Journal article
The Knowledge Gap Versus the Belief Gap and Abstinence-Only Sex Education
Journal of health communication, Vol.20(8), pp.949-957
08/2015
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/106054
PMID: 25950234
Abstract
The knowledge gap hypothesis predicts widening disparities in knowledge of heavily publicized public affairs issues among socioeconomic status groups. The belief gap hypothesis extends the knowledge gap hypothesis to account for knowledge and beliefs about politically contested issues based on empirically verifiable information. This analysis of 3 national surveys shows belief gaps developed between liberals and conservatives regarding abstinence-only sex education; socioeconomic status-based knowledge gaps did not widen. The findings partially support both belief gap and knowledge gap hypotheses. In addition, the unique contributions of exposure to Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC in this process were investigated. Only exposure to Fox News was linked to beliefs about abstinence-only sex education directly and indirectly through the cultivation of conservative ideology.
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Details
- Title
- The Knowledge Gap Versus the Belief Gap and Abstinence-Only Sex Education
- Creators
- Douglas Blanks Hindman - a Murrow College of Communication , Washington State University , Pullman , Washington , USAChangmin Yan
- Publication Details
- Journal of health communication, Vol.20(8), pp.949-957
- Academic Unit
- Journalism and Media Production, Department of
- Publisher
- United States
- Identifiers
- 99900546738401842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article