Abstract
This study explores the relationship between media use and political commitment. Undergraduate participants answered an extensive political background questionnaire, which included measures of media use, perceived importance of information sources regarding the 1992 presidential election, and various political behaviors as an index of political commitment. Correlational analyses revealed that those who are more politically committed tend to select a variety of media sources regarding a presidential candidate. This study also investigated how informational and commitment variables were related to attitudes towards the major presidential candidates. Results observed for people expressing positive attitudes toward Perot are discussed in terms of the modern day “third party voter.”
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bower, R. T. (1985).The changing television audience in America. New York: Columbia University Press.
Carter, R. F., & Stramm, K. R. (1994). The 1992 presidential campaign and debates: A cognitive view.Communication Research, 21, (3), 380–395.
Chaffee, S. H., Zhao, X., & Leshner, G. (1994). Political knowledge and the campaign media of 1992.Communication Research, 21 (3), 305–324.
Devlin, L. P. (1993). Contrasts in presidential campaign commercials of 1992.American Behavioral Scientist, 37(2), 272–290.
Feldman, O. and Kawakami, K. (1991). Media use as predictors of political behavior: The case of Japan.Political Psychology, 12(1), 65–80.
Fiske, S. T., Lau, R. R., & Smith, R. A. (1990). On the varieties and utilities of political expertise.Social Cognition, 8(1), 31–48.
Greider, W. (1992).Who will tell the people: The betrayal of American democracy. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Hamill, R. & Lodge, M. (1986). Cognitive consequences of political sophistication. In R. R. Lau & D. O. Sears (Eds.),Political cognition. Hillsdale, N. J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Iyengar, S. & Kinder, D. R. (1987).News that matters. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Kinder, D. R. & Sears, D. O. (1985). Public opinion and political action. In G. Lindzey & E. Aronson, (Eds.),The handbook of social psychology, Vol. II (3rd edition). New York, NY: Random House/Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
Lau, R. R. (1986). Political schemata, candidate evaluations and voting behavior. In R. R. Lau & D. O. Sears (Eds.),Political cognition. Hillsdale, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Lau, R. R. & Erber, R. (1985). Political sophistication: An information-processing perspective. In S. Kraus and R. M. Perloff (Eds.),Mass media and political thought. Beverly Hills: Sage Publications.
Lazarsfeld, P. F., Berelson, B. R., and McPhee, W. N. (1948).The people’s choice. New York: Columbia University Press.
Lowden, N. B., Andersen, P. A., Dozier, D. M., Lauzen, M. M. (1994). Media use in the primary election: A secondary medium model.Communication Research, 21(3), 293–304.
McGinniss, J. (1970).The selling of the president 1968. New York: Pocket Books.
Neuman, W. R., Just, M. P., & Crigler, A. N. (1992).Common knowledge: News and the construction of political meaning. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Ossoff, E. P. (1990). “Agenda-setting as a function of image-versus issue-oriented messages: Does T. V. news color our political perceptions?” Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Tufts University, Medford, MA.
Payne, J. G., Golden, J. L., Marlier, J., & Ratzan S. C. (1989). Perceptions of the 1988 presidential and vice-presidential debates.American Behavioral Scientist, 32(4), 425–435.
Sears D. O. (1993). Symbolic politics: A socio-psychological theory. In S. Iyengar & W. J. McGuire (Eds.),Explorations in political psychology. Durham: Duke University Press.
Severin, W. J. & Tankard, J. W. (1979).Communication theories. New York: Hastings House.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ossoff, E.P., Dalto, C.A. Media use and political commitment: The 1992 U.S. presidential election. Current Psychology 15, 128–136 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02686945
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02686945