Abstract
This
research work is aimed at analyzing Audience perception of female models in
advertising message (a study of always ultra commercials). The research method
used was survey method and questionnaires being the instrument. The findings
from the questionnaires shows that the audience especially those in Enugu
metropolis, now have positive perception of female models with aid of the
“Always Ultra” commercials they watch on their television sets, after findings,
the researcher recommended that advertising regulatory bodies should scrutinize
adverts properly before they are shown on television.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Title
page
Certification
Approval
page
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Abstract
Table
of contents
CHAPTER ONE: Introduction
1.1
Background of the study
1.2
Statement of the problem
1.3
Objectives of the study
1.4
Research Questions
1.5
Scope of study
1.6
Significance of the study
1.7
Operational definition of Terms
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE
REVIEW
2.1
Introduction
2.2
Concepts of Advertising
2.3
The concept of audience perception of female models in advertising messages
2.4
“Always Ultra” commercials and portrayal of female models
2.5
Review of related studies
2.6
Theoretical frame work
2.7
Summary of Literature Review
CHAPTER THREE: Research
Methodology
3.1Introduction
3.2
Research Design
3.3
Area of study
3.4
Population of the Study
3.5
Sample size
3.6
Description of Research Instrument
3.7
Validity of Data Gathering Instrument
3.8
Method Data Collection
3.9
Method of Data Analysis
CHAPTER FOUR: Data
Presentation and Analysis
4.1
Introduction
4.2
Data Presentation and Analysis
4.3
Discussion Findings
CHAPTER FIVE: Summary, Conclusion
and Recommendation
5.1Introduction
5.2
Summary
5.3
Conclusion
5.4
Recommendations
5.5
Suggestions for further studies
References
Appendices
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background
of the study
For any organization, advertising occupies
the most important marketing activities, in modern economics; advertising
occupies an important market position. The industry (advertising) has grown to
an important economic entity supporting lives of millions of people in the
world. Advertising is not only an economic activity, but it articulated,
different ideas, attitudes and values, which shape out social life and
consumption patterns. Therefore, it can be said that advertising has become and
form by virtue of signifying practices.
Advertisements, articulates meaning to
words although this depends on how we interpret them.
Advertising
is such an influence in our society that determines our needs what we care
about, how we raise our children, what our interests are and so on. Advertising
plays a role involving a number of relationships, power and satisfaction; in
this light, advertising has over the years used women as tools/implement to
persuade consumers into buying a product and portray the women beautiful and
desirable. As noted by Puranik (2011)
“advertising is nothing but a paid form of non-personal presentation or
promotion of ideas, goods or services by an identified sponsor with a view to
disseminate information concerning an idea or product” is called advertisement.
In present day marketing activities,
hardly is there any business in the modern world which does not advertise.
However, the advertisement differs from business to business.
Areas (2008)
said that “advertising is the structure and composed, non-Personal
communication of information, usually paid for and usually persuasive in
nature, about products, about services and ideas, by identified sponsors,
through various mass media like radio, television billboard, newspaper,
magazine, with the aim of creating awareness”.
This definition has a close link with that
of Dominick (2007), which says that
“advertising is any form of non-personal presentation and promotion of ideas, goods,
and services, usually paid for, by an identified or known sponsor. Advertising
makes use of various media to reach out to the consumers across the globe”.
Thus
it is seen as the process of persuading potential customers to buy products or
promote its services. Wikipedia (2011)
give way that any organization that wants its products to know and looked for,
has to create awareness through advertising.
Wilson, cited in Asemah (2010) said that advertising is controversial in nature and
that in the early twentieth century, people clamored for the regulation of
advertising. Believing much of it was exaggerated and untruthful. The United
Nations conference on women recognized the importance of the mass media on the
image of women/female models. As noted by Ingham,
television is widely known to represent and reinforce the mainstream ideology of
contemporary western culture particularly. While television representation of
women have changed greatly in the last twenty years alone, in other to
accommodate the changing role of women on the society, one is led to ask how
much the ideology had changed behind the more modern representations of women.
If this is the case, then it is important for us to question how real the
representations of women are on television and how this affects the attitudes
of those who watch. Some of the most watched and perhaps influential genres of
television viewing are advertisements on soap operas, in a world where women
are numbered greater than men, can television be said to reflect the world as
it is or dictate it?
Lipmann (1994) averts that gender
representation on a small scale has always been important for one to understand
what it means to be male or female. Looking at it in terms of advertising
(possibly considering the most important aspect, powerful and influential
medium in this ever increasing commercial society) is to look at it with more
serious eye from the image inflicted upon us in the patriarchal mass media that
surround us, it is assumed that we have been encouraged to mould ourselves into
a set ideal. For a woman, that means having beauty, elegance, passivity and
good domestic ability. One of the reasons televisions is resistant to the
messages as conflicting with women’s desired to consume. Advertisers do not
want to present to the audience a liberated woman, because this new woman does
not want and thus, will not buy their products. For this reason, the paper actually
examines the perception of the audience of female models in advertising
messages, using “Always Ultra” commercials as the study.
Understanding
the concept of advertising
It is any paid
form of non-personal communication link, initiated by an identified marketer,
to establish or continue exchange relationships with customers and at times,
with other stakeholders. Companies advertise to: create awareness, position a
product/brand, build preference, and differentiate their product/brands. Dominick (2007) sees advertising as
any form of non-personal presentation and promotion of ideas, goods and
services, usually paid for by an identified sponsor.
Wikipedia (2011) gave a comprehensive
definition of advertising thus: advertising is the persuading potential
customers to buy products or promote its services. It is also the branch of
marketing that deals with communicating to customers about products, brands,
and services. Advertising is a type of communication used to persuade an
audience (views, readers, listeners) to take some action with respect to
products, ideas or services, most commonly, the desired result is to drive
consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and
ideological advertising is also common, advertising messages are usually paid
for by sponsor and viewed via traditional media, including mass media such as
newspapers, magazines, television commercials, radio advertisements, outdoor
advertising or direct mail or new media such as website and text.
The Advertising Practitioners Council of
Nigeria defined advertising as “a form of communication through the media
about products, services or ideas paid for by an identified sponsor”.
Therefore, the real message,
aimed/objectives of advertising is effective communication, understanding
between producers and consumers.
Brief
History of “Always Ultra” product/commercials
“Always” began in test market in
Minnieapolis, Minnestota in January 1983. At that time (3) pad types were
introduced: maxi pads, mini pads, and panty liners. The ongoing market share
objective was 25%; by October/November “Always” had a 21. 5% share; Year (1)
was 18.9%. The target audience were women between the ages of 12-49. Test
market result indicated “Always” could achieve a 22.5% going nationally.
Competition at the time was intense. Johnson and Johnson was the market leader.
Competitive response included new products, line extensions, product improvements,
and heavy competitive promotional spending. “Always” also spent very heavily at
that time. Consumer awareness of the product was low; consumers who tried “Always”
like it, except for the pad.
By
1984, “Always” was in national distribution. At that time there were (4) four
pad types: maxi pads, mini pads, thin mini pads and panty liners. National
expansion result were mixed: market share was 14.8% vs. the 16% objective. Key
issues included in- market distribution and out of stock problems to meet the
original 22,5% objective. Additionally, awareness among pad-using women was 82%
compared to test market at 89%. Television advertising started 7-2-84 and
samples were mailed including a coupon. In 1986, “Always Plus” was introduced
into the US representing the first line feminine hygiene pads with panty
protectors on the side where leakage is most often likely to occur. In 1991,
“Always Ultra” was introduced into the US market. The ultra pad incorporates a
novel super-sober technology for feminine hygiene protection. In Europe, the
general expansion of the full “Always” product line, including “Always Ultra”
and panty liners also began
1.2 Statement
of the Problem
The primary aim of this study is to correct
the negative impression of audience perception as regards to the portrayal of female
models as sex objects.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The
objectives of the study are:
a) To
find out audience perception of female models in advertising messages.
b) To
determine the effect of “Always Ultra” commercials has on the advertising
perception of audience.
c) To
find out how “Always Ultra” commercials have portray female models to the
audience.
d) To
examine the role of female models in advertising messages.
1.4
Research
Questions
a) To
what extent have female models passed advertising message?
b) How
has “Always Ultra” as a product helped in terms of advertisements, to portray
advertising messages to audience?
c) How
has “Always Ultra” commercial influenced the audience?
d) Do
models have negative or positive impact in advertising?
e) In
what manner does the audience see female models?
1.5 Scope
of the Study
The
essence of this research work is to study how “Always Ultra” as a product and
its advertisement/commercials has audience perception, of female models in
passing advertising messages in Enugu metropolis. The study covers only
commercials run by “Always Ultra” company.
1.6 Significance
of the Study
The study will help to determine the extent of
knowledge of audience and likewise their attitude towards commercials both on
radio and television. Also, the research helps to ascertain the importance of
electronic media especially the television as a media of bringing about
people’s awareness innovation. As a result of this research/study, it helps to
educate the audience on the benefits include positive view of female models in
advertising messages, and the importance of the product been studied to audience
and finally eliminating the thought of female models as only sex subject and
not product promoters.
1.8
Operational
Definition of Terms
The following terms where used and is
defined as follows:
Audience:
a
group or number of people that come together to watch, listen or read the same
thing.
Perception:
it is an idea, belief, or an image you have as a result of how you understand
the true nature of something.
Female
model: a lady or woman that showcase a product/service.
Audience
perception: what a group think of the true nature of
a thing.
Commercials:
it is connected with showcasing goods and services and making profit.
Advertisement:
a notice, picture, or film telling people about a product, job, or services.
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