ERIC Number: EJ961346
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 5
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1740-4622
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
"The Love Games People Play" Survey: Using Research Methods to Examine Gendered Scripts and Stereotypes
Lucas, Kristen
Communication Teacher, v25 n3 p139-143 2011
Every day people are bombarded with information about romantic relationships. Magazine articles offer how-to advice on flirting, dating, and fixing relationship problems. Advertisements--from billboards to radio commercials to email marketing campaigns--feature products that promise to help people attract a special someone. Television and movie actors portray characters who fall in and out of love. And a slew of self-proclaimed gender experts boldly proffer communication advice. Whether these outlets create the rules for society or simply reflect them, there is a complex web of gendered scripts and stereotypes that define appropriately feminine and masculine dating behavior. In this activity, students examine systematically gendered scripts and stereotypes about romantic relationships. This activity demonstrates the value of communication research in seeking dependable answers to important questions. It can be modified for different needs. For a methods class, students could be more involved in the research process: (1) finding scholarly sources for a literature review; (2) doing a thematic analysis of qualitative data; (3) constructing and administering online surveys; (4) statistically testing their own research questions and hypotheses; and (5) writing a short research report. If time is of the essence, this activity can be shortened by doing the first day activity, having students complete the online survey, and then providing a brief (10-minute) summary of the results in a later class period. Additionally, the content of the survey can be modified to include concepts related to different courses (e.g., intercultural, political, friendship, or family communication). A list of references and suggested readings is included.
Descriptors: College Students, Dating (Social), Behavior Standards, Intimacy, Interpersonal Attraction, Social Life, Gender Issues, Stereotypes, Femininity, Masculinity, Research Methodology, Communication Research, Qualitative Research, Data Collection, Experiential Learning
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A