Flemington, NJ, November 14, 2008 – A new national study among 300 Americans revealed that loyal American Idol viewers overwhelmingly support the American Idol show and judges with regards to the Paula Goodspeed suicide case. The majority of American Idol viewers (who responded that they watch the show “All the time” or “Sometimes”) felt that Goodspeed’s audition experience on American Idol should not be blamed for her suicide and death. Most responders across all segments agreed that the victim, Paula Goodspeed, should be primarily responsible for her own death. American Idol viewers also felt that the show and the judges’ likeability ratings would not be negatively affected by the Goodspeed case.
Conversely, those who responded that they “Never” watch American Idol had a more negative view on the show and the judges after the Goodspeed case was made public. While most non-viewers felt that Goodspeed’s experience on American Idol did contribute to her suicide, they still felt that the show should not be held primarily responsible.
The study was conducted by HCD Research on November 13 to obtain Americans’ perceptions of the Paula Goodspeed suicide case and how it would affect the American Idol show and the American Idol judges, Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell. To view agreement curves and detailed results go to: www.mediacurves.com.
Among the Findings:
Do you think the judges behavior in Paula Goodspeed’s American Idol audition contributed to her overdose and death?
| Always Watch the Show | |
| Yes | 24% |
| No | 52% |
| Not Sure | 24% |
| Sometimes Watch the Show | |
| Yes | 35% |
| No | 37% |
| Not Sure | 28% |
| Never Watch the Show | |
| Yes | 43% |
| No | 40% |
| Not Sure | 17% |
Has this negatively impacted your view of the American Idol show and the people involved?
| Always Watch the Show | |
| Yes | 16% |
| No | 79% |
| Not Sure | 5% |
| Sometimes Watch the Show | |
| Yes | 22% |
| No | 65% |
| Not Sure | 13% |
| Never Watch the Show | |
| Yes | 42% |
| No | 54% |
| Not Sure | 4% |
Who do you think should be held primarily responsible in this suicide case?
| Always Watch the Show | |
| The American Idol show and judges | 7% |
| The suicide victim, Paula Goodspeed | 83% |
| Family/Friends of Paula Goodspeed | 10% |
| The court system | 0% |
| Sometimes Watch the Show | |
| The American Idol show and judges | 8% |
| The suicide victim, Paula Goodspeed | 83% |
| Family/Friends of Paula Goodspeed | 7% |
| The court system | 2% |
| Never Watch the Show | |
| The American Idol show and judges | 14% |
| The suicide victim, Paula Goodspeed | 76% |
| Family/Friends of Paula Goodspeed | 9% |
| The court system | 1% |
While viewing the video, participants indicated their levels of agreement 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 post-viewing questions.
The Media Curves web site provides the media and general public with a venue to view Americans’ perceptions of popular and controversial media events and advertisements.
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).
|
 Send This Thread to a Friend |
