Cited by 1,088Media Influence and HealthNarrative Theory and AnalysisFlow Experience in Various Fields

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Measuring Narrative Engagement

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Busselle, Rick, Bilandzic, Helena·2009·Media Psychology

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Abstract

Research indicates that the extent to which one becomes engaged, transported, or immersed in a narrative influences the narrative's potential to affect subsequent story-related attitudes and beliefs. Explaining narrative effects and understanding the mechanisms responsible depends on our ability to measure narrative engagement in a theoretically meaningful way. This article develops a scale for measuring narrative engagement that is based on a mental models approach to narrative processing. It distinguishes among four dimensions of experiential engagement in narratives: narrative understanding, attentional focus, emotional engagement, and narrative presence. The scale is developed and validated through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses with data from viewers of feature film and television, in different viewing situations, and from two different countries. The scale's ability to predict enjoyment and story-consistent attitudes across different programs is presented. Implications for conceptualizing engagement with narratives as well as narrative persuasion and media effects are discussed.

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“Complementary work operational-izes narrative engagement as multi-dimensional [24], involving attentional focus, emotional engagement, narrative understanding, and narrative presence [25].”

Authors: Busselle, R., & Bilandzic, H.
Affiliations: Washington State University (US)
ORCID: Busselle, Rick
Venue: Media Psychology
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Published: 2009-11-23
Volume: 12
Issue: 4
Pages: 321-347
ISSN: 1521-3269 (ISSN-L)
1532-785X
DOI: 10.1080/15213260903287259
OpenAlex: W2062865797
Cited by: 1,088
References: 0
Citations by year: 2026: 94 · 2025: 101 · 2024: 89 · 2023: 97 · 2022: 80 · 2021: 111 · 2020: 93 · 2019: 71 · 2018: 65 · 2017: 69 · 2016: 64 · 2015: 43 · 2014: 33 · 2013: 28 · 2012: 24
FWCI: 311.26
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
nbn-resolving.org
Locations: Media Psychology (publishedVersion)
OPUS (Augsburg University) (submittedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Communication › Media Influence and Health
Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Literature and Literary Theory › Narrative Theory and Analysis
Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Flow Experience in Various Fields
Keywords: narrative engagement, narrative persuasion, scale development, mental models, narrative comprehension, attentional focus, emotional engagement, narrative presence, media influence, narrative enjoyment, cross-cultural validation

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