AN ASSESSMENT OF STUDENTS RESPONSE TO TELEVISION REALITY PROGRAMMES

ABSTRACT: This study was carried out on the assessment of students response to television reality programmes using Delta State University, Abraka as case study. To achieve this 4 research questions were formulated. The survey design was adopted and the simple random sampling techniques were employed in this study. The population size comprise of the students of Delta State University, Abaraka. In determining the sample size, the researcher randomly selected 400 respondents while 250 respondents were validated. Self-constructed and validated questionnaire was used for data collection. The collected and validated questionnaires were analyzed using frequency tables and percentage. The result of the findings reveals that; students spend much time in watching reality programmes, Big Brother Naija influences students’ perception towards social values, Big Brother Naija also influences students students sense of reasoning and Big Brother Naija influences students sending, dressing and studying pattern. Based on the findings,  it is of the researcher opined that; since reality television programmes have serious influences on audience members as they desire to be like the people they watch in the programmes, audience members must observe caution while watching the programmes because not all that happens in the programme are real (devoid of acting). and since reality television programmes enable audience members to learn things about others when they watch contestants in the programmes, television regulators must ensure that reality television programmes aired on Nigerian television stations are those capable of impacting positive lifestyles on Nigerians, especially University students.