Hannah Hughes conducted primary research on soap operas through surveys. The surveys found that soap operas are aimed primarily at working class females adults. Specifically, over 60% said soap operas featured strong independent female characters. Over 80% said domestic issues were the most common storylines as they are personally relatable. Over 50% said soap operas were aimed at adults for escapism. Based on this research, Hannah plans for her soap opera trailer to appeal to working class female adults by featuring domestic storylines they can relate to.

1. Primary Research Analysis
Hannah Hughes

2. Candidate name: Hannah Hughes
Candidate number: 4067
Centre name: St. Andrews Catholic School
Centre number: 64135

3. When asked what gender
soap operas are aimed at
63.64% said that they
were aimed at females.
This could be because
there are often ‘strong,
independent female
characters’ (Feasey - 2007)
that are extremely
counter-stereotypical.
This could make women
feel empowered and give
them a chance to escape
from their real lives. In my
trailer I would use the
strong female character,
however I wouldn’t want
to over sell it as I don’t
think this extreme
personality would appeal
to our audience.

4. There are often multiple
problems within soap
operas, which is know as
a multi-stranded
narrative, however when
asked what the most
common was over 80%
said domestic issues were
the most common. In my
opinion with is because it
is the more ‘personally
identifiable’ (Katz) trait
for everyday audiences.
This could be because it is
easier to sympathize with
the characters.
This is something I would
like to bring forward into
my trailer. I will be using a
domestic issue theme so
that the audience will be
able to sympathize with
the characters easily.

5. When asked what age
range do you think soap
operas are aimed at
54.55% said that they felt it
was aimed at adults. This
could be as hard working
people they need to watch
soap operas as it gives
them ‘escapism’ (Katz) and
a chance to relax.
This could also be because
the majority of characters
in soap operas are adults,
and so the audience feel
they can relate to the
issues. I would use this in
my trailer by ensuring that
the audience would be
able to relate to the
emotions of my characters.

6. When asked who soap
operas were aimed at there
was no surprise that 55.55%
of resonance said the
working class. In the
following question I asked
why they felt soap operas
were aimed at the working
class. Many said it was
because ‘they could relate’
to the situations within
soaps. Some said that it was
a form of ‘light
entertainment’ that creates
‘strong personal identity’
that you don’t get with the
other classes.
Overall I think I will bring
the working class relation
into my soap opera trailer.

7. Conclusion
• In conclusion I think that the information that
I have gained through the survey I created will
be very useful. This is because it corresponds
to the initial ideas I had about soap operas. In
summary of my survey I would like my trailer
to appeal to working class, female adults who
will relate to the domestic issues.

8. Extra Evidence
This is a questionnaire that I
created to give extra evidence
for my Primary Research. From
this research I discovered that
90% felt that soap operas were
aimed at women. This was a
similar result to my survey.
Again 80% though that
domestic issues are the main
story lines in soap operas.
When asked what age range
soap operas are aimed at 90%
said adults, and the other 10%
said young adults or the elderly.
In the final question 100% of
resonance said that they
thought soap operas were
aimed at the working class.