On a serious note - please help me with some research

[Twinky]

I'm trying to gather some information about why people watch certain tv documentaries. You know the type of thing, the ones with the exciting titles such as 'the girl with half a brain', 'the man with no penis', 'the woman with half a body'.

I'm doing some research into exactly WHY people watch these documentaries.

In order to do it officially, I will need to get it through our ethics committee (which I do plan to do) but, as a start and to see if people can think of other things they might like to ask (or know the answer to), I've just set up a freebie 10-question online survey. If you have a minute to take part that would be great, it will help me to know whether people actually bother to vote in online surveys and also, this thread could hopefully give me some input as to other things people might think are relevant.

Really, I'm looking at WHY people want to see these documentaries. Is it just like a circus side-show (stare at the freak) or are they providing some sort of societal benefit?

My temporary survey is here :

Reality TV Documentaries

The article which (I hope) will come from this, will be published in the British Journal of Psychiatry.

This is just a taster, I'm trying to work out if I could actually get people to respond. If I go ahead with the full survey then I will put in place safeguards to prevent people from answering multiple times and I will also put in place safeguards to protect anonymity. The full survey would have approximately 50 questions and would take around 15 minutes to complete.

Would you do that? Or couldn't you be bothered?

I'm really interested in any input anyone may have (and I will credit anyone who comes up with anything I use).

Thank you.

[Earl]

Yes, I like the freak show aspect.

[Twinky]

Yes, I like the freak show aspect.

Yes, my own opinion is that this is why most people watch such documentaries, although I think most people pretend they watch them for some other reason. This is why I'm interested. I'm curious as to why people try to justify watching them.

[adi]

The girl with half a brain, watched by people with half a brain? Funny how these shows are always on channel 4 or ITV isn't it.

[Twinky]

Hmmm, well, my link seems not to work. I need to sort that out I think!

[Twinky]

The girl with half a brain, watched by people with half a brain? Funny how these shows are always on channel 4 or ITV isn't it.

It was on channel five.

[SFB]

One of the earliest TV shows in that vein was called 'Your Life In Their Hands' and it screened actual operations in hospitals.
I could never understand why anyone other than medical students would want to watch that programme, but it was quite popular.

[Twinky]

I've written to them asking why my survey isn't working. I shall let you all know when they resolve it!

[SFB]

I just completed it, so it's working.

[Twinky]

I just completed it, so it's working.

Oh, thanks. How weird. I just get the log in page when I click on it. Thanks very much SFB, it must just be my cookies I suppose. Now I feel stupid that I wrote them a cross email!