Why so quiet? Exploring inhibition in digital public spaces

Social network sites have been considered as important arenas for public debate, but as a large proportion of users do not actively participate, there is a need to further our understanding of a phenomenon as hidden, unnoticed and invisible as non-participation. We argue that inhibition is a valuable socio-psychological lens to study non-participation, usefully extending the conceptual framework of political communication regarding non-participation, and offering a more precise way of theorising the intent behind this apparent passivity. Using representative survey data collected in Norway in 2017 (N = 2064), we first sensitise the multi-layered concept of inhibition through combining different dominant approaches: the spiral-of-silence theory, the harsh debate climate, political efficacy, and specific properties of social network sites related to identity and impression management. Second, we show that inhibition functions as an in-between concept balancing participation and non-participation in social network sites. Through factor analysis principal component factor (PCF), we integrate established theories that allow us to define overarching dimensions of inhibition, demonstrating that it is a complex phenomenon not easily understood through one specific theoretical perspective.publishedVersio

Can online exemplars trigger a spiral of silence?

In modern media environments, social media have fundamentally altered the way how individual opinions find their way into the public sphere. We link spiral of silence theory to exemplification research and investigate the effects of online opinions on peoples’ perceptions of public opinion and willingness to speak out. In an experiment, we can show that a relatively low number of online exemplars considerably influence perceived public support for the eviction of violent immigrants. Moreover, supporters of eviction were less willing to speak out on the issue online and offline when confronted with exemplars contradicting their opinion

The Impact of Student Political Identity Over the Course of an Online Controversial Issue Discussion

As civic educators become increasingly concerned about polarized political environments, researchers have begun explore the ramifications of contentious political discourse on young people. Through a quantitative analysis of data gathered from two rural, Midwestern schools, this study provides evidence that the degree to which a student socially identifies with a political party is influential over the course of an online discussion. Strength of identification was associated with students’ relative amount of knowledge for and against their position on a controversial issue and with the types of contributions students made to the online forum

Does Fear of Isolation Disappear Online? Attention-Seeking Motivators in Online Political Engagement

This study investigated the effects of fear of isolation (FOI) on political content consumption and creation in the context of online communication. Using more than 1,000 respondents from South Korea, the study empirically tested a theoretical model of FOI on political content consumption and expressions with two mediators (i.e., attention/status-seeking, and anonymity-seeking). Results indicated that FOI is related to seeking attention and status in political outlets also connected to anonymity-preference that leads to political expression. Implications for political communication scholarship and for practitioners are that voters’ political participations can be understood in a framework different from traditional focus on persuasion, political ideology, or demographics because—in today’s virtual and interactive media environment—users are more content consumers or community participants

Mershon Center for International Security Studies Annual Report 2012-2013

The University Archives has determined that this item is of continuing value to OSU's history.RESEARCH: Highlights ; Research on Use of Force and Diplomacy ; Research on Ideas, Identities, and Decisional Processes ; Research on Institutions That Manage Violent Conflict ; Graduate Student Projects -- STUDENTS: Ralph D. Mershon Study Abroad Scholarship -- FACULTY PUBLICATIONS AND HONORS: Books ; Articles, Essays, and Book Chapters ; Honors, Awards, and Service -- EVENTS: Conferences ; Calendar of Events ; Oversight Committe

Gender and Public Issues Deliberations in Named and Anonymous Online Environments

Online deliberations in social studies classrooms are increasingly feasible as more schools incorporate online learning environments into their programs. The present study investigates student participation in online deliberations with particular attention to (1) the differences between opinion expression and participation in anonymous versus named conditions, (2) whether the magnitude of any such differences varies by gender, (3) whether males and females express a preference for deliberation in named or anonymous online environments, and (4) the impact of named and anonymous environments on developing students’ deliberative skills. When opinion expression and participation results are analyzed by gender, we find that differences between females and males that manifest in named conditions disappear when discussing anonymously. We find that female students are significantly more likely to prefer discussing in anonymous environments. Finally, we find that students deliberating anonymously express more opinions in a subsequent deliberation than those in the named condition

Online Safety Nets: How Perceived Isolation Motivates Network Closure.

The feeling of being alone – and drive to vanquish that feeling – represents a common interest among theorists in communication, psychology, and sociology. Despite extensive literatures on isolation, exclusion, rejection, and loneliness, less is known about how these feelings reverberate through personal networks. Concurrently, the ascent of mobile and social technologies has generated a range of communicative possibilities that complicate our understanding of how people respond to moments of social isolation. Indeed, evolving network theories suggest that these media affordances have the potential to steer communication toward certain people and away from others. In this dissertation, I attempt to interlace this dual theoretical backdrop, integrating classic theories on the experience of social isolation with recent theories on the social implications of online affordances. I argue that perceived isolation is likely to drive people toward network closure, or what Kadushin (2012) refers to as “network safety”. I also argue that this thrust is more likely to occur in online networks that are defined by availability and awareness, such as Facebook. In order to substantiate these claims, this dissertation encompasses studies measuring online network outcomes in combination with three different versions of perceived isolation: induced exclusion (Study 1), exclusion reactivity (Study 2), and rejection sensitivity (Study 3). Altogether, the combined results indicate that feelings of isolation can shift social attention and preference toward trusted ties and core circles. Over time, these patterns suggest that people who experience more frequent and intense feelings of isolation may choose to fortify close relationships and closed communities, rather than embrace weak ties and open networks. To conclude, I contextualize the findings within other models of perceived isolation, and propose an extra component for the observed network dynamics. Expanding on this phenomenon, I theorize how certain cognitive states may operate as network switches, changing personal network motivations in a dynamic manner. With the emergence of increased availability and awareness, individuals have increased capacity to choose, and thus shift, their personal network patterns during daily life. Consequently, I call for new research on the cognitive mechanisms that underlie social network motivations, perceptions, and choices.PhDCommunication StudiesUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/133276/1/joebayer_1.pd

Understanding Collective Discontents:A Psychological Approach to Measuring Zeitgeist

Over the last decade, several countries around the world developed a collective sense of doom and gloom: Their Zeitgeist could be characterized as one of decline. Paradoxically, in some countries, such as the Netherlands, this collective discontent with society seems to exist despite high levels of individual well-being. Current psychological research informs us about why individuals would feel unduly optimistic, but does not account for a collective sense of decline. The present research develops a novel operationalization of Zeitgeist, referred to as a general factor Z. We conceptualize Zeitgeist as a collective global-level evaluation of the state (and future) of society. Three studies confirm that perceptions of the same societal problems at the personal and collective level differed strongly. Across these studies we found support for a hypothesized latent factor Z, underlying collective-level perceptions of society. This Z-factor predicted people's interpretation of new information about society that was presented through news stories. These results provide a first step in operationalizing and (ultimately) understanding the concept of Zeitgeist: collectively shared ideas about society. Implications for policy are discussed