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Media Use and Public Perceptions of DNA Evidence

Brewer, P. R., Ley, B. L. — 2009-09-15

This study uses survey data to examine how various forms of media use are related to public perceptions of DNA evidence, including self-perceived understanding of DNA, perceptions of DNA evidence as reliable, weight attached to DNA evidence (or the absence thereof) in jury decision making, and support for a national DNA databank. The hypotheses build on cultivation theory, priming theory, and research regarding the "CSI effect." The findings indicate that overall television viewing, crime television viewing, and news media use predict perceptions of DNA evidence. Moreover, a questionorder experiment produced evidence that priming thoughts about media can influence such perceptions.

"Teach the Controversy": The Relationship Between Sources and Frames in Reporting the Intelligent Design Debate

Grimm, J. — 2009-08-12

This study examined sources and frames in the debate over whether to teach evolution or intelligent design in public schools. a content analysis of 12 newspapers from Kansas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania was conducted to see how geography and sourcing affected the framing of the controversial science issue. established patterns of reporting science were repeated in the news coverage, but location and sources played an important role in how the issue was framed. The frames varied by region, suggesting a new direction for future research of framing.

The Discourse of Environmental Information: Representations of Nature and Forms of Rhetoric in the Information Center of a Greek Reserve

Stamou, A. G., Lefkaditou, A., Schizas, D., Stamou, G. P. — 2009-07-16

In the present study, the textual material disseminated in the information center of Dadia forest reserve is examined. adopting the theoretical framework of Critical Discourse analysis, environmental information is seen as "discourse." By employing a two-plane analytical framework (content analysis and systemic-functional linguistic analysis), the focus given on scientific rhetoric is unveiled. Consequently, the management regime proposed for the forest reserve removes the local community, constructing science (as represented by WWF [World Wide Fund for Nature] greece’s scientific staff) as the only legitimate voice to speak about and manage the forest. Moreover, the systematic suppression of human interventions blurs and diffuses responsibilities for the environment.

Risk Information Seeking Among U.S. and Dutch Residents: An Application of the Model of Risk Information Seeking and Processing

ter Huurne, E. F. J., Griffin, R. J., Gutteling, J. M. — 2009-02-27

The model of risk information seeking and processing (RISP) proposes characteristics of individuals that might predispose them to seek risk information. The intent of this study is to test the model’s robustness across two independent samples in different nations. Based on data from the United States and the Netherlands, the causal structure involving the impact of different predictors of seeking information was evaluated. In addition, the direct contributions of informational subjective norms and affective responses to the seeking of additional risk information were tested. Results indicate that the RISP model has international validity and that the newly proposed paths are plausible.