Flemington, NJ, February 23, 2010 – A new media study among 653 viewers of a FOX News video clip featuring a story about a Pennsylvania school that monitored students at home through laptop webcams revealed that an overwhelming majority of viewers (93%) reported that the school violated students’ rights to privacy.
The study was conducted during February 2-4 by HCD Research using its MediaCurves.com® website to obtain viewers’ perceptions of incident in which a student was accused of selling drugs as a result of photos that were taken of him at home through the laptop’s webcam. To view detailed results go to: www.mediacurves.com.
Viewers reported that disturbing (78%) and anger (55%) were the emotions they felt most while viewing the Fox News video clip. In addition, favorability for school issued laptops for home use declined from an average rating of 4.5 to 3.6 after viewing the video. The majority of viewers (80%) reported that the student accused of selling drugs was holding up candy in front of the computer.
Among the findings:
Do you think the school violated this student’s rights of privacy when watching him outside of school on the laptop’s webcam?
|
|
Total |
|
Yes |
93% |
|
No |
7% |
Please indicate how favorable you are of schools issuing student laptops for home use, using a scale of 1-7 where 1 represents, “Not at all favorable” and 7 represents, “Extremely favorable.”
|
|
Mean |
|
Before Video |
4.5 |
|
After Video |
3.6 |
Do you think this school student was selling drugs when being taped by his school’s laptop?
|
|
Total |
|
Yes, I think he was selling drugs |
20% |
|
No, I think he was holding candy |
80% |
Which of the following emotions did you feel while viewing the video? Please check all that apply.
|
|
Total |
|
Anger |
55% |
|
Inspiration |
1% |
|
Sadness |
18% |
|
Skepticism |
28% |
|
Confusion |
14% |
|
Disturbing |
78% |
|
Embarrassment |
10% |
|
Pride |
1% |
|
Happiness |
1% |
While viewing the video, participants indicated their perceived levels of believability by moving their mouse from left to right on a continuum. The responses were recorded in quarter-second intervals and reported in the form of curves. The participants were also asked to respond to post-viewing questions.
Editors/Reporters: For more information on the study, or to speak with Glenn Kessler, president and CEO, HCD Research, please contact Vince McGourty, HCD Research, at (908) 483-9121 or (vince.mcgourty@hcdi.net). You can also receive updates from MediaCurves.com by following us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mediacurves and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Flemington-NJ/MediaCurves/86691908820
HCD Research is a marketing and communications research company headquartered in Flemington, NJ. The company's services include traditional and web-based research. For additional information on HCD Research, access the company’s web site at www.hcdi.net or call HCD Research at 908-788-9393. MediaCurves.com® (www.mediacurves.com) is a media measurement website that provides the media and general public with a venue to view Americans’ perceptions of popular and controversial media events and advertisements.
Hmmm I'm not liking what this has me thinking!! Conspiracy theorists may be on to something. I hope we'll get to watch this as it gets resolved ! Instead of like so many other stories we only hear about once and then no more. I'm sure these aren't the only "spying" eyes they are using. Like how about your computer at work?? And GPS devices DON'T need a camera. Get your Post-it pads out to cover those camera lenses.
Hmmm I'm not liking what this has me thinking!! Conspiracy theorists may be on to something. I hope we'll get to watch this as it gets resolved ! Instead of like so many other stories we only hear about once and then no more. I'm sure these aren't the only "spying" eyes they are using. Like how about your computer at work?? And GPS devices DON'T need a camera. Get your Post-it pads out to cover those camera lenses.