Abstract
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 227-246 |
| Number of pages | 20 |
| Journal | Political Science |
| Volume | 69 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 18 Dec 2017 |
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Keywords
- media effects
- political communication
- research methodology
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Model selection in observational media effects research: a systematic review and validation of effects. / Banducci, Susan ; Schoonvelde, H.J.M.; Stevens, Daniel; Barabas, Jason; Jerit, Jennifer; Pollock, William.
In: Political Science, Vol. 69, No. 3, 18.12.2017, p. 227-246.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Model selection in observational media effects research: a systematic review and validation of effects
AU - Banducci, Susan
AU - Schoonvelde, H.J.M.
AU - Stevens, Daniel
AU - Barabas, Jason
AU - Jerit, Jennifer
AU - Pollock, William
PY - 2017/12/18
Y1 - 2017/12/18
N2 - Media effects research has produced mixed findings about the size and direction of the relationship between media consumption and public attitudes. We investigate the extent to which model choices contribute to these inconsistent findings. Taking a comparative approach, we first review the use of different models in contem- porary studies and their main findings. In order to extend and validate this review, we consider the implications for national election studies attempting to measure media effects in election campaigns and recreate these models with the British Election Study 2005–2010 panel data. We compare the direction and size of effects of media content on attitude change across: between- subjects, within-elections models, in which the effects of indivi- dual-level variance in media exposure and content are assessed; within-subjects, within-elections models, which compare the effects of variance in media content for the same individual; and within-subjects, between-elections models that allow us to analyse the links between media content and exposure with attitude change over time. Our review shows some notable differences between models in terms of significance of effects (but not effect sizes). We corroborate this finding in the British campaign analysis. We conclude that to check the robustness of claims of media effects in observational data, where possible researchers should examine different model choices when evaluating media effects.
AB - Media effects research has produced mixed findings about the size and direction of the relationship between media consumption and public attitudes. We investigate the extent to which model choices contribute to these inconsistent findings. Taking a comparative approach, we first review the use of different models in contem- porary studies and their main findings. In order to extend and validate this review, we consider the implications for national election studies attempting to measure media effects in election campaigns and recreate these models with the British Election Study 2005–2010 panel data. We compare the direction and size of effects of media content on attitude change across: between- subjects, within-elections models, in which the effects of indivi- dual-level variance in media exposure and content are assessed; within-subjects, within-elections models, which compare the effects of variance in media content for the same individual; and within-subjects, between-elections models that allow us to analyse the links between media content and exposure with attitude change over time. Our review shows some notable differences between models in terms of significance of effects (but not effect sizes). We corroborate this finding in the British campaign analysis. We conclude that to check the robustness of claims of media effects in observational data, where possible researchers should examine different model choices when evaluating media effects.
KW - media effects
KW - political communication
KW - research methodology
U2 - 10.1080/00323187.2017.1411766
DO - 10.1080/00323187.2017.1411766
M3 - Article
VL - 69
SP - 227
EP - 246
JO - Political Science
JF - Political Science
SN - 0032-3187
IS - 3
ER -