An Experimental Examination of Binge Watching and Narrative Engagement
Increasingly, audiences are engaging with media narratives through the practice of binge watching. The effects of binge watching are largely unknown, although early research suggests binge watching may be motivated by a need for escape and could be associated with some qualities of addiction. In thi...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Social Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/8/1/19 |
| _version_ | 1819030581721169920 |
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| author | Sarah E. Erickson Sonya Dal Cin Hannah Byl |
| author_facet | Sarah E. Erickson Sonya Dal Cin Hannah Byl |
| author_sort | Sarah E. Erickson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Increasingly, audiences are engaging with media narratives through the practice of binge watching. The effects of binge watching are largely unknown, although early research suggests binge watching may be motivated by a need for escape and could be associated with some qualities of addiction. In this study, we ask whether the practice of binge watching impacts audience engagement with a media narrative. Using an experimental approach, we manipulate the format of exposure to media narratives (binge or nonbinge) and test the effect of this manipulation on audience engagement, specifically parasocial relationships with favorite characters and narrative transportation. Results suggest that binge watching increases the strength of parasocial relationships and the intensity of narrative transportation. Media engagement has been shown to increase media effects, suggesting that binge watching could change not only how audiences engage with narrative media but also the effect it has on them. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T06:32:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-026dbd6a2a49414d965e26f77d778b7c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0760 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T06:32:26Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-026dbd6a2a49414d965e26f77d778b7c2022-12-21T19:12:58ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602019-01-01811910.3390/socsci8010019socsci8010019An Experimental Examination of Binge Watching and Narrative EngagementSarah E. Erickson0Sonya Dal Cin1Hannah Byl2Department of Communication, Trinity University, 1 Trinity Place, San Antonio, TX 78212, USADepartment of Communication Studies, University of Michigan, North Quadrangle, 105 S. State St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1285, USADepartment of Communication Studies, University of Michigan, North Quadrangle, 105 S. State St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1285, USAIncreasingly, audiences are engaging with media narratives through the practice of binge watching. The effects of binge watching are largely unknown, although early research suggests binge watching may be motivated by a need for escape and could be associated with some qualities of addiction. In this study, we ask whether the practice of binge watching impacts audience engagement with a media narrative. Using an experimental approach, we manipulate the format of exposure to media narratives (binge or nonbinge) and test the effect of this manipulation on audience engagement, specifically parasocial relationships with favorite characters and narrative transportation. Results suggest that binge watching increases the strength of parasocial relationships and the intensity of narrative transportation. Media engagement has been shown to increase media effects, suggesting that binge watching could change not only how audiences engage with narrative media but also the effect it has on them.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/8/1/19binge watchingnarrative transportationparasocial relationshipsmedia engagementnarrative engagementstreaming television |
| spellingShingle | Sarah E. Erickson Sonya Dal Cin Hannah Byl An Experimental Examination of Binge Watching and Narrative Engagement Social Sciences binge watching narrative transportation parasocial relationships media engagement narrative engagement streaming television |
| title | An Experimental Examination of Binge Watching and Narrative Engagement |
| title_full | An Experimental Examination of Binge Watching and Narrative Engagement |
| title_fullStr | An Experimental Examination of Binge Watching and Narrative Engagement |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Experimental Examination of Binge Watching and Narrative Engagement |
| title_short | An Experimental Examination of Binge Watching and Narrative Engagement |
| title_sort | experimental examination of binge watching and narrative engagement |
| topic | binge watching narrative transportation parasocial relationships media engagement narrative engagement streaming television |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/8/1/19 |
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