The Impact of Media Consumption on Policy Extremity
Open Access
Author:
Myers, Nicole
Area of Honors:
Political Science
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Ray Block, Thesis Supervisor Gretchen G Casper, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
political science political opinions
Abstract:
This research quantitatively studies the impact of media consumption on an individual’s policy preferences. I tested right-leaning media consumption, left-leaning media consumption, and moderate media consumption against gun control, abortion, and campaign spending. My results reflect that media consumption does have varying effects across policy preferences. Left-leaning media consumption was associated with an increase in extremity across all three policies. Additionally, moderate media consumption had a positive correlation with extremity across all three policies. Right-leaning media consumption was associated with a decrease in policy extremity with gun control and abortion. The relationship between campaign spending and right-leaning media consumption was not statistically significant. While my results were not expected, they lead researchers one step closer to understanding how media consumption interacts with an individual’s political opinions.
