1. Abstract #3: Abbey Little
Examining Effects of TV News Violence on
College Students through Cultivation Theory
2. PURPOSE:
To explore the relationship between viewing TV news coverage of
9/11 and the perceptions of violence initiated by people outside of
the US, negative personal emotions, and personal relationships.
IMPORTANCE:
Looks at perceptions of violence in relation to a specific event
rather than general violence in the news media
Focuses on non-fiction violence instead of fictional programming
Overview
3. CULTIVATION THEORY:
The more time spent watching TV, the more likely what people conceive to be
reality will be in line with what they see on TV.
FIRST ORDER EFFECTS:
General views of the world and public opinion
2 Hypotheses
SECOND ORDER EFFECTS:
Individual viewers’ beliefs and attitudes from their TV viewing
3 Research Questions
Theoretical Background
4. HYPOTHESIS #1:
Amount of television news viewing after September 11th will be related
to viewers perceptions that people from outside the United States
create greater amounts of violence.
No relationship.
HYPOTHESIS #2:
Amount of television news viewing after September 11th will be related
to viewers’ perceptions that most Americans perceive that people from
outside the United States initiate greater amounts of violence.
No relationship.
Findings: First Order Effects
5. RESEARCH QUESTION #1:
Does amount of television news viewing in the wake of the September 11th
attacks influence personal emotions after the terrorist attacks?
Greater TV news viewing = more negative personal emotions
RESEARCH QUESTION #2:
Does amount of television news viewing in the wake of the September 11th
attacks influence perceptions of Islamic individuals in general?
Heavier TV news viewers = LESS negative perceptions in general
RESEARCH QUESTION #3:
Does amount of television news viewing in the wake of the September 11th
attacks influence personal friendships with peers who are Islamic?
Greater TV news viewing = MORE negativity of peers
Findings: Second Order Effects
