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This investigation introduced multiple competitive attacks in order to assess the effectiveness of inoculation treatments in protecting established attitudes in a natural setting. A four-phase experiment was conducted involving 433 participants. The results revealed that the effectiveness of refutational inoculation messages dissipated some in the face of an additional attack. Still, refutational inoculation messages proved to be more effective than supportive, restoration, and control (no message) conditions in protecting established attitudes in the face of multiple attacks. The content of an additional attack (the same as the first attack or different) did not affect the capacity of inoculation refutational messages to confer resistance to competitive attacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examined corporate front-group stealth campaigns. An experiment was conducted to examine tile influence of front-group stealth campaigns on a variety of measures. It was anticipated that corporate front-group stealth campaigns, which feature names that mask the true interests of sponsors, positively affect public opinion, unless they are exposed as intentionally misleading, in which case they boomerang against sponsors. The experiment examined the potential of the inoculation strategy to preempt the influence of corporate front-group stealth campaigns. The pattern of results supported all of these expectations. Front group stealth campaigns proved to be effective, at least in the short term. Front-group stealth campaigns eroded public attitudes toward the issue in question and boosted perceptions of the front group, but not the corporate sponsor. However, when front-group stealth campaigns were subsequently exposed, positive effects dissipated and perceptions of corporate sponsors boomeranged. Results revealed that inoculation can protect against the influence of front-group stealth campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the impact of embedded versus nonembedded (unilateral) news coverage during the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq. A content analysis was conduycted of the Washington Post, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Chicago Tribune news coverage of the invasion and occupation examining whether embedded and nonembedded new reports were different and, if so, how. News reports were examined for differences in tone toward the military, trust in the military, framing, and authoritativeness. The results of the study revealed significant differences in overall tone toward the military, trust in military personnel, framing, and authoritativeness between embedded and nonembedded articles. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study examines the impact of embedded versus nonembedded (unilateral) news coverage during the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq. A content analysis was conducted of the Washington Post, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Chicago Tribune news coverage of the invasion and occupation examining whether embedded and nonembedded new reports were different and, if so, how. News reports were examined for differences in tone toward the military, trust in the military, framing, and authoritativeness. The results of the study revealed significant differences in overall tone toward the military, trust in military personnel, framing, and authoritativeness between embedded and nonembedded articles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation examined effect of news photographs of Iraq war casualties on reader emotional response and attitudes about U.S. military presence, and the impact of inoculation pretreatments. Three print news conditions were used: photographs with caption, photographs accompanied by full text, and text. Photographs plus caption elicited greater emotional response and reduced support for continued U.S. presence, although effect sizes were small. A second study revealed that inoculation treatments reduced the influence, but effects were limited to women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effects of issue advocacy ads on voters' candidate issue knowledge and turnout, using the 2000 National Election Study survey combined with ad tracking data by Campaign Media Analysis Group. The results showed that those who lived in an area where more issue ads were aired had higher candidate issue knowledge than those in an area with fewer issue ads. Those in an area with more issue ads were more likely to vote than those with fewer issue ads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is very little research about the relative influence of campaign communication forms or venues on normative outcomes concerning the extent to which campaign communication promotes or degrades basic democratic values. This investigation assesses the relative impact of 17 communication forms on three normative outcomes: political expertise, which embodies people's awareness, knowledge, and interest in politics; attitude about the process used to elect candidates; and likelihood of participating in the political process. Data are based on results of two national surveys conducted in different phases of the 2004 presidential campaign. Hierarchical regression analyses are used to evaluate the relative influence of the 17 communication forms on normative outcomes, controlling for sociodemographic variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation probed whether embedded journalist coverage of the first days of the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq produced print news coverage that was either more decontextualized in form or more favorable in tone. Embedded news coverage of the first days of Operation "Iraqi Freedom" was compared to nonembedded, so-called "unilateral" coverage; and print coverage of "Iraqi Freedom" was compared with the first days of U.S. ground operations in Operations "Enduring Freedom" and "Desert Storm." The results indicated that embedded journalists in Operation "Iraqi Freedom" produced news stories that featured more episodic frames, compared to both nonembedded reporters in "Iraqi Freedom" and overall coverage of Operation "Enduring Freedom." The results also revealed that, compared to nonembedded reporting, embedded print coverage of "Iraqi Freedom" was more favorable in overall tone toward the military and in depiction of individual troops, but this bias did not produce more positive overall coverage compared to recent conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the impact of Web site campaigning on traditional news media agendas and on public opinion during the 2000 presidential election campaign. Based on an intermedia agenda-setting approach, this study demonstrated the direction of influence among three media in terms of the flow of information. An agenda-setting impact of Web site campaigning on the public was also identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the influence of various communication forms or modalities on prospective voters' perceptions of candidates and their attitudes about the democratic process during the 2000 presidential election campaign. A total of 450 prospective voters were surveyed during the final three weeks of the 2000 campaign about communication use, perceptions of the two major party candidates, and attitudes about the democratic process. After controlling for respondents' age, gender, education, strength of party identification, and the number of candidate ads recalled, the results indicated that use of nontraditional communication forms (such as political talk radio and, to a somewhat lesser extent, television entertainment talk shows, television talk shows, and television news magazines) exerted the most influence on perceptions of presidential candidates. Among traditional communication forms, people's use of televised debates exerted considerable influence, but newspapers, magazines, and television news exerted very limited impact. In contrast to this pattern of findings regarding communication use and candidate perceptions, people's use of more traditional communication forms, especially televised debates and newspapers, was associated with positive attitudes about the democratic process, whereas nontraditional media exerted no significant influence on process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the influence of various communication forms or modalities on prospective voters' perceptions of candidates and their attitudes about the democratic process during the 2000 presidential election campaign. A total of 450 prospective voters were surveyed during the final three weeks of the 2000 campaign about communication use, perceptions of the two major party candidates, and attitudes about the democratic process. After controlling for respondents' age, gender, education, strength of party identification, and the number of candidate ads recalled, the results indicated that use of nontraditional communication forms (such as political talk radio and, to a somewhat lesser extent, television entertainment talk shows, television talk shows, and television news magazines) exerted the most influence on perceptions of presidential candidates. Among traditional communication forms, people's use of televised debates exerted considerable influence, but newspapers, magazines, and television news exerted very limited impact. In contrast to this pattern of findings regarding communication use and candidate perceptions, people's use of more traditional communication forms, especially televised debates and newspapers, was associated with positive attitudes about the democratic process, whereas nontraditional media exerted no significant influence on process. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study examined the effects of issue advertising on candidate preferences and the democratic process, comparing the impact of party- and PAC-sponsored advertising against candidate-sponsored positive and contrast ads. Results revealed that the influence of political advertising varies depending on party affiliation. For Republicans, candidate-sponsored contrast and party-sponsored ads are most influential, but with unaffiliated viewers, candidate-sponsored positive ads are most effective whereas party-sponsored ads are the least persuasive. Effects of political advertising on the democratic system were especially revealing. Results revealed that candidate advertising enhances viewer interest in campaigns and knowledge of candidates and their positions, but that other effects vary based on party affiliation. Finally, the study tested inoculation as an antidote to system-based consequences of issue advertising. Results revealed that inoculation was able to protect viewers against the consequences of party-sponsored ads. However, with PAC-sponsored ads, efficacy was restricted to Republican viewers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, 417 sixth graders who were nondrinkers participated in a test of inoculation theory. Students viewed either a normative or information-based antidrinking public service announcement (PSA) or a neutral PSA unrelated to alcohol. Half of the students immediately saw a set of commercials that included beer advertisements. All students then completed a questionnaire measuring threat vulnerability, perceptions of peer acceptance of alcohol use, attitudes, and behavioral intentions. Two weeks later, the remaining group viewed the commercials. The students again completed the questionnaire. Immediately after viewing, the normative PSA produced lower estimations of peer acceptance of alcohol than did either the informational or neutral PSAs. When viewing commercials immediately following the PSAs, students were most resistant to persuasion both immediately following viewing and 2 weeks later Path models revealed that estimates of peer acceptance and threat vulnerability affected resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study which compared people's use of political talk radio to that of other mass communications sources and to their confidence in democratic institutions. Methods used on the study; Results and discussion.

Investigates the overall impact of issue/advocacy advertising. Use of inoculation theory in explanation the effect of such advertising; Inoculation against attitude change and protection of sponsors against slippage in ratings of source position; Theoretical and political implications.

Examines the effectiveness of television news adwatch formats in deflecting political attack ads during the 1992 North Carolina gubernatorial campaign. Newscast containing adwatch formats;Production of a boomerang effect with the use of full-screen adwatch; Enhancement of the influence of the targeted attack ads; Effect of adwatch on viewer rating.

Examines the influence of intraparty political debates on candidate preference during the 1984 presidential campaign. Explanations for significant shifts in viewer attitudes and preferences; Role of intraparty debates in candidate selection; Utilization of expectancy theory to explain the intraparty political debates influence.