Research Summary

Summary of Research

All of the research that i have done has been very useful to me in finding out what i will need to include in my sixth form magazine to appeal to the students in the 16-18 year old age group. By analysing magazines aimed at schools and magazines aimed just at sixth form i have found the typical conventions used to appeal to the target audience as well as why some styles, colours, vocabulary and photographs are used. I have also learnt how connotations are important on a magazine and how what mastheads connote is important for the magazines because the title is usually the main and most eye catching part of the cover.
Also from my research i have found what makes the main photo on the cover interesting and how i can take the photo to make it appealing and look less studious so that it is non-conforming for the students.
I made questionnaires for 10 students and then selected 3 students for my focus group so that i could gain a better insight from 3 typical students at Southend High School for Girls; i chose 2 girls and 1 boy for my focus group so that i could get mixed opinions, ideas and interests. From doing this i have gained a better insight into what features will be most popular to include in my magazine and what names the target audience would prefer.
In conclusion, i feel that by doing research on existing school/sixth form magazines as well as my own research into what makes a good magazine by making questionnaires and focus groups i have gained a better insight and look into what is needed to make my sixth form magazine appealing to my audience. I will use the research i found to create the magazine so that it is as appealing as possible.