WJEC/Eduqas GCSE Media Studies: Student Book

• Closed questions, which require a definite answer. This could be ‘yes’ or ‘no’, for example ‘Do you like watching television crime dramas with a female protagonist?’, or you could give a range of options for respondents to select from. Closed questions allow you to quantify your findings by comparing results and drawing conclusions. • Open questions, which usually begin with words such as ‘why’ or ‘how’, for example ‘Why do you enjoy reading magazines?’. Open questions can be used on their own or as a follow-up to a closed question. They allow respondents to express opinions in a little more detail, and can help you to understand more about how and why people consume media products. • Focus group: a group discussion involving a small number of people who fit into your target audience. You should prepare some specific questions, similar to the type used in your questionnaire, for them to discuss. You will need to manage the group carefully to make sure that everyone gets a chance to speak. You could, for example, ask each person to give their answer before they discuss the question. You could also show your focus group some media products to find out what appeals to them, or even share your draft designs to make sure they appeal to your target demographic. • You will need to decide how to record the responses from your focus group. You could make notes, but you might find it hard to write down all of the ideas quickly. You could record the session, with your participants’ permission, on a voice recorder or mobile phone and then make notes afterwards. • Make sure that you know the people you ask to take part in your research: do not approach strangers. If you are aiming at an audience of teenagers, you can ask friends and fellow students. If you are targeting an older audience, you could ask your parents, family friends or teachers. Planning your production When you have completed your research you should have a clear idea of the codes and conventions of the form and genre of your product and of the target audience. Now it is time to start to plan your own production carefully to ensure that you meet the requirements of the brief and the deadlines set by your teacher. It is a good idea to put your ideas down on paper at this stage by producing a pitch or treatment for your new product. This could include: • the title of the product • a short statement summarising your production • media language, for example genre codes and conventions and features of the design or narrative of the product • representations of social groups and individuals, considering, for example, gender, ethnicity and age • the target audience: who they are and how you will appeal to them. When you have completed your treatment, you will need to develop more detailed plans that will help you as you progress to the production stage. Your primary research should be aimed at people in the same group as the intended audience in the set brief. So, if you are creating a product for an audience of 16- to 24-year-olds, you should interview or question family and friends in this age group. Top Tip When planning your production, think carefully about the mode of address you will use. Top Tip Treatment A detailed summary of ideas for a product, considering elements such as genre conventions and narrative. Key Term 7 Component 3: Creating Media Products 191