Profile: An examination of television motivations and program preferences by Hispanics, blacks, and whites

Television motivations and viewing preferences for 12 program categories were examined in a survey of 1,241 adults representing three ethnic groups (whites, blacks, and Hispanics). Key differences were observed in terms of motivations for using television and program preferences. Blacks and Hispanics reported higher levels of satisfaction with television than whites. This study suggests that blacks use television to satisfy entertainment and diversionary motivations, while Hispanics use television for information and entertainment.

[1]  B. Greenberg,et al.  Television Commercials and Food Orientations among Teenagers in Puerto Rico , 1989 .

[2]  Betsy J. Blosser.  Ethnic differences in children's media use , 1988 .

[3]  Clint C. Wilson,et al.  Minorities And Media: Diversity And The End Of Mass Communication , 1985 .

[4]  H. Pachon,et al.  Hispanics in the United States , 1985 .

[5]  Alan M. Rubin,et al.  An Examination of Television Viewing Motivations , 1981 .

[6]  C. Stroman.  Television viewing and self‐concept among black children , 1986 .

[7]  J. Burgoon,et al.  Mexican Americans and the Mass Media , 1983 .

[8]  E. Donnerstein,et al.  Big World, Small Screen: The Role of Television in American Society. , 1992 .

[9]  B. Sjostrom,et al.  The Hispanic Experience in the United States: Contemporary Issues and Perspectives , 1988 .

[10]  Ronald J. Faber,et al.  Televised portrayals of Hispanics:: A comparison of ethnic perceptions , 1987 .

[11]  J. H. Frey,et al.  Survey research by telephone , 1983 .

[12]  Federico A. Subervi-Velez,et al.  Television viewing and self‐concept among Hispanic American children—a pilot study , 1990 .

[13]  Alexis S. Tan,et al.  Television Use and Self-esteem of Blacks , 1979 .

[14]  Television uses and gratifications among black children, teenagers, and adults , 1981 .

[15]  Robert E. Wilkes,et al.  Hispanics and Blacks in television commercials. , 1989 .

[16]  K. Rosengren,et al.  Media gratifications research : current perspectives , 1985 .

[17]  Thomas C. O'Guinn,et al.  Diversity in the ethnic media audience: A study of Spanish language broadcast preference in the U.S. , 1986 .

[18]  Philip Palmgreen,et al.  Uses and Gratifications: A Theoretical Perspective , 1984 .

[19]  C. Heeter,et al.  Mass Media Orientations among Hispanic Youth , 1983 .

[20]  Alan M. Rubin,et al.  Psychological Predictors of Television Viewing Motivation , 1991 .

[21]  Racial Differences in Gratifications , 1978 .

[22]  Joseph R. Dominick,et al.  Racial and social class differences in teen‐agers’ use of television , 1969 .

[23]  A. Zohoori.  A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Children's Television Use. , 1988 .

[24]  E. Perse.  Audience Selectivity and Involvement in the Newer Media Environment , 1990 .

[25]  F. Schick,et al.  Statistical handbook on U.S. Hispanics. , 1991 .

[26]  A. Rubin.  Ritualized and Instrumental Television Viewing , 1984 .

[27]  R. Allen,et al.  Ethnicity and mass media behavior: A study of blacks and Latinos , 1980 .

[28]  Paula M. Poindexter,et al.  Blacks and television: A review of the research literature , 1981 .

[29]  Joseph R. Dominick,et al.  Mass Media Research: An Introduction , 1983 .

[30]  G. Berry,et al.  Television and the socialization of the minority child , 1982 .

[31]  Stephen D. Reese,et al.  Sampling Ethnic Media Use: The Case of Hispanics , 1988 .

[32]  A. Rubin.  Television uses and gratifications: The interactions of viewing patterns and motivations , 1983 .