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Beyond The Perceptual Bias: The Third-Person Effect And Censorship Behavior In Scholastic Journalism

Wagstaff Cunningham, Audrey E.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1350997318

Abstract Details

2012, PHD, Kent State University, College of Communication and Information / School of Communication Studies.
In this study, I utilized the third-person effect hypothesis to examine high school administrators’ perceptions and self-reported propensity to censor a potential story in their school newspaper about teenagers engaging in sexual activity. The sample consistent of (N = 187) public high school administrators from across the United States. Participants completed measures of third-person perceptual bias, locus of control, self-efficacy, perceived First Amendment knowledge, actual First Amendment knowledge, First Amendment support, past experience with censorship, message desirability, social distance, and propensity to censor to protect students enrolled in the administrator’s school and the school’s reputation. Results indicated the administrators exhibited third-person perceptions when comparing perceived effects of exposure to the story on themselves to other groups including students in their school, parents of students in their school, and members of the school community. Message desirability significantly negatively predicted third-person perceptual bias. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to examine predictors of propensity to censor to protect students and propensity to censor to protect the school. Variables were entered in three steps (background variables, external factors, and perceptual bias). Self-reported propensity to censor to protect students was predicted by self-efficacy, message (un)desirability, and third-person perceptual bias. When considering the role of social distance and perceptual bias from oneself to parents of students, external locus of control was also a predictor. Self-reported propensity to censor to protect the school was predicted by self-efficacy, First Amendment support, message (un)desirability, and third-person perceptual bias. When considering the role of social distance and perceptual bias from oneself to school community members, external locus of control was also a predictor. Practical and theoretical implications for these findings are discussed, and directions for future research are suggested.
Paul Haridakis, PhD (Advisor)
Stanley Wearden, PhD (Committee Member)
Alexa Sandmann, EdD (Committee Member)
Mark Goodman, JD (Committee Member)
165 p.
Communication; Education; Journalism; Law; Mass Media; Social Psychology
third-person effect; third-person perception; third-person perceptual bias; censorship; administrative censorship; scholastic journalism

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Wagstaff Cunningham, A. E. (2012). Beyond The Perceptual Bias: The Third-Person Effect And Censorship Behavior In Scholastic Journalism [Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1350997318

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Wagstaff Cunningham, Audrey. Beyond The Perceptual Bias: The Third-Person Effect And Censorship Behavior In Scholastic Journalism. 2012. Kent State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1350997318.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Wagstaff Cunningham, Audrey. "Beyond The Perceptual Bias: The Third-Person Effect And Censorship Behavior In Scholastic Journalism." Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1350997318

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent1350997318
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© 2012, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.