The soap opera / Muriel G. Cantor, Suzanne Pingree.

1. Introduction
Outline of the book
A note on methods
2. Background
What a soap opera is
The soap opera and the domestic novel
Form and structure
What a soap opera is not
3. Soaps on radio
Background
National network radio
Commercial sponsorship of radio programs
Sponsorship of daytime serials
The growth and demise of the radio serials
Key creators and producers
The Hummerts
Irna Phillips
4. Soaps on television
Production and control
Prime time/daytime
Producing soap operas
Creating soaps
On the sets
Live production
Taping an episode
Working on soaps
Writing for the soaps
Acting on the soaps
5. Soap opera content
Locale
Sex on radio and television
Moral standards
Interpersonal relations and social issues
Violence and crime
Health
Demography and social status
The demography of television
Work on radio and television
Race, age, and class
Soap operas and sex roles: maintaining the status quo
Values
6. The Guiding Light, 1948-1982
An overview
Conversation analysis
Dialogue samples
7. Soap opera audiences
Demographic and descriptive studies
The radio audience
Ratings and audience
The television audience
Changes in the television audience
Why do people watch soaps?
Uses and gratifications
Effects on behavior
Social and interpersonal relationships
Labor force participation
Illnesses, accidents, and violence
Sex and behavior
Methodological strategies
Additional effects
Cultivation
Implications for research
8. Conclusion
The future.