University Assignment: LC470, Media's Role in Contemporary Society

This report, submitted for the LC470 Making Sense of Society module, explores the multifaceted role and impact of media in contemporary society. The assignment is divided into two sections. Section 1 defines key sociological terms including qualitative and quantitative research, alienation, mechanical and organic solidarity, and health and well-being. Section 2 focuses on an essay discussing the role and impact of media in contemporary society. The essay examines how media shapes individual lives, disseminates information, influences decision-making, and impacts societal development, considering both its positive and negative consequences. The report draws on academic literature to support its arguments, providing a comprehensive analysis of media's influence.

Making sense of society

Contents
SECTION 1.....................................................................................................................................1
Qualitative and quantitative research...........................................................................................1
Alienation....................................................................................................................................1
Mechanical and organic solidarity...............................................................................................2
Health and well-being..................................................................................................................2
SECTION 2.....................................................................................................................................3
Discuss the role and impact of media in contemporary society......................................................3
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..............................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION............................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

SECTION 1
Qualitative and quantitative research
Qualitative and quantitative research is very important in order to analyse and evaluate
information to take correct decision. Qualitative research is refer as the research that can be
expressed in words for getting information and knowledge. This is significant for gaining better
understanding regarding concept, experiences or thought (Chambliss and Schutt, 2018).
Qualitative research will assist investigator in gathering in depth information as well as in depth
insight regarding topic. There are various qualitative research method which assist in collecting
information such as observation, experiments, survey, closed ended questions and many more.
Through this type of research individual is able to determine different aspects as well as gather
data or information through reasons, opinions and motivations. This assist in correctly resolving
and overcoming with the issue by taking better decisions.
Quantitative research can be describe as way of gathering information in numerical
number. This is significant method in order to transfer data into statistics which is easy to
understand as well as assist in better decision making. Quantitative research is consider as the
most accurate approach as this can be expressed in number and graphs. This is consider as
effective method in order to quantify attitude, opinions, behaviours along with other variables in
order to gather information and data about different aspects. Quantitative research will assist in
measuring data and gathering information is more systematic and accurate manner. There are
different methods and approaches that are includes in online surveys, face to face interviews,
online poll, systematic observation and many more.
Alienation
This can be describe as the state or experience of being alienated. Social alienation can be
describe as a condition in social relationships which reflected by the lower degree of integration
of common values as well as higher degree of distance between different individuals (Pesch,
2020). Karl Marx's theory of alienation can be describe as the social alienation of people from
different elements their human nature as it is consider as the consequences of living in a society
of stratified social classes. As per the theory of Karl Marx it has been analysed that alienation
with in the capitalist mode of production is consider as that worker invariably losses their
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potential and ability to determine life or destiny when they have deprived of right to think
regarding themselves as well the directors of their own actions. There are different types of
alienation in the capitalist society which has been identified by Marx. This consist of fro their
products, from the act of production, form their Gattungswesen as well as other workers. It has
been determined that individual who shows that symptoms of alienation have faced rejection
from loved ones or society (Campbell, 2018). There are chances that they may show the feelings
of distance and estrangement including their own emotions.
Mechanical and organic solidarity
Mechanical and organic solidarity is refer as the theory of Emile Durkheims who is
French social scientist. Solidarity can be define as the bond of unity with is between different
individual and they are united with common goals as well as people As per this mechanical
solidarity can be describe as the social cohesiveness of small or undifferentiated societies. Where
as differentiated societies with relatively complex division of labour is consider as the organic
solidarity. Mechanical solidarity can be describe as the social integration of member of society
that have common values and beliefs. For example individual or society which are with in the
mechanical solidarity hold same values or beliefs. Children attend similar type of school as well
as eat same food or follow same customer or values. In mechanical solidarity Ari's community
can be consider as the example of mechanical solidarity. Mechanical solidarity is the social
cohesion or integration which comes form the homogeneity of individuals that consist of people
connected through similar work, education, lifestyle as well as other aspects which are
significant for defining labour together. Organic solidarity can be describe as the social cohesion
that is based on the interdependence which arises between people form the specialization of work
or complementariness that is consider as the result of more advance or modern societies
(Counted, 2016). Organic solidarity is important as it required people to be highly dependent
upon each other because of specialization where as mechanical solidarity does not have any kind
of specialization as every one perform same roles and practices.
Health and well-being
According to global health regulation authority which is World Health Organisation
(WHO), health is refered as “ a human state of well being in terms of physical, mental and social
fitness in whole instead of only a disease free state of a person”. It is related to physical fitness as
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well as sound mental state for overall human health. It is claimed from biopsychosocial model of
health and fitness which states that various factors such as psychological, physiological and
social factors for wellness and interdependence of these factors. The WHO states health is a
fundamental right of human being which includes physical and social factors as its rootage for
maintaining good health. It is different from traditional model of health, which relate health is a
lack of disease and illness state of a person and intensifies the need for clinical diagnosis and
intersection (Vaughn, 2018). Well-being is considered as an optimistic rather than a normalised
state which shapes health as a positive desire for living well. Health is also describe as a means
for everyday and not as a object for living. Thus, there is a strong link between health and
engagement in a society for productivity and sustainable development.
However, this definition of health has faced criticism of over medicalisation due to its
unrealistic nature. It left people overwhelmed by focusing more on their unhealthy state. Due to
its exaggeration of health involving various factors to be considered for well being all the time.
Also, it fails to consider the growing number of people living with illness and disabilities.
Mostly, people with sound physical, mental and social well being state is delusive and
counterproductive. Furthermore, it can be said that achieving complete health as a goal will
result in individualistic approach rather than collective approach which diminishes the scope for
promoting human right in a country.
SECTION 2
Discuss the role and impact of media in contemporary society.
INTRODUCTION
Media play crucial role in enhancing and improvement in society as it consist of
different elements that is significant for overall growth and development. The major purpose of
media is to share information regarding current news, trends, market place, environment and so
on. All of these are important aspect of society and it will lead to influence over society and
individual. In today's society media is very crucial part and it will lead to enhance overall society
as well as provide information about different areas and elements (Charman, 2019). Media is
classified into different parts and it is one of the very important source of information for society.
This will lead to have both positive as well as negative impact on contemporary society. It will
have major influence over people of society by providing correct and accurate information. It
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will lead to have direct influence over individual decision making as well as enhancement of
society or living standards of people. Media is very influential on contemporary society which
includes both advantages and drawback for society. In this essay role and impact of media in
contemporary society has been determined.
MAIN BODY
Media is very powerful source of information and data that will have significant impact
on contemporary society. There are different roles of media in society which will lead to reflect
over living standards or decision making of individual. The major aim or purpose of the media
on society is to give or provide information about different topic with the motive of making
people aware about various aspects. Role of media on contemporary society includes passing of
information, education, entertainment, advancement and correlation of parts in society. Through
media it is easy for individual to get connected with other people as well as gain information
regarding any aspect or any time (Flanagin, Winter and Metzger, 2020). Media is consider as
the mirror of modern society which play crucial role in shaping individual life. There are
different types of media network used in contemporary society such as print, television media as
well as cell phones. All of these media are very useful and it is significant for passing
information as well as increasing connectivity with in society. In today's modern world media
has become very important part of the society and it is consider as the essential need.
There are number of benefits and advantages that could be attain by media and it lead to
positively influence over society. Media includes various sources of information that is
significant for providing information about any part of the world to other parts. Through this
anyone can reach to any information any time. Media have implemented profound impact on
society and it have several positive impact on contemporary society. It is crucial that individual
of society is using media in correct or accurate manner with the motive of gaining major
benefits. Media has positively influence the thinking and living of individual. Through media
they are able to gain large amount of knowledge which have positively impacted contemporary
society (Sella and et.al, 2020). Through media it is easy for individual to get connected with their
friends, family or close once. It is enhance the potential of communication with in the society as
well as improved relationship between individual. Media is beneficial for individual, groups,
communities, business and other elements of society. Now a days business are using different
forms of media with the motive of enhancing business practices as well as improving overall
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performance. It has positively impact on business as well as provide correct information to
society for purchasing correct product and services (Wagenaar, 2019). Through media
customers are more aware regarding the quality of products and services offered by organisation
as well as able to take correct decision which is beneficial for them. Media is very powerful
source of information for growth and development of society and it provide opportunities to
every individual to represent their ideas and views to others. This have positively affected
contemporary society and lead to impact on overall growth of individual.
There are some negative impact of media on society as it lead to have direct influence on
how people think or behave. It have affected day to day activities of a person which have impact
on society. There are number of drawback of media on society that could lead to affect
individual or society. Due to media is it very easy to pass on information regarding any topic or
anywhere. This has lead to enhance rumours and wrong information with in society and increase
in wrong information is very harmful for contemporary society or its development. Media have
introduced social media platform where people can connect with anyone digitally as well as can
share their information with the world. The negative influence of social media can impact n
mental health of a person (Underhill, 2018). Regular use of social media platform will have
direct influence on individual life or can lead to increase in high level of stress. It is essential to
use media in correct manner with the motive of reducing in negative impact form contemporary
society.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it have been concluded that media is very powerful as well as
important for contemporary society. Media play very important role in contemporary society and
it will lead to influence on life of individual. It will lead to have both positive and negative
impact on growth of society. It is crucial to use media in correct way so that it negative influence
form contemporary society can be reduced as well as lead to overall improvement for
individuals.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Chambliss, D.F. and Schutt, R.K., 2018. Making sense of the social world: Methods of
investigation. Sage Publications.
Pesch, U., 2020. Making sense of the self: an integrative framework for moral agency. Journal
for the Theory of Social Behaviour, 50(1), pp.119-130.
Campbell, J.E., 2018. Polarized: Making sense of a divided America. Princeton University Press.
Counted, V., 2016. Making sense of place attachment: Towards a holistic understanding of
people-place relationships and experiences. Environment, space, place, 8(1), pp.7-32.
Vaughn, M., 2018. Making sense of student agency in the early grades. Phi Delta
Kappan, 99(7), pp.62-66.
Charman, S., 2019. Making sense of policing identities: The ‘deserving’and the ‘undeserving’in
policing accounts of victimisation. Policing and society.
Flanagin, A.J., Winter, S. and Metzger, M.J., 2020. Making sense of credibility in complex
information environments: The role of message sidedness, information source, and
thinking styles in credibility evaluation online. Information, Communication &
Society, 23(7), pp.1038-1056.
Sella, F. and et.al, 2020. Making sense of number words and Arabic digits: Does order count
more?. Child development, 91(5), pp.1456-1470.
Wagenaar, H., 2019. Making Sense of Civic Enterprise. Social Innovation, Participatory
Democracy and the Administrative State. Partecipazione e conflitto, 12(2), pp.297-324.
Underhill, M.R., 2018. Parenting during Ferguson: making sense of white parents’
silence. Ethnic and racial studies, 41(11), pp.1934-1951.
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