Binge-Watching Real-Life Crime Documentaries: Implications to Behavior of Undergraduate Student Viewers

Crime-themed television programs and documentaries are easily and quickly accessible at all times of the day. These forms of entertainment may influence viewers positively or negatively. Using a qualitative-descriptive design, this study aimed to describe how the viewers perceive the world after binge-watching real-life crime documentaries in terms of their a) Self-schema and b) Scheme. In addition, this study determined the perceived effects of watching real-life crime documentaries on the viewers in terms of a) Emotional and b) Cognitive. Through the study, the researcher was able to determine the level of aggression of the respondents and its significant difference according to respondent’s demographic profile, and the perceived effects of watching real-life crime documentaries in the emotional and cognitive. Using the quota sampling method, 112 participants were selected for the study. The researcher conducted the study in different Facebook groups of viewers who binge-watch real-life crime documentaries, using a two-part self-made questionnaire and a one-part standardized questionnaire. In addition, the data is analyzed using descriptive and statistical methods. The findings revealed that watching real-life crime documentaries had a positive impact on student viewers' behavior. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that there is no significant association between student viewers' and their demographics.