UGC NET/JRF EXAM, Mass Communication & Journalism, June-2021

Total Questions: 56

1. A transmitter encodes messages into:

Correct Answer: D. Signals
Solution:In communication process messages are made of signs or symbols and codes that are signals, which represent something.

Messages may be in the form of ink on paper, sound waves in the air, impulses in an electric current, a wave of the hand, a flag in the air, or any other signal capable of being interpreted meaningfully.

Messages are encoded and those who receive them must decode them to interpret or understand the meaning of the message. The message constitutes the core of the communication process.

2. The media sufficiency standards were first formulated by:

Correct Answer: C. UNESCO
Solution:The Media Sufficiency Standards define a framework within which the media can best contribute to, and benefit from, good governance and democratic development. These standards were developed by UNESCO, and look at all aspects of the media environment.

3. The curricular model for mass media education by Sirkka Minkkienen was based on research in:

Correct Answer: A. Sociology and Psychology
Solution:UNESCO had taken into account the importance of the media literacy efforts and exposed two studies toward the end of the 1970s. The first of these is the publication called "Media Studies in Education" printed in the year 1977.

This study endeavours to demonstrate the state of "media literacy" and "screen education" in West Europe, the Soviet Union, USA and various international organizations.

Another study carried out in this field is "A General Curricular Model for Mass Media Education" written by Sirkka Minkkinen, Finnish Media Education Expert.

In this book, the writer introduced a curricular model for mass media education intended for secondary education aiming at understanding the different types of media and critical using of these media.

This work was based on the research in Sociology and Psychology. The writer not only put emphasis on mass media education and film education, but also expressed the relations between media education and general education, and why media education is necessary.

4. The concept of mean world syndrome is seen in:

Correct Answer: B. Cultivation analysis
Solution:Cultivation theory (or cultivation hypothesis, cultivation analysis) was a theory composed originally by G. Gerbner and later expanded upon by Gerbner & Gross (1976 - Living with television: The violence
profile).

One of the notable and often discussed piece of the theory is known as the "mean and scary world syndrome" (or "mean world syndrome").

In a nutshell, heavy viewing of television and the associated violence, leads the viewer to believe that the world is a much more dangerous place than it actually is, with a serial killer, rapist, or pedophile lurking around every corner.

5. Paulo Friere described the top-down modernisation project as:

Correct Answer: B. Assistentialism
Solution:In chapter three of Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Paulo Freire continues to develop his thesis on helping. He elaborates on the idea that those who educate, facilitate, or help in any way-be it social workers,

research teams from universities, and so forth -must first learn to listen to and work with those whom they are helping.

Freire is critical of professionals who have internalized the patterns of institutional domination in which they were socialized so that they come to believe that being in a position of power or

having some form of institutional authority allows them to help the oppressed with toрdown strategies and means. Freire's criticism is that these "helpers" have come to believe that they have the right type of knowledge,

the expertise, and the answers to what the people they are "helping" need, so that their approach to helping is from those who can and who know to those who have not been able to or who do not know.

6. In developmental communication, 'being diagnostic' will lead to:

Correct Answer: D. Fusion of identities
Solution:Development communication refers to a process of strategic intervention toward social change, initiated and engaged by organizations and communities.

Development itself encompasses participatory and intentional strategies designed to benefit the public good, whether in terms of material, political, or social needs.

While the more broadly defined field of development communication incorporates mediated as well as interpersonal channels,

more particular approaches of media development specifically include mediated technologies, such as television, radio, and computer systems.

7. When a third variable, remaining unseen causes an association of two variables, it is called:

Correct Answer: C. Spurious variable
Solution:Spurious is a term used to describe a statistical relationship between two variables that would, at first glance, appear to be causally related, but upon closer examination, only appear so by coincidence or due to the role of a third, intermediary variable.

When this occurs, the two original variables are said to have a "spurious relationship." For example, if you notice that both the cost of higher education and the cost-of-living increase,

this change in both variables does not necessarily mean there is a causal relationship between the two. This means that the increase in the cost of living isn't necessarily the cause of the increase in higher education tuition.

In this example, you might attribute the change in both costs to the rise in inflation or other macroeconomic factors, resulting in a spurious correlation with a confounding factor.

8. Neo-Darwinian beliefs of social evolution were the basis of western theory of:

Correct Answer: A. Modernisation
Solution:Neo-Darwinism, also called the modern evolutionary synthesis, generally denotes the integration of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection, Gregor Mendel's theory of genetics as the basis for biological inheritance, and mathematical population genetics.

Although this was not the historical meaning of the term neo-Darwinism, it has been the popular and scientific use of the expression since the synthesis of the 1930s.

Neo-Darwinian beliefs of social evolution became the basis of western theory of Modernisation. Modernization theory is a description and explanation of the processes of transformation from traditional or underdeveloped societies to modern societies.

9. General Attributions to the sources like 'Government official' in news stories are referred to as:

Correct Answer: C. Background
Solution:Experienced reporters and sources have worked out shorthand for describing how much of the source's identity may be revealed and how much of what the source says may be published.

This shorthand system recognizes four levels of attribution: on the record, on background, on deep background and off the record. "On-the-record" attribution means that everything the source says may be published and quoted directly, and the source may be fully identified by name and title.

"On background," which is sometimes referred to as "not for attribution," means the reporter may quote the source directly but may not attribute the statements to the source by name.

A source on deep background may not be quoted directly and may not be identified in any way. "Off the record" is the final level of attribution. It generally means a source's information cannot be used, but that is often misunderstood

10. Which among the following methods/models is used to make decisions related to ethical dilemmas in media?

Correct Answer: D. Potter box
Solution:

Ralph Potter Jr., a professor at Harvard University, introduced the Potter Box of Moral Reasoning which can help anyone in taking ethical and justified decisions.

Read on to know more about the Potter Box and how it can prove to be useful in decision making. It advocates the division of ethical reflection into four main steps:

first two of these steps seek to generate the relevant information, and the latter two are normative or prescriptive.” The four aspects to be taken into account are as follows:

• Facts: Take into consideration all the facts at hand. It is important that one does not hide any realities or rope in personal judgments. This step helps one in understanding the problem at hand precisely.
• Values: When it comes to values, one needs to evaluate which values are more important in the given situation. This helps the examiner in determining conflicting viewpoints. Once the values have been determined, it gets easier for one to chalk out potential plans to solve the issue.
• Principles: We should all be aware of these 5 principles put forth by famous philosophers – Aristotle’s Golden Mean, Immanuel Kant’s Categorical Imperative, JS Mill’s Principle of Utility, John Rawl’s Veil of Ignorance, and the Judeo-Christian point of view of the person as an end.
By deciding upon which principles can be applied in a given situation, the examiner is well-prepared to understand the problem as well as solve it.
• Loyalties: Finally, the inclinations of the examiner also become important. One must sort out the conflicting loyalties, if applicable. Not having clarity with respect to one’s loyalties can prove to be detrimental further on.
The 5 loyalties that one can have are towards their own conscience, towards their followers, towards an organization, towards collea- news reporter might find it more important to ensure that the privacy of individuals is protected, over the right to information of the viewers.