This document summarizes the results of a survey about the target audience of soap operas. The survey found that the main viewers are aged 20-40 and that they watch for conflict and escapism. While most viewers thought soaps appeal more to women, some male respondents said including sexy female characters and weaker dependent female roles could make soaps more appealing to men. The conclusion is that an effective soap opera trailer should showcase conflict to engage audiences and include realistic but escapist elements.

1. OCR Media Studies – A2 Level
Unit G324: Advanced Portfolio
Primary Research Evidence
Target Audience of a soap
Survey results
Name: Esme Quantrill
Candidate Number: 6094
Center Name: St. Andrew’s Catholic School
Center Number: 64135

2. • This graph
illustrates that the
main age ranges
that consume soap
operas are 10-25
and 26- 40, most
likely because it is
on at a set time
everyday which is
when people come
home from work
and for the younger
ages they may
watch it because
their parents do.

3. • This graph connotes
that people like to
watch soap operas
for the conflict
involved. So for our
soap advertisement
we need to show the
conflict and make it
look interesting so
that people would
want to watch it.

4. • This graph displays
that using Katz’ Uses
& Gratifications
theory, people watch
soap operas as a form
of ‘escapism’.
• Maybe in my group
soap opera
production we could
introduce the idea of
education as the
’moral of the story’
for example at the
end of the advert we
could have a voice
over denoting ‘if you
have been effected by
any of the issues
raised in this episode
please contact.’

5. Soap opera’s are stereotypically a feminine
programme to watch the graph shows that when
asked 100% of the people who took part in my
survey think that females are more likely to
watch soaps than men. I also asked what a
production team could do to make a soap opera
more appealing to men. Most of the responses
where to have ‘sexy women’ or ‘more
explosions’ and also weak female characters in
need of male protection. In previous questions
the people that took part in my survey said that
they watch soaps for ‘escapism’ (Katz’ Uses &
Gratifications) and therefore soap operas need
to be realistic and plausible consequently adding
in more explosions would make the soap not
very realistic.

6. • The graph displays
that people
expect female
characters to be
strong and
dominant
characters. The
previous question
people answered
that men would
find soaps more
appeling if there
were weak female
characters in need
of male protection
(patriarchal).

7. The graph
illustrates how
many story lines
people think run
alongside each
other at the same
time (plots and sub
plots).most people
thought that in a
conventional soap
opera there are 3
to 4 plots running
at the same time.

8. Conclusion
In conclusion from doing my survey I
have found that:
• The main age group that watch
soaps are 20-40+
• Mainly 3 or 4 plots run alongside
each other at the same time.
• People expect women to be
portrayed as strong and
dominant characters.
• Females are more likely to watch
soaps then men.
• People think that men are more
likely to watch soaps if there are
‘sexy female characters’ and
female characters that are
dependant on men (patriarchal).
• People watch soaps for
‘escapism’ (Katz).
• The main thing that people want
to see in soaps is conflict.
From this feed back I will take on board that people
mainly watch soaps to see conflict and therefore
my soap opera trailer will show a lot of conflict to
engage with the audience as the other main reason
people watch soaps is for ‘escapism’ (Katz’ Uses &
Gratifications) therefore the soap will need to be
realistic but a form of escape at the same time.
I would take on board the idea of using ‘sexy
women’ for example like HollyOaks as people have
suggested that this would make soaps more
appealing to men.