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An Approach to Defining the Identity of a Media Fan

Authors

LOZANO DELMAR, JAVIER, PLAZA SANCHEZ, JUAN FRANCISCO, SÁNCHEZ MARTÍN, MILAGROSA

External publication

No

Means

Palabra Clave

Scope

Article

Nature

Científica

JCR Quartile

SJR Quartile

SJR Impact

0.249

Publication date

01/01/2020

ISI

000527402500002

Scopus Id

2-s2.0-85080104231

Abstract

This study is based on a sample of Spanish viewers of audiovisual fiction, seeking to understand behavior associated with fan identity. A quantitative method was used to explore the characteristics shared by viewers who define themselves as fans, as well as the existence of differences according to various sociodemographic variables. To that end, the Fan Identity Questionnaire was prepared and validated through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The results confirm four types of behavior associated to media fans that, together, can explain and define fan identity with respect to the consumption of media content in Spain: experience, knowledge, collecting, and viewing. The study also shows that those viewers who define themselves as fans obtain higher values in this scale. Taking media fans into account, no significant differences were found in the mean of the Fan Identity Questionnaire based on sex, age, occupation and education and, as a result, we are able to conclude that fan identity is found in the Spanish sample regardless of the above-mentioned sociodemographic characteristics.

Keywords

Fandom studies; fans; media studies; reception studies; audience studies; validation; questionnaire; fan identity