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Televangelism and the Changing Habits of Worshippers in Nairobi

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Televangelism and the Changing Habits of Worshippers in Nairobi TELEVANGELISM AND THE CHANGING HABITS OF WORSHIPPERS IN NAIROBI COUNTY ESTHER NYABOKE MOKAYA A RESEARCH PROJECT SUBMITTED IN PART FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES IN THE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM AND MASS COMMUNICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI 2015 DECLARATION This research project is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in any other university for any other award Signature………………………………… Date………………………… Esther Nyaboke Mokaya B.Ed (Arts) REG NO: K50/70018/2013 This research project has been submitted to the School of Journalism and Media Studies, University of Nairobi for examination with my approval as a University Supervisor Supervisor`s Signature…………………… Date……………………..… Dr. Ndeti Ndati School of Journalism and Media Studies University of Nairobi i DEDICATION I dedicate this project to my husband Forah and daughter Taraji for their support and encouragement during the writing of this project. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I would like to thank my supervisor Dr Ndeti Ndati and my colleagues for their invaluable support and comments which went a long way in putting together this research project. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION....................................................................................................................... i DEDICATION.......................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ...................................................................................................... iii LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................. vi LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................... vii ABBREVIATIONS AND ACROYNYMS .......................................................................... viii ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................. ix CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION .................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background of Study ........................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem ..................................................................................................... 6 1.3 Objectives of the Study ........................................................................................................ 7 1.4 Research Questions .............................................................................................................. 8 1.5 Significance of the Study ..................................................................................................... 8 1.5 Scope and Limitation of the Study ....................................................................................... 9 1.7 Operational Definition of Terms .......................................................................................... 9 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ..................................................................... 10 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 10 2.2 Empirical Review............................................................................................................... 10 2.3 Theoretical Framework ...................................................................................................... 15 CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY ........................................................................... 26 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 26 3.2 Study Area ......................................................................................................................... 26 3.3 Target Population ............................................................................................................... 26 3.4 Research Design................................................................................................................. 26 3.5 Sample Size and Sampling Procedure ............................................................................... 26 3.6 Data Collection Methods ................................................................................................... 27 3.7 Pre-testing .......................................................................................................................... 28 3.8 Data Analysis and Presentation ......................................................................................... 28 iv CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION ................................ 29 4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 29 4.2 Demographics .................................................................................................................... 29 4.3 Religion of the respondents ............................................................................................... 32 4.5 Consumption of Christian Messages on Television or internet ......................................... 35 4.6 Consumption of Christian messages on television ............................................................ 36 4.6.1 What kind of messages ............................................................................................. 36 4.7 Reasons for watching televangelistic messages ................................................................. 37 4.8 Christian television programmes as an alternative to church attendance .......................... 38 4.9 Characteristics that affect the peoples` choice between the two forms of worship. .......... 41 4.10 Credibility Views and Perceptions about televangelism ................................................. 44 CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ......... 45 5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 45 5.2 Summary of Major Findings .............................................................................................. 45 5.3 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 47 5.4 Recommendations .............................................................................................................. 48 5.5 Areas for Further Research ................................................................................................ 49 REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................... 50 APPENDIX ............................................................................................................................. 53 Appendix 1: Questionnaire ...................................................................................................... 53 Appendix 2: Key Informant Interview Guide .......................................................................... 59 v LIST OF TABLES Table 4.1: Analysis of the Respondents by Age ...................................................................... 30 Table 4.2: Respondents‟ current occupation .................................................................................. 31 Table 4.3: Marital status of the respondents ............................................................................ 31 Table 4.4: If Yes Do You Go To Church................................................................................. 33 Table 4.5: Christian television programmes as an alternative to church attendance ............... 39 vi LIST OF FIGURES Figure 4.1: Respondents‟ denomination .................................................................................. 34 Figure 4.2: What kind of messages .......................................................................................... 36 Figure 4.3: Reasons for watching televangelistic messages .................................................... 37 Figure 4.4: Why respondents sent or gave donations to televangelists ................................... 43 vii ABBREVIATIONS AND ACROYNYMS FCC Federal Communication Commission T.V Television CD Compact Disc DVD Digital Visual Disk viii ABSTRACT This study sought to establish the effect of televangelism on worship habits in Kenya. More specifically, the research focused on the influence of televangelism on worship habits among worshippers in Nairobi, the impact of televangelism on church attendance amongst worshippers, the worshippers‟ credibility perception of evangelistic messages aired on television in Nairobi and the socio-economic characteristics that affect the peoples` choice between televangelism and traditional modes of worship in Nairobi. The study employed a descriptive research design where both quantitative and qualitative data was collected and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. From the findings, it was established that televangelism influenced worship habits as evidenced by 93% of the Christian respondents who consumed televangelism services in the period under review. In terms of the impact of televangelism on church attendance amongst worshippers in Nairobi, the
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