Research
Each year, the Office of Film and Literature Classification conducts research into a topic of particular interest to its work. Included below are abstracts and links to the pdf versions of the research reports carried out by the Office of Film and Literature Classification from 2001 to 2006. Some of the research is also avaliable in hard copy form from the Office, contact the Office about getting a hard copy of this research.
Public Perceptions of Highly Offensive Language November 2007
In 2005 the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993 was amended to empower the Office of Film and Literature Classification to restrict, but not ban, material containing “highly offensive language”. Highly offensive language is defined in the Act as language that is “highly offensive to the public in general”. The Office and UMR Research conducted this research to better understand public views of what constitutes highly offensive language, the factors that influence those views and the possible harm done by offensive language. Eight discussion groups were held in Auckland in April 2007, where participants were shown eight short film clips, selected by the Office, and asked for their views on the offensive language in each clip.
To go to the pdf version of the research (PDF 3.75MB) click here.
Public Understanding of Censorship June 2007
The New Zealand censorship system’s primary objective is to prevent injury to the “public good”. Therefore it is important to ascertain the degree to which the public understand the classification system and have confidence in it. This was the objective of research undertaken by the Office of Film and Literature Classification and UMR Research. An internet survey of 2611 New Zealanders aged 18 years or older was conducted in May 2006. Participants were asked what they knew about the Office and its functions, the classification labels and what they mean and the extent to which they used these classifications when making entertainment choices for themselves and their children. They were also asked whether they thought the classification system was too strict, too liberal, or just right.
To go to the pdf version of the research (PDF 1.33MB) click here.
Young People’s Use of Entertainment Mediums November 2006
The Office of Film and Literature Classification and UMR Research investigated the use of entertainment mediums by persons aged 16-18 years. The 460 respondents to the survey had attended the Office's Censor for a Day 2006 events in Wellington, Christchurch, Nelson and Invercargill. They were asked about the most recent film, computer game and DVD or video they had viewed and whether it had influenced their thoughts or behaviour. The survey also asked what factors influenced their choice of film, computer game, DVD or video. It also looked at how young people use their mobile phones.
To go to the pdf version of the research ( 2.1MB) click here.
The Viewing Habits of Users of Sexually Explicit Movies: a Hawke’s Bay sample December 2005
In this study, the Office of Film and Literature Classification and the Crime and Justice Research Centre of Victoria University of Wellington examined the viewing habits of users of sexually explicit material in Hawke’s Bay. This built upon the findings of the previous Wellington based study Viewing Habits of Users of Sexually Explicit Movies July 2004. However, the Hawke’s Bay respondents provided a different rural and urban demographic than the 2004 Wellington study. Respondents were asked how, why and when they viewed sexually explicit movies and what effect they thought that they had on them. They were also asked questions about the stigma attached to viewing these movies. The findings were based on interviews with 65 people.
To go to the pdf version of the research ( 1.9MB) click here.
Underage Gaming Research September 2005
The Office of Film and Literature Classification and the Censorship Compliance Unit of the Department of Internal Affairs asked UMR Research to survey the game playing habits of 15-17 year olds. The respondents were 331 students attending the Office's 2005 Censor for a Day events in Wellington, Napier and New Plymouth. Students were asked whether or not they had played any of the R18 or banned games, how they accessed them and whether their parents or guardians were aware of the games they played. They were also asked about their understanding of the labelling system, in particular the labelling of games that are not legally allowed to be supplied to them.
To go to the pdf version of the research ( 321K) click here.
The Viewing Habits of Users of Sexually Explicit Movies July 2004
This research examined the viewing habits of users of sexually explicit material in response to an absence of research on the effects of sexually explicit movies on users identified in A Guide to the Research into the Effects of Sexually Explicit Films and Videos (June 2003). The research was undertaken by the Office of Film and Literature Classification and the Crime and Justice Research Centre of Victoria University of Wellington. 45 participants answered questions about how they use sexually explicit movies and how they thought they were affected by them. They were also asked about the stigma attached to viewing this material.
To go to the pdf version of the research ( 320K) click here.
A Guide to the Research into the Effects of Sexually Explicit Films and Videos 2003
The Office of Film and Literature Classification and Helena Barwick looked at existing research on the effects of non-violent sexually explicit material. The research guide examines different perspectives to sexually explicit material. It also looks at methodological issues raised by research design, meta-analyses of experimental research and non-laboratory research designs. The guide then surveys findings from research on
- what is know about the effects of using sexually explicit videos;
- the users of sexually explicit material;
- how sexually explicit material is used.
To go to the pdf version of the research ( 355K) click here.
Public consultation on sexually explicit videos June 2002
The Office of Film and Literature Classification with Helena Barwick again consulted with members of the public on their attitudes to sexually explicit material. The members of the public were asked to interpret the phrase degrading, dehumanising and demeaning as found in the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993 and how this applied to sexually explicit material.
While this research revisited ground covered in earlier research, in this research, each consultation group was shown the same clips of sexually explicit material. The research findings compare different responses to particular clips and, for example, look at which clips the audience had a more positive response to.
To got to the pdf version of the research ( 1.6mb) click here.
Public consultation on sexually explicit videos June 2001
The Office of Film and Literature Classification and researcher Helena Barwick consulted with a cross-section of members of the public on their attitudes to sexually explicit material. In particular, the research looked at:
- how people interpreted the phrase degrading, dehumanising and demeaning as found in the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993 and how it applied to sexually epxlicit material;
- whether people considered that sexually explicit material treated men or women as 'inherently inferior';
- whether the manner of depicting sexual activity in videos or the sexual activity itself was degrading or treated men or women as 'inherently inferior'.
152 people attended one of the six gender segregated screenings. A seperate male and female group viewed one of the three clips of sexually explicit material. The research findings are based on the results of the written questionnaire and the following discussion between the Office representatives and attendees.
To go to the pdf version of the 2001 research (855KB) click here.
Updated 06.06.2008