Content Analysis of Design Elements in the Employee Publication: Toward a Stimulus-Response Theory of Internal Publication Readership.

This study investigated the feasibility of graphic design analysis as an alternative method to frequency analysis of content by topic categories as an index of editorial emphasis. The proportionate usage of graphic design elements was analyzed to determine the influence of subject category on editorial choice in the use of design elements. Ten content categories were derived from periodic readership surveys and annual subject indices used by the editors of 'soldiers' magazine to describe content. The content categories expressed three principal subject classifications: management information, employee interest and general entertainment. The use of seven design elements was analyzed: four-color process color photographs, color photographs, text, display, white space, colored space and illustrations. Overall results indicated the graphic design treatment was indicative of the graphical freedom afforded by article content. Emphasis in editorial treatment was indexed by the relative amounts of space used for article content and the relative design treatment of article content in each of the ten topical categories. The findings indicated substantial editorial emphasis was committed to general entertainment articles such as hobbies and recreation.
Master's thesis.