Devon Dalton
These are the results of our audience questionnaire regarding soap operas. We spread the questionnaire to all ages. However, mainly 16-24 year olds volunteered to answer the questions, already suggesting perhaps soaps are for the younger generation.
The target audience questionnaires were designed so we could research into audience expectations and desires for a soap opera. We did this so we could deliver the best possible desired soap to our potential market.
We asked fourteen candidates nine questions to be filled out for our questionnaire created by Devon Dalton. Only four out of fourteen were male, suggesting that soap operas' stereotypical view of applying to females is correct.
The women outnumber the men.
First we asked all ten females what was their favourite soap? Five said EastEnders was their favourite soap. Their ages varied from 15 – 64, supporting the idea that EastEnders applies to all ages. Four females between the ages of 15 ans 34 answered, which reinforces the idea that Hollyoaks targets younger generations. The last female aged between 15-24 prefers Coronation Street.
All four males had different answers. The eldest, aged between 45-54 preferred EastEnders. The second male aged between 25-34 preferred Neighbours, an unpopular choice. The last two males were teenagers/young adults, between the ages 15-24. One prefers Coronation Street; the second had no favourite soap and therefore ignored the question.
The results suggest the most popular Soap is the most local to our destination, EastEnders, which is set in London. However, I find myself questioning if we had asked this in the location of Emmerdale, would that be the most popular choice? Do we prefer our local urban soap because it creates a sense of verisimilitude, and is more truthful than perhaps a rural one we rarely encounter?
We then asked our audience do they watch soaps by themselves, with family or with friends. Nine out of the fourteen candidates watch soaps with their families, once again showing soap operas can appeal to all audiences. The rest watch the soaps by themselves, showing that watching soaps with friends is a hassle to arrange daily.
Work hours don't seem to affect watching a soap; this is probably due to channels such as BBC 4 re-showing shows hours later or the new record function which features on most digital television services. This data was apparent from a wide spectrum of work hours recorded from our candidates.
When asked if soap operas represent real life, the candidates all had varied views. Three said yes. Nine said no. The last said they weren’t sure. However, no candidates believe Hollyoaks represents real life, connoting that the ‘teens’ shows are less serious than most and therefore don’t create true verisimilitude but instead forms a bubble of illusions which keeps the viewer calm and entertained.
When asked to explain their answers for the question ‘Do you think soaps represent real life?’ the responses were amusing yet very accurate. They varied from ‘Someone dies every Christmas without fail!’, ‘because who really lives, kills and sleeps with everyone’, ‘so much drama can’t possibly happen to one person.’ However one yes stated a valid point that now days soaps ‘deal with real issues.’ This is true but is often taken offensively such as baby snatching storylines or child abuse.
When asked ‘why is Hollyoaks your favourite soap?’, all four candidates mentioned that Hollyoaks is for their age range. This clearly shows that certain soaps can target specific audiences such as the younger audiences. When asked ‘Why is Eastenders your favourite soap?’ one candidate mentioned it was close to where they live, strengthening my statement earlier ‘I find myself questioning if we had asked this in the location of Emmerdale, would that be the most popular choice? Do we prefer our local urban soap because it creates a sense of verisimilitude, and is more truthful than perhaps a rural one we rarely encounter?’ This information tells Armadillo productions that when making our soap opera trailer, we must make it clear that we are set in a well-populated location and that our soap can appeal to a mass audience.
Results by Scott Collins
