Device use alongside debatesA study conducted during the 2015 UK General Election debates, explores attitudes and practices around the use of personal devices during televised election debates. Through at home observations with 18 participants using cameras, I explored what viewers do on their devices. In-depth interviews around the footage explored the attitudes towards the use of technology alongside the debates.
Research type:
My role:
Team: Nick Taylor, University of Dundee |
Problem
Existing research into social media use alongside televised debates has focused on how Twitter is utilised, including analysis of its main users, how it is used by politicians, the language characteristics of the tweets themselves and the hindrances of using it for political deliberation. However, less apparent is the initial motivation of viewers. |
Opportunity
Where past studies have typically focused on the content generated through personal devices, there is an opportunity to investigate the wider context and motivations behind the use of personal devices alongside debates. |
Research aims
Our research aims to identify the behaviours and motivations that shape the use of peripheral devices during a televised political debate. To capture second screen activity surrounding the debates we recruited 18 participants and asked them to record themselves at home watching a debate of their choosing. |
Lessons learned
Posting content online is only a fraction of the activity that viewers use their devices for. We observed that viewers were using their devices to gauge the opinions of others, to enrich the debate, and to share their views. |