이 연구에서는 프라이밍 (priming)을 통해 현저해진 다양한 담론을 메시지의 수용자들이 지각적 선택 (perceptual selection) 과정을 통해 인지적으로 틀지음으로써 정치쟁점에 대해 수용자 자신이 인지적 틀짓기 (cognitive framing)를 한다는 가설을 검증한다. 한 정치 쟁점에 대하여 다양한 담론이 존재할 때, 인지적 현저성 (cognitive salience)은 스키마(schema)와 하향식 정보처리(top-down information processing) 과정에 바탕한 지각적 선택을 통해 메시지 수용자 개개인에 따라 다르게 결정된다. 즉 가장 민감하게 반응하며 지각적으로 선택한 메시지를 중심으로 개개인은 서로 다르게 정치 쟁점을 인지적으로 틀짓는 것이다. 이러한 인지적 틀짓기를 결정짓는 주요 변인으로 수용자 개개인의 정치쟁점에 대한 사전태도(prior attitudes)를 상정했으며 지각 여부를 수량화한 역치(threshold) 모델을 도입하여 사전태도가 변인이 되어 다양한 담론 중 어떠한 메시지로 정치 쟁점을 틀짓기하는지 측정하였다. 일차적으로 사전태도와 프라임된 정보의 지각을 나타내는 역치 사이의 비선형적인(nonlinear) 관계를 가설화했으며, 태도의 강도에 따라 서로 다른 설득의 정도를 지닌 다양한 메시지에 대한 민감도가 달라져 개개인이 서로 다르게 정치쟁점을 틀짓는다고 가정하였다. 이러한 이론적 모델을 검증하기 위하여 미국 General Social Surveys의 개방형 질문이 포함된 설문조사를 이용, 분석하였다. 인지적 틀짓기를 나타내는 유목변인(categorical variable)을 분석하기 위해 로그 변수 치환을 통한 폴리토머스 로지스틱 희귀분석(polytomous logistic regression)을 수행하였고 로짓 희귀계수를 이용하여 계산한 절대역치를 통해 연구가설들이 모두 유의미하게 검증되었다. 이 연구의 결과는 공중의 정치쟁점에 대한 틀짓기뿐 아니라 특히 선거 국면에서의 캠페인을 통한 다양한 담론이 어떻게 유권자들의 머리속에 표상되고 인지적으로 틀지어지는지를 파악하는데 중요한 모델이라고 판단된다.
By synthesizing theories of priming and framing effects, this study proposes the cognitive framing concept. Mass media covers various aspects of a political issue, and frequent coverage of a certain aspect becomes salient so a semantic meaning of the aspect is readily accessible in mind and activated when people express their opinions. However, when various aspects and arguments are available by priming, the cognitive salience is determined by how individuals sensitively respond to each message. As schema governs cognitive processing of available information and top-down information processing occurs, individuals perceptually select primed information and a particular message, which is perceived relatively more salient, becomes more accessible and readily activated. This process is called cognitive framing and an absolute threshold model as a mathematical index that indicates cognitive accessibility are employed. As a primary variable that determines cognitive framing, this study focuses on prior attitudes: attitude importance, positive attitude, and negative attitude. That is, prior attitudes function to induce sensitivity to primed information so that it becomes more accessible. However, extreme attitudes come with perceptual constancy and thus sensitivity to primed information becomes lower. This assumption posits a nonlinear relationship between attitudes and absolute thresholds of cognitive framing. This hypothesis was applied to the abortion issue by analyzing 1972 ~ 1982 General Social Survey items containing open-ended questions to measure recall of primes. Following five hypotheses were made: H1. Prior attitudes have a nonlinear relationship with absolute thresholds of cognitive framing. H2. Extremely positive attitude toward abortion leads to lower threshold for cognitive framing of "pro-choice," which is an ideological discourse of pro-abortion arguments. Meanwhile, negative attitude toward abortion is likely to result in higher threshold for cognitive framing of the ideological meaning. H3. The stronger positive attitude toward legalized abortion is, the more likely it leads to cognitive framing of "women's health" and "birth defects." H4. The stronger negative attitude toward legalized abortion is, the more likely it leads to cognitive framing of "women's health" and "birth defects." H5. Priming inhibits prior knowledge so that absolute threshold for prior knowledge activation becomes higher when priming is occurred than when no primed information is available. In order to test the nonlinear relationship between attitudes and cognitive framing, log transformation was made and polytomous logistic regression was conducted. By using logit coefficients and ratio between frequency of prime recall and frequency of no response, the absolute thresholds were calculated. This analysis revealed all the hypotheses were true. There are several implications to be discussed. First, this study first proposed the cognitive framing concept by synthesizing priming theory, framing theory, and perceptions. Further, this study model, which placed attitudes as an antecedent of information processing, provides new insights and implications for public opinion research. Second, this study contributes to methodological advancement of the priming and framing studies given that it first analyzed survey data collected from a national sample, simulating experimental procedures of priming of framed messages that has been traditionally conducted in experimental laboratory. Also, the open -ended questions revealed how information is processed and represented in the public's mind under a framing scheme. Third, the current model seems to be one of appropriate methods to test election campaign and voting behavior specifically given that voters cognitively frame campaign information in light of either candidate image or an election issue. Forth, the current study, in line with the minimal effects of media and the constructionist approach, focused on prior attitudes and individual differences in cognitive processing and encourages multidimensional approach to message recipients to identify the streams of public opinion. Individuals construct different realities based on what they perceive and interpret news media information, and more elaborate examination of what is in individual's mind in this aspect will further advance the public opinion research.
AI 요약
연구주제
연구배경
연구방법
연구결과
주요내용
목차
1. 문제제기 2. 프라이밍과 틀짓기 이론의 결합 : 인지적 틀짓기 3. 지각과정의 역치모델과 태도 4. 미국의 낙태이슈에 관한 여론 5. 가설 6. 자료 및 측정 7. 분석결과 8. 결론 참고 문헌 Abstract