Research laboratories

// Introduction

The assessment of the effectiveness of the video materials meant to raise awareness among citizens as regards the problems of non-accompanied minors represents a crucial aspect in order to assess the achievement of the project ultimate objective, namely the promotion of a positive attitude towards reception and integration. The open-mindedness of the hosting citizens is, actually, very important to restore hope and trust in the young people who are looking for a “safe” landing to rebuild their life plans. Therefore, we need to understand whether and how the produced materials are associated to the presence feelings, experienced backgrounds, beliefs capable of bringing the citizens closer to the situations of these non-accompanied minors.

This is the reason why, in the project’s frame work, it has been envisaged an empirical study on the impact of the films produced by these minors as regards their emotional effects towards the potential target viewers of these products, who can vary in terms of socio-demographical background, individual characters as well as pro-social attitudes.

// Objective

The objective of this research work is to assess the emotional impact of the documentary and of the audio-visual products in the project’s frame work.

More specifically, the researchers of the Psychology Faculty will analyze the level of emotional triggering of the potential viewers of this documentary through quasi-experimental procedures also considering their particular qualities in terms of pro-social attitudes and interpersonal responsiveness.

// Methodology

Phase 1. Pilot for assessing the individual films

The specific objective of the pilot is that of understanding whether there are any differences in the emotional triggering on the basis of the characteristics of the stimuli (films) and individuals (viewers).
Through the following activities the emotional impact of specific types of films will be analyzed considering the specificities of the individual films as well as the individual characters of the potential viewers.

1. Analysis of the films collected during the phase of preparation of the documentary
2. Classification of the films according to pre-established macro-categories
3. Testing of the video stimuli on a cross-section of university students

The results of the research work deriving from these activities are:

1. Identification of the emotional-pro-social profile of the potential viewers
2. Classification of the video according to the issues treated in their spontaneous production
3. Identification of the “prototypical” videos for these issues
4. Definition of an experimental protocol for technologically-mediated research works considering the different pro-social attitudes of the potential viewers

Phase 2. Experimental study for the assessment of the emotional impact on different typologies of viewers

At the end of the project the emotional impact of the whole documentary will be assessed on a cross-section of potential viewers.
The specific objective of the study is that of assessing whether the impact of document is the same for all potential viewers regardless of individual differences as regard pro-social attitudes. The assessment of the impact will be analyzed through the following activities:

1. Identification of the sample and assessment of the individual characteristics
2. Presentation of the documentary
3. Assessment of the emotional triggering (positive/negative affectivity)

The results of the research deriving from these activities are:

1. Validation of the emotional-pro-social profiles resulting from the pilot
2. Analysis of the relationship between emotional triggering and presentation of the documentary taking into account the different pro-social attitudes of the viewers

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