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An “other based” approach for examining the third-person effect hypothesis

Jeong, Irkwon

Abstract Details

2005, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Communication.
The present study is based on the theoretical framework that third-person perceptions are largely influenced by motivational components and cognitive ability, which vary by perceivers (the self-based approach) and comparison targets (the other-based approach), and the relationship between them (the self-other relationship-based approach). Specifically, this study examines how third-person perception differs by comparison targets, called the other-based approach, when a specific group is exclusively relevant or irrelevant to a particular media message. The results of t tests and regression analyses of a survey (n=524) provide substantial support for the other-based approach, which suggests that people account for who comprises the comparison targets, and how the issue is relevant to the comparison targets, when they perceive media effects. Third-person perceptions vary with the comparison targets (those for whom the issue is relevant vs. those for whom the issue is not relevant). Additionally, predictors of the perceptions of media effects and the directions of impacts of the predictors vary with the comparison targets. The results also render support for the self-based approach (i.e., significant effects of issue relevance to perceivers) and for the self-other relationship-based approach (i.e., significant effects of between-group differentiation). In addition to supporting the three approaches, this study illustrates that communication variables have significant impacts on the perceptions of media effects, which vary with the estimation targets and the issue topics. Finally, the results of question order effects suggest that the third-person effects for a specific group are affected by whether or not the social categorization is salient in the perceptions and that question order can prime the categorization. The findings have important implications for future studies about the relationship between the perceptual components and behavioral components of the third-person effect. In this discussion the implications are talked about great in detail and some direction for future studies are suggested. In conclusion, communication researchers should account for the variance of the third-person perception by the comparison target when they predict which behavior to examine as a measurement of the behavior third-person effect.
Carroll Glynn (Advisor)
170 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Jeong, I. (2005). An “other based” approach for examining the third-person effect hypothesis [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1116708315

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Jeong, Irkwon. An “other based” approach for examining the third-person effect hypothesis. 2005. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1116708315.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Jeong, Irkwon. "An “other based” approach for examining the third-person effect hypothesis." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2005. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1116708315

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)