Lucas Kirkland conducted a survey of sixth form students to gather information for developing a soap opera trailer. The survey results showed that most respondents did not enjoy watching soap operas, thought they appealed most to females, and preferred the soap opera EastEnders. Respondents indicated kidnapping was the most popular theme and that soap operas were entertaining. Most saw women as strong and independent and thought soap operas targeted working class adults. The survey concluded soap operas did not accurately depict modern life.

1. Primary Research Results
Name: Lucas Kirkland
Candidate Number: 1159
Center Name: St. Andrew’s Catholic School
Center Number:

2. Evidence
Here is evidence of a student in my
sixth form filling out my questionnaire.
In the following slides I will breakdown
the results that I have gathered and
analytically break down the statistics.

3. Question 1 – Do you enjoy watching the soap opera genre
This feedback connotes
that the random sample
of people that answered
my questionnaire,
generally do not enjoy
watching soap operas.
With 37.5% answering
no, the results tell me
that my own soap opera
trailer needs to be
enjoyable and brings
something new to the
market.

4. Question 2 – Typically what gender do you think are most attracted to watch soap operas.
The concluding results connote to me that the female gender is stereotypically associated
with watching the soap opera genre. When constructing my soap opera trailer it is
important that it appeals to the female gender, however because of the lack of popularity
with the male gender I need to make sure that my trailer appeals to both genders. 100%
of people answered the question ‘female’.

5. Question 3 – Out of the following soap operas, which do
you prefer to watch?
Eastenders is one of the most
popular soap operas and has
the most responses from the
random people I sent my
questionnaire to. With 47.75%
of people voting this soap, the
results connote that my soap
opera trailer needs to take
inspiration from the most
popular soap. From these
results I can now carry out
further research into my
Eastenders is so successful. I
can then take inspiration for
my own soap opera.

6. Question 4 – What themes and issues raised in soap operas do you
enjoy watching most
By asking this question I
was able to get the
people to aid a big
decision related to the
creation of my soap
opera trailer. By asking
what key theme is most
appealing I am able to
find out the most popular
theme I could use in my
trailer. With 43.75% of
people responding to
kidnapping I can now
start to create a plot
device for my soap.

7. Question 5 – Soap operas have a huge popularity, why
do you think so
In order to create a
successful trailer that will
be popular I needed to find
out why soap operas are
successful.
With 50% of people
responding to
entertainment, the results
connote to me that my
soap needs to entertain
above all else.

8. Question 6 – How do you feel women should be
represented in a soap opera
From this set of results, sent to a random amount of people I can conclude that women's roles in
soaps are seen by people as strong and independent. 75% of people favored “strong and
independent” therefore I will represent women in this way for my own soap.

9. Question 7 – What age range do you think is
most likely to tune into a soap opera?
When creating a soap, a target audience
is essential. From the results I can
conclude that adults are the most likely
to watch a soap opera. With 56.25%
responses it is important that I appeal to
this audience.

10. Question 8 – What class do you feel soap
operas are aimed at ?
From these results I can
conclude that the
working class is most
likely to watch a soap
opera. With 68.75%
responses this connotes
to me that I need to
appeal to the working
class in my trailer.
However, I need to
appeal to all classes in
order to maximize
popularity.

11. Question 9 – What do you feel needs to be
improved in Soap Operas?
Due to this open ended
question I have been able
to gather responses that
will aid the development
of my own soap. With
answers like “The actual
filming and artistic
features” I am able to
think about my own ways
to improve the soap opera
genre.

12. Question 10 – Do you feel Soap operas Depict
modern day Life correctly?
From the answers, I am
able to connote that soap
operas do not depict
modern day life correctly.
With six “No” responses I
now know that I need to
incorporate modern topics
and themes into my soap.

13. Conclusion
To conclude From carrying out these
questionnaires I have been able to gather
information on what my target audience think
about soap operas. For example I can gather
that soap operas depict a false image of what
real life is. Therefore a big component within my
trailer may have a focus on a realistic story.