A Content Analysis of Teen Shows Over Three Decades on Television
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SQUAD GOALS: A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF TEEN SHOWS OVER THREE DECADES (1993-2017) Lindsay Thompson & Kelsey Bocharski Department of Psychology, Ithaca ColLege Introduction Examples of Programs Studied Results Results A recent study was conducted that revealed that Character Demographics (see Figure 1) the more people watch television, the more they • There were 629 different dyads in the 91 episodes: expect their lives to comply with what is 247 dyads in the 1990s, 202 in the 2000s, and 180 1990s happening on it (Russell, Russell, Boland, & in the 2010s. Grube, 2014), and they tend to adopt the beliefs • Most of the dyads consisted of two white and attitudes of their favorite characters on characters, although this decreased over time television. The present study represents a California Saved By The (63.2% in the 1990s, 46.5% in the 2000s, and longitudinal content analysis of the portrayals of Dreams Bell: New Class 51.1% in the 2010s). The percent of dyads made teenagers on teen-oriented situation comedies. It up of two people of color increased over time aims to examine the differences in relationships (6.1% in the 1990s, 8.4% in the 2000s, and 10.6% in 30-minute teen-oriented situation comedies in all white dyads all people of color dyads mixed race dyads in the 2010s. the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s. An initial analysis • The percent of dyads with one white character and showed that many of these teen sitcoms take 2000s Fig. 1. Racial Makeup of Dyads, by Decade. one character of color also increased over time place inside the home with interactions between (30.8% in the 1990s, 45.0% in the 2000s, and the teens and their parents or siblings. These 38.3% in the 2010s (N = 69). shows were specifically excluded from this Zoey 101 Serious Issues Discussed, by Decade (see Fig. 2) analysis in order to focus on the relationships iCarly • Dyads rarely discussed serious issues at all; between teens outside of the home. discussions related to drugs and alcohol only occurred in the 1990s. Research Questions • Discussions of most serious issues decreased • RQ 1: What were the most common types of 2010s significantly over time, except for social justice interactions that occurred between teen issues which increased significantly over time. dyads (put-downs, compliments, conflict, �"(6, N = 151) = 16.88, p < 0.01. advice or support, etc.)? How did these • There were significantly more discussions of Shake it Up interactions change over time? Austin & Ally school-related bullying/peer pressure other serious social justice school-related problems between dyads in the • RQ 2: Has representation of people of color 1990s, more discussions about bullying and peer changed over time? 1990s 2000s 2010s Fig. 2. Dyads Discussing Serious Issues, by Decade. pressure in the 2000s. • RQ 3: In what way and to what extent have Ned's Declassified Other Findings serious topics changed over the decades? Hang Time School Survival Austin & Ally Methods Guide • Discussions among dyad members included both Procedures positive aspects (social support, compliments, Methods Saved By The Bell Lizzie Mcguire Shake It Up Episodes were coded using a round-robin style advice) as well as negative aspects (conflict, put- Sample Saved By The Bell: with two coders working together (5 coders all downs) across all decades. The television programs included in this study iCarly I Didn't Do It New Class together). Detailed descriptions were recorded Discussion originated from archive of the Center for The Adventures of of the interactions between each dyad of teen Hannah Montana Victorious Research on the Effects of Television (CRETV) Pete & Pete characters in the program. Dyads of characters This study showed that while teen shows continue at Ithaca College. The archive consists of that occurred in more than one episode of a to primarily portray white characters, the California Dreams Zoey 101 Bizardvark representative samples of television videotaped program were coded as one dyad, including percentage of dyads that included at least one from 1983-2017, recorded quarterly, 2 weeks Everybody Hates person of color increased over time. Shows Sweet Valley High A.N.T. Farm content of interactions across all episodes. per month, from 7 am to 1 am. The sample used Chris VariabLes focused primarily on friendships and relationship for this study included shows on Disney Blossom Unfabulous Girl Meets World The race, gender, and approximate age of each issues – exclusively heterosexual in the programs Channel, Nickelodeon, NBC, ABC, and ABC we studied – and rarely focused on the more Best Friends character was recorded, along with the Family (Freeform). To be included in the sample Boy Meets World Life with Derek serious issues that often characterize adolescence Whenever relationship between the characters in the dyad for this study, the program had to be a 30- and any form of physical affection that occurred. (e.g., peer pressure, bullying, school problems, minute teen situation comedy that included at Breaker High That's So Raven Liv and Maddie Descriptions of the interactions were later coded drugs and alcohol). Overall, the teen shows were least 3 non-related teen characters, airing Clueless Andi Mack for specific content, including serious issues like most likely to include serious issues in the 1990s, originally in the 1990s, 2000s, or 2010s. There Hey Dude Sam and Cat parental divorce, problems with school, drugs decreasing over time (except for social justice were 32 different programs, with 1-7 episodes and/or alcohol, problems with school, peer issues). This may be changing, however, with coded for each resulting in a total of 91 Welcome Freshmen pressure, bullying, mental disorders, eating recent shows like Andi Mack, where in 2019 a episodes in the sample. disorders, and social justice. character come out as gay, a first for Disney. .