The document summarizes the responses from a survey about soap opera viewing habits. The majority of respondents were female ages 17 or younger who said they sometimes watch soaps in the evenings. Most respondents indicated that soap operas focus too heavily on negative themes like family problems and conflict. Therefore, a new soap opera would need more positive themes and storylines to attract more male and older viewers.

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Keir Speirs – 4131
Centre number – 64135
St Andrews Catholic School
The majority of people
answered no to watching soap
operas. This connotes how
most people don’t like soap
operas. However, people said
they sometimes watch soaps
which indicate that they do
watch soaps but not very often.
This means that most people
don’t like soaps as there is the
same theme throughout most
of their episodes. We intend to
have different themes in our
soap in order to attract a wider
audience.

2. The majority of people
answered with negative
answers such as 2”onflict,
family/relationship problems
and murder”. This connotes
that soaps are often only based
around negative issues in life,
which is something we need to
consider ‘repeating’ (Steve
Neale – 1980) in our own
production.
Again in this question the
majority of answers with
negative issues. For example
“conflict, relationship/family
problems, arguments etc.” This
‘signifies’ (De Saussure) that
soap operas only deal with
negative issues.
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3. 9 people out of the 10 said that
soap operas tend to be in the
evening. This connotes that
soaps are usually on during
prime time (7pm – 11pm) and
this is when they will get most
of their viewers’ attention as
this is the time most people get
in from work and want to relax
by watching TV.
Here I asked “what do you think
of existing soap operas” people
had the choice of “Emmerdale,
coronation street and
EastEnders” The majority of
answers I received said that
they preferred EastEnders to
any other soap. To find out
more I will need to investigate
further, but in my opinion this
soap is better as it gives a good
sense of community between
the characters and has
interesting story lines which
entice the audience into
watching more of the show.
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4. Here I asked “what is your
gender”. The majority of
answers where female. This
connotes that females are more
likely to watch soap operas and
therefore we need to establish
how were going to appeal to a
male audience as a group.
Here I asked what gender
makes up the majority of soaps
viewers. Everybody asked said
females are the only gender
who stereotypically watches
soaps.
This connotes that soaps are
only aimed at a female
audience.
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5. Here I asked “what is your age”.
The majority of answers said
they were aged 17 and
younger. This connotes that the
younger generation are most
likely to watch a soap opera.
This is due to the younger
generation watching more TV
than other generations.
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6. 6
Here I asked “which of the
following categories best
describes your employment
status”. The majority of
answers said they were
employed part time. This
connotes that after they have
finished work they go home
and watch soaps to relax.

7. Here I asked what nationality
they were. All answered saying
they were white. This connotes
that this one particular race all
watch SOAP OPERAS.
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In conclusion I have found that the majority of people who watch soap operas are female.
Also most soaps operas have the same themes recurring throughout most of the episodes which
tend to be Family/relationship problems, conflict between characters, murder etc.