijerya’daki kız çocukların erkek çocuklarına göre, daha sert ve
saldlrgan olma eğiliminde olmalarıdır. Sonuçlar, kız çocukların daha yakından
izlenmesi, gerektiğine işaret etmektedir.
Anahtar Kelimeler: Saldırganlık, Çizgi Film, Çocuk, Cinsiyet ve Şiddet

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DEDICATION
DEDICATION

Dedicated to My Parents

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I want to say a big thank you to my Father in heaven, the Author and Finisher of
my faith. Thank you for the wisdom and understanding. Thank you for all the
accomplishments in my life; it has always been you Lord.
My sincere appreciation goes to my wonderful supervisor, Assoc. Prof. Dr,
Bahire Özad, you have been more of a mother to me than a lecturer. Thank you
for your love and support during my stay in North Cyprus. God bless you ma.
Mr. Anthony Olushole Odukomaiya, daddy thank you for helping me achieve
this great goal in my life. I will always be grateful; you hold a special place in
my heart. I love you so much.
My love goes to my in measurable siblings, Mrs. E. O. Ajiboye, thank you for
everything. Mrs. V. E. Hounfoun, I’m grateful. Mr. M. O. Odukomaiya, thank
you so much. Mr. S. O. Odukomaiya I appreciate you. Mrs. M. O. Kola-dalton.
May God continues to keep you and your family, thank you a million times for
your support throughout my stay away from home.
To my adorable husband, Taiwo Oladotun Aponmade my love for you will
always grow. I love you. Thanks to all my friends Opeyemi Banjo, Omobolanle
Thomas, Adeola Adepoju, Kikelomo Shofela, Damilola Ogunleye, Mesole
Folasayo and everyone that made my stay pleasant God bless you all.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................ iii
ÖZ ................................................................................................................................ v
DEDICATION ........................................................................................................... vii
ACKNOWLEDGMENT ........................................................................................... viii
LIST OF TABLLES .................................................................................................. xii
LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................. xvi
1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Background of Media on Children ..................................................................... 1
1.2 Motivation for the Study .................................................................................... 2
1.3 Aims of the Study ............................................................................................... 4
1.4 Research Questions ............................................................................................ 5
1.5 Limitations of the Study ..................................................................................... 5
1.6 Definition of Terms ............................................................................................ 6
2 LITERATURE REVIEW ......................................................................................... 8
2.1 Research on Television ...................................................................................... 8
2.2 Cultivation Theory ........................................................................................... 12
2.2.1 Heavy Viewers........................................................................................... 14
2.2.2 Light Viewers ............................................................................................ 16
2.2.3 The Major Concept of Cultivation Theory ................................................ 16
2.2.4 Hypothesis of Cultivation Theory ............................................................. 16
2.3 Children As Television Audience .................................................................... 17
2.3.1 Negative Effect of Television on Children ................................................ 18
2.3.2 Positive Effect of Television on Children ................................................. 18
2.4 Cartoons ........................................................................................................... 19
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2.5 Effect of Television on Children ...................................................................... 21
2.5.1 Children Aggression and Violence in Media ............................................ 22
2.6 Research into Cartoon Violence on Nigerian Children .................................... 24
3 METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................. 25
3.1 Research Methodology ..................................................................................... 25
3.2 Research Design ............................................................................................... 26
3.3 Research Context .............................................................................................. 27
3.4 Data Collection Instrument .............................................................................. 27
3.5 Population and Sample of the Study ................................................................ 28
3.5.1 Population and Sample for Pilot Study ...................................................... 29
3.6 Validity and Reliability of Data Collection Instrument ................................... 29
3.7 Data Collection and Analysis Procedures ........................................................ 31
4 ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS ............................................................................... 32
4.1 Analysis of Demographic Variables of the Participants .................................. 32
4.2 Descriptive Analysis of Question Related to Television Usage ...................... 34
4.3 Analysis of the Attitude Scale Statements ....................................................... 56
4.3.1 Means and Attitudes of Respondents on Cartoon ..................................... 56
4.3.2 Means and Attitudes of Respondents Physical Aggression Subscale ....... 60
4.3.3 Means and Attitudes of Respondents on Difference between Possible and
Impossible Act .................................................................................................... 63
4.3.4 Means and Attitudes of Respondents Verbal Aggression Items ............... 67
4.4 Chi-Square Test Results ................................................................................... 69
5 CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................... 73
5.1 Summary of the Study ...................................................................................... 73
5.2 Conclusions Drawn from the Study ................................................................. 78
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