Research Rationale

For my research rationale, I have taken into account the age ranges I have access to in order to conduct my research for the production of a horror trailer, poster and magazine front cover successfully. The target group I have access to are 15- 20 year olds as I will be able to gather research from members of the sixth form and older friends and family; this is perfect because this age range is my ideal target audience for the horror trailer I will produce.


To conduct my research, I plan to make an online questionnaire on Google Forms about what people’s preferences are regarding types of horror. Within this questionnaire, I will feature questions such as: ‘What is your favourite type of horror?’, ‘What, to you, makes a good horror film?’ In addition to this I’ll produce an interview where I will ask my target audience what horror movies they have previously watched and what they liked/ disliked about them and why. Within the interview, I will preview a clip from a recent horror film to my audience and ask them what they personally thought about it in terms of how scary it was (since this is a key feature into a successful horror) and what they find frightening the most about horrors in general. Another research technique I am planning to use is to provide my target audience with a 5- point scale survey which includes the answers: Always – Often – Sometimes – Seldom – Never. This allows me to understand people’s specific answers to questions which require more than a yes or no answer. These three different types of research will help me gather as much information regarding what my target audience like to see; such as what kind of villain (monster or a real person) and the type of horror they prefer (psychological or gory) This will guide me to creating a horror trailer, poster and magazine cover that will effectively satisfy my audience.


The resources I will require for me to conduct my research into horror are:
• The internet to produce the online questionnaire and to send the link to members of my target audience
• A camera to interview my target audience and film their reactions to a horror film clip
• Microsoft Office to create the scale survey