Elizabeth Perse, Ph.D.
Professor & Department Chair

Email address
eperse@udel.edu

Dr. Perse's Google Scholar Page

Curriculum Vitae

My research is grounded in Uses and Gratifications, a theoretical perspective that focuses on why people use the mass media. I find this perspective especially interesting because it has allowed me to focus on the appeal of specific television genres (e.g., soap operas and local television news), compare how different communication channels differ in their utilities, and even why people use pornography.

I have enjoyed applying uses and gratifications research to new mass media technologies. In the mid 1980s, I began studying why people used remote control devices. This research explored gender differences in remote use, how remote use could intervene in different media effects, and how people’s predispositions affected how much they changed channels.

Most recently, my research has shifted to a focus on the mass media aspects of the Web. That research has explored if the Web can displace television use (probably not too much, for now). Doug Ferguson and I have collected data on the use of the Web for television-like activities, especially watching video on the Web.

Recent Publications

Godlewski, L. R., & Perse, E. M. (in press). Audience activity and reality television: Identification, online activity, and satisfaction. Communication Quarterly.

Caplan, S. E., Perse, E. M., & Recchiuti, J. K. (2007). Online social interaction technologies. In C. Lin & D. Atkin (Eds.), Communication technology and social change: Theory, Effects, & Applications (pp. 39-57). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Perse, E. M. (2006). Meta-analysis: Demonstrating the power of mass communication. In R. Preiss, B. Gayle, M. Allen, N. Burrell, & J. Bryant (Eds.), Media effects research: Advances through meta-analysis (pp. 467-488). Mahway, NJ: Erlbaum.

Perse, E. M., & Butler, J. S. (2005). Call-in talk radio: Compensation or enrichment. Journal of Radio Studies, 12, 204-222.

Ferguson, D. A., & Perse, E. M. (2004). Audience satisfaction among TIVo and Replay TV users. Journal of Interactive Advertising, 4(2), http://jiad.org/vol4/no2/ferguson/.

Perse, E. M. (2008). Elaborated models of media effects. In W. Donsbach (Ed.), International encyclopedia of communication (pp. 2896-2900). Blackwell Publishing.

Perse, E. M. (2008). Strength of media effects. In W. Donsbach (Ed.), International encyclopedia of communication (pp. 2900-2904). Blackwell Publishing.

Perse, E, M (2007). Advertising effects on adolescents. In J. J. Arnett (Ed.), Encyclopedia of children, adolescents, and the media (pp. 23-26). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Perse, E, M (2007). Depression and media use. In J. J. Arnett (Ed.), Encyclopedia of children, adolescents, and the media (pp. 233-235). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Perse, E, M (2007). Models of media effects. In J. J. Arnett (Ed.), Encyclopedia of children, adolescents, and the media (pp. 813-815). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Perse, E, M (2007). Television viewing motivations. In J. J. Arnett (Ed.), Encyclopedia of children, adolescents, and the media (pp. 513-516). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Perse, E. M. (2007). Media and Internet violence. In J. A. DeVito, The interpersonal communication book (7 th ed.), p. 88. Boston, Pearson A.B. Longman.

Curriculum Vitae

Dr. Perse's Recipes

COMM 200 in London: Comparative U.S. - British Media (Perse)
COMM245: Mass Communication and Culture
COMM370: Theories of Mass Communication
COMM418: Broadcast Television History (Courtright & Perse)
COMM450: Mass Media Effects
COMM670: Mass Communication Theory

Postal address
Communication Department
University of Delaware
250 Pearson Hall
Newark, DE 19716

Department office phone
302-831-8041

Department Fax
302-831-1892