Investigating the relationship between the viewing rate of TV programs of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the social capital of Tehrani families

Master's Thesis of Social Communication Sciences, research field in communication

Abstract

Social capital as one of the components of growth and progress in general and social development in particular has received serious attention from social science research areas to measure the quality of social interactions. In general, the amount of social capital in each group or community indicates the level of trust people have in each other; Also, the existence of an acceptable amount of social capital facilitates social actions. So that in times of crisis, social capital can be used to solve problems as the main source of solving problems and correcting existing processes. In this research, we seek to investigate the relationship between the viewing rate of television programs of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the social capital of Tehrani families. For this purpose, Gerbner's planting theory has been used. According to this theory, with the increase in the amount of television viewing, social capital should also increase. The social capital score of families consists of the sum of three indicators of social trust, social networks and social cohesion. This research was done with a survey method. Its statistical population is all families living in Tehran. The research period is late 2011 and early 2012. The sampling method of multi-stage clusters has been carried out from the north, south, east, west and center of Tehran. The sample size was 400 families that were interviewed with family heads.  

Based on research findings, 15.8 percent of Tehrani families have little social capital; 42.4 percent of families have moderate social capital and 41.9 percent of families have a lot of social capital. The results of the research show that there is a positive relationship between the amount of watching television programs of the Islamic Republic of Iran and social capital, so that the average social capital in families that watch little TV is 161.90 and in families that watch a lot of TV is 175.83. The more television viewing increases, the more social capital increases. Therefore, the image of the Islamic Republic of Iran plays an important role in increasing the social capital of Tehrani families.

Key words: social capital, social trust, social networks, social cohesion, family, television.  

Introduction

Although the concept of social capital has antecedents as old as classical sociology in Europe, it has gained its simple meaning and meaning in the contemporary era with the discussion of topics such as civil society, development, public participation and civil institutions. Although these topics have been raised theoretically by experts and thinkers in our society; But the basic pillar of these discussions, which is social capital, has not been discussed much. Social capital, as one of the components of growth and progress in general and social development in particular, has received serious attention in the fields of social science research to measure the quality of social interactions. Trust, norms, networks and resources are the building blocks of social capital, which ultimately leads to a structure of actor relationships that causes solidarity and cooperation for mutual benefits, facilitating the relationships of individuals and finally achieving group goals. The more the social capital in a group of people has a favorable level in terms of quantity and quality, the more capable the activists will be to organize their community according to collective ideals. The spread of social capital in different layers of society and its non-monopoly in the hands of a minority of people is a sign of the favorable trend of communication capital that people can use to achieve their individual and collective goals regardless of the distinguishing indicators. There is no doubt that the family is the most important social institution and our national and Islamic heritage, which we have the duty to pass on to the next generations in a healthy and powerful way. Religion, government and family have been the three pillars of Iranian history and will always be. Despite all the events, the family still has a deep and unrivaled influence on the formation of the character of the next generation. Therefore, recognizing the importance and position of the family can be very useful for promoting and enhancing the cultural-social ideals of a nation.

The family, as the most important social institution, has always been effective in the order, peace, tranquility, change and transformation of political powers in Iranian society; In other words, everything that happens in society; Its roots are in the influence of the family on the developments of its era, and sometimes it is the retreat of marginalized politicians, artists and great people who have been slapped by their society and the ruling power. For more than two decades, this heritage left by our ancestors has suffered crises based on research results and documents announced by the authorities. .  This is despite the fact that the family is the only place full of affection and love, where it is possible to grow and flourish the personality of adults and at the same time familiarize children with rules, norms and social values. In this unit, people can rely on each other and benefit from each other's support. The family is considered the most important factor in the transfer of norms and values. Dealing with this important institution, strengthening its emotional and social foundations and establishing relationships based on trust, empathy and cooperation among its members is a huge and important task.

     Media is an integral part of human life today. Every day, modern societies witness the supply of new technological communication tools to the consumer market. But in the meantime, television still dominates the domestic media and is accepted as a member of the family.

There are two completely opposite attitudes among the thinkers and researchers of this media. An optimistic view that uses television in education, increasing children's vocabulary, increasing communication skills, getting to know distant lands, guiding thoughts in a planned direction and creating positive thought flows among the audience, creating entertainment and getting rid of everyday fatigue. considers it useful and effective, and a pessimistic view that believes in turning off the television permanently and considers the television as an enemy of creativity, study and He knows and introduces it as the teacher of violence, the destroyer of childhood, the toy of utilitarians for profit, the thief of time, the destroyer of language, literature and poetry, the destroyer of reading and writing skills, and addictive. (Poper and Kendri, 1374, p. 29) The above two attitudes look at this penetrating medium in an extreme way. A combined look at the magic box provides a more realistic impression. In other words, some TV programs show violence, chaos and lack of creativity. but some others promote skills, education, socialization and so on.

Television should focus on the family in today's society, take into consideration its characteristics, problems, positive and negative points and present a suitable model for the society. Television can teach people the right behavior by providing correct models, otherwise the speeches, advice and moral advice about family relationships will not have much effect. If television presents the model of the family in the form of a domineering father without regard to the opinions of others, conflict behavior between husband and wife, and violent behavior of parents and children to each other, how can you expect a child who will form a family in the next twenty years to present any other behavior? (Azazi, 1373, pp.13-12)

2-1- Statement of the problem

Your product will arrive today and my product will arrive tomorrow. So it is in the interest of both of us that I help you today and you rush to help me tomorrow. But I have no favor with you and I know that you are the same, so I will not take it easy on myself because of Turanji, and I know that if I take the suffering of work on myself with the hope that you will also answer my trouble, I will be disappointed and in vain I have closed my heart to your gratitude. So I leave you to do the same with your work and you with mine. Seasons pass and we lose our mutual trust and security. The problem of young people in Hume's story[1] is a very familiar phenomenon in societies and countries around the world:

* Parents around the world want better educational opportunities for their children, but the cooperation that has been done to improve the conditions of public schools has failed. The target is very weak and fragile.

* The global warming threatens the lives of the people of the world, but the common action to prevent this common danger has failed.