Item Detail
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27386
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0
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0
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English
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Understanding the differences of the spiritual perceptions of the media, within a specific genre, among LDS religious educators and the Christian community : a grounded theory study
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Moscow, Idaho
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University of Idaho
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262
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Ph.D. Dissertation
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This study examined the differences, or disconnect, that occurs between the LDS religious educator and the Christian community. The dual purpose of this study was examine the deep spiritual perceptions, reactions, and feelings of viewers as to the common messages and teachings of a certain genre in the media; and to create a model that would frame the differences of perception between the LDS religious educators and individuals in the Christian community when viewing a specific genre in the media.
This study focused on the genre of situational comedies, or sitcoms. A theoretical sampling was taken which involved eleven participants. Five of the participants were LDS religious educators and six of the participants were from various Christian faiths.
All of the sitcoms were analyzed, coded, and categorized for understanding of the genre and to create a meaningful protocol for the interview process. Each participant was asked to view a sitcom and then undergo an interviewing process where they responded to the questions in the protocol and their perceptions were coded for meaning.
Differences were examined between the two groups (LDS religious educators and the Christian community) as they expressed their perceptions and feelings as to the personal relationships, behaviors, characters that are displayed in the genre of sitcoms.
The study advances a theoretical position that LDS religious educators do not see the genre as representing real life while the Christian community relates with the genre and finds that they experience similar situations in their own life.
Rather than a debate, this study creates a model where religious educators can further understand the perspectives of their students and facilitate communication on the same level of understanding.