ABSTRACT
Perceived TV realism is a concept that has been widely integrated into media uses and effects research. Investigators have considered TV’s realism as defined either by the accuracy of the messages or as an attitude influenced by individual characteristics of receivers. Adaptations of the Perceived Realism Scale have been used to measure perceived realism of TV news and information programs and of soap operas. Perceived realism’s relationships to viewing outcomes support construct validity. Perceived realism was a significant hypothesized contributor to parasocial interaction and ultivation. TV and loneliness research also provides evidence of validity. Expecting chronically lonely persons to be apathetic about communication, E. M. Perse and A. M. Rubin observed chronic loneliness to be associated with believing news to be less realistic but soap operas to be more realistic. Perceived realism scores vary considerably depending on the focus of the study.
