Dissertation
Are perceptions of media bias an effective shortcut?: Why people perceive bias and why it matters
Washington State University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
08/2009
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000005969
Abstract
A large portion of Americans perceive a political bias in the news media. Past research suggests that people's perceptions of bias act as a cognitive shortcut, used to evaluate the accuracy of the news. In this research, I examine the effectiveness of the bias heuristic in protecting people from biased news sources. Using both survey and experimental data, I find that people reject news from sources they consider biased, even if there is no evidence of bias in the news from that source. Specifically, the results suggest that only strong partisans (who are least susceptible to media effects) perceive bias because of slant in the news. Meanwhile, independents and weaker partisans base their perceptions of bias on the content of opinion columns and editorials. Despite this, they still use those perceptions of bias to reject the content of the news, but not opinion content. In addition, I find that elite attacks on the media increase perceptions of bias independent of any actual slant in the news. Taken together, the results suggest that perceptions of bias are an ineffective cognitive shortcut to evaluate the accuracy of the news. Perceptions of bias are likely to undermine the news media's ability to inform the public, while failing to protect individuals from biased news organizations.
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Details
- Title
- Are perceptions of media bias an effective shortcut?
- Creators
- Glen R. Smith
- Contributors
- Travis N. Ridout (Chair)David C Nice (Committee Member) - Washington State University, Politics, Philosophy and Public Affairs, School ofMartha L Cottam (Committee Member) - Washington State University, Politics, Philosophy and Public Affairs, School of
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Politics, Philosophy and Public Affairs, School of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 144
- Identifiers
- 99901055132901842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation