Dr Lane said: “An important motivation for this study comes from the fact that, as the audiences don’t have anything to gain from their views, the setting is one were statistical discrimination cannot happen and any discrimination is identified as taste-based. Big Brother is a popularity contest, as are other similar shows such as Love Island and I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, where viewers are voting solely on the basis of who they like.”
“It is also important to bear in mind that this type of discrimination has substantial economic consequences on the housemates, because Big Brother is a high-stakes environment with a cash prize and the potential for a ‘celebrity’ career after the show.
“Whilst we can’t say precisely why, in this case, certain groups are considered more likeable than others, this research is a step in the right direction for future work in this area.”
Please click the title to view more details.