- 著者
-
竹内 郁郎
- 出版者
- 日本社会学会
- 雑誌
- 社会学評論 (ISSN:00215414)
- 巻号頁・発行日
- vol.9, no.1, pp.44-54,94, 1958-10-10 (Released:2009-11-11)
- 参考文献数
- 26
1. Necessity of Distinction Between Effect and Function : Both function and effect of mass communication refer to the results (or influeuces) on audience which mass communication brings about. But two concepts are different in terms of dealing with the results. The “effect” is brought to discussion when we examine the results in terms of whether the intent of communicator is realized in audience's response or not. The concept “function, ” on the other, comes across our mind when the results is examined in the light of significance, which it has to the audience. 2. Methodological Problems of Effect Analysis : Effect analysis, in its nature, takes the communicator's intent as a starting point, and analyses the mechanism of effect-making-process, focussing the factors which operate along with the communication process. Most analyses select one factor, and examine the operational mechanism of it, by controlling other factors equall. This method has some difficulties in the applicability to actual mass communication phenomena. For many factors are interwoven in real mass communication process. 3. Effect Analysis in terms of Audience's Response : One of the methods to resolve such a difficulty is to approach the effect by taking audience's responce as a starting point. We can see an example of this method in R. K. Merton's “Mass Persuassion.” This, which tries to analyse the effect-making-process from the clue of audience's response, will provide not a little sugr gestion to the methodology to analyse the function of mass communication, which is distinguished conceptually from effect. For the “function” itself is recognized in terms of audience's responce. 4. Audience Research and Function Analysis : Audience research now deals with not only demographic description of audience, but also their needs and expectations to mass communication. Such a trend clearly relates to function analysis. It is considered that analytical methodology of function on the individual decision will be resulted in this direction. 5. Analysis of Social Function of Mass Communication : Social function is more complex and more difficult than individual function o be analised. But at least I can say that it is necessary to take a certain evaluative standpoint (for example, anomie is less desirable then equilibrium, or it is wrong that minority group satisfy their needs at the expense of majority, etc.). It is hoped that the positivistic method to analise the actual role of mass communication, is constructed in reference to this value standard.