Political Information Use and Its Relationship to Beliefs in Conspiracy Theories Among the German Public

2021 ◽  
pp. 107769902110635
Author(s):  
Christian Schemer ◽  
Marc Ziegele ◽  
Tanjev Schultz ◽  
Oliver Quiring ◽  
Nikolaus Jackob ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Service ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
Video Sharing ◽  
News Sources ◽  
User Comments ◽  
Tv News ◽  
Party Preference ◽  
Left And Right ◽  
Frequent Exposure

This study investigates how exposure to different news sources, propensity to vote (PTV) for a party and demographics are related to belief in conspiracy theories drawing on three repeated cross-sectional surveys in Germany 2017–2019. Results show that frequent exposure to alternative news sites and video-sharing platforms increased conspiratorial beliefs. Frequency of exposure to the quality press, public service TV news, and news aggregators diminished beliefs in conspiracy theories. Exposure to TV news, legacy media online, tabloids, social media, and user comments was unrelated to such beliefs. PTV for far left and right parties increased conspiratorial beliefs, moderate party preference reduced them.

scholarly journals Dissociation, Cognitive Reflection and Health Literacy Have a Modest Effect on Belief in Conspiracy Theories about COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 5065
Author(s):  
Vojtech Pisl ◽  
Jan Volavka ◽  
Edita Chvojkova ◽  
Katerina Cechova ◽  
Gabriela Kavalirova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
Cognitive Reflection ◽  
Variance Explained ◽  
Modest Effect

Understanding the predictors of belief in COVID-related conspiracy theories and willingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19 may aid the resolution of current and future pandemics. We investigate how psychological and cognitive characteristics influence general conspiracy mentality and COVID-related conspiracy theories. A cross-sectional study was conducted based on data from an online survey of a sample of Czech university students (n = 866) collected in January 2021, using multivariate linear regression and mediation analysis. Sixteen percent of respondents believed that COVID-19 is a hoax, and 17% believed that COVID-19 was intentionally created by humans. Seven percent of the variance of the hoax theory and 10% of the variance of the creation theory was explained by (in descending order of relevance) low cognitive reflection, low digital health literacy, high experience with dissociation and, to some extent, high bullshit receptivity. Belief in COVID-related conspiracy theories depended less on psychological and cognitive variables compared to conspiracy mentality (16% of the variance explained). The effect of digital health literacy on belief in COVID-related theories was moderated by cognitive reflection. Belief in conspiracy theories related to COVID-19 was influenced by experience with dissociation, cognitive reflection, digital health literacy and bullshit receptivity.

scholarly journals Mandibular range of motion in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis with and without clinically established temporomandibular joint involvement and in healthy children; a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Willemijn F. C. de Sonnaville ◽  
Caroline M. Speksnijder ◽  
Nicolaas P. A. Zuithoff ◽  
Daan R. C. Verkouteren ◽  
Nico W. Wulffraat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis ◽  
Range Of Motion ◽  
Temporomandibular Joint ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Joint Involvement ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Explanatory Factors ◽  
Left And Right

Abstract Background Recognition of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) involvement in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) has gained increasing attention in the past decade. The clinical assessment of mandibular range of motion characteristics is part of the recommended variables to detect TMJ involvement in children with JIA. The aim of this study was to explore explanatory variables for mandibular range of motion outcomes in children with JIA, with and without clinically established TMJ involvement, and in healthy children. Methods This cross-sectional study included children with JIA and healthy children of age 6–18 years. Mandibular range of motion variables included active and passive maximum interincisal opening (AMIO and PMIO), protrusion, laterotrusion, dental midline shift in AMIO and in protrusion. Additionally, the TMJ screening protocol and palpation pain were assessed. Adjusted linear regression analyses of AMIO, PMIO, protrusion, and laterotrusion were performed to evaluate the explanatory factors. Two adjusted models were constructed: model 1 to compare children with JIA and healthy children, and model 2 to compare children with JIA with and without TMJ involvement. Results A total of 298 children with JIA and 169 healthy children were included. Length was an explanatory variable for the mandibular range of motion excursions. Each centimeter increase in length increased AMIO (0.14 mm), PMIO (0.14 mm), and protrusion (0.02 mm). Male gender increased AMIO by 1.35 mm. Having JIA negatively influenced AMIO (3.57 mm), PMIO (3.71 mm), and protrusion (1.03 mm) compared with healthy children, while the discrepancy between left and right laterotrusion raised 0.68 mm. Children with JIA and TMJ involvement had a 8.27 mm lower AMIO, 7.68 mm lower PMIO and 0.96 mm higher discrepancy in left and right laterotrusion compared to healthy children. Conclusion All mandibular range of motion items were restricted in children with JIA compared with healthy children. In children with JIA and TMJ involvement, AMIO, PMIO and the discrepancy between left and right laterotrusion were impaired more severely. The limitation in protrusion and laterotrusion was hardly clinically relevant. Overall, AMIO is the mandibular range of motion variable with the highest restriction (in millimeters) in children with JIA and clinically established TMJ involvement compared to healthy children.

scholarly journals A Study of a Sample of Facebook Users Finds They Do Not Seek Political News through Facebook But Are Exposed to Political News through This Medium

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-38
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Margaret Stovold
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Online News ◽  
Social Utility ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Political News ◽  
High School Degree ◽  
News Sources ◽  
News Source ◽  
Tv News ◽  
The Mean

A Review of: Schaferm, S., Sulflow, M., & Muller, P. (2017). The special taste of snack news: an application of niche theory to understand the appeal of Facebook as a source for political news. First Monday, 22(4-3). http://dx.doi.org/10.5210/fm.v22i4.7431 Abstract Objective – To investigate Facebook as a source of exposure to political news stories and to compare the reasons for using Facebook as a news source and the gratifications obtained, compared with other news sources. Design – Survey questionnaire. Setting – Facebook. Subjects – 422 German Facebook users. Methods – An online survey was developed to investigate the use of Facebook as a news source compared with other sources. Specific research questions were informed by the ‘theory of niche’ (Dimmick, 2003) which examines the coexistence and competition between different media outlets by examining the breadth, overlap and superiority of one platform over another. The survey was distributed using a ‘snowball’ technique between July and August 2015. The survey was shared by 52 student research assistants on their Facebook profiles. They asked their friends to complete the survey and share it with their own networks. Main results – The mean (M) age of the 422 respondents was 23.5 years (SD=8.25). The majority were female (61%) with a high school degree (89%). TV news and news websites were the most frequently used sources of political news. Facebook ranked third, ahead of newspapers, search engines, magazines, email provider websites, and Twitter. The mean score for the importance of Facebook as a news sources was 2.46 (SD=1.13) on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is low and 5 is high. This fell in the middle of the range when compared with the top ranked source assessed by importance (TV news, M 4.40, SD=0.88) and the lowest (email providers, M 1.92, SD=0.97). Users rarely visited Facebook with the purpose of finding news (M 1.59, SD=0.73). However, they estimated around 24% of the posts they see were concerned with political news, and when encountered, these stories are frequently read (M 3.53, SD=1.18). However, the level of interaction as measured by liking, commenting, sharing or status updates was low (M 1.94 SD=1.09; M 1.37, SD=0.79; M 1.51, SD=0.85 and M 1.4, SD=0.78 respectively). The ‘gratification’ categories where Facebook as a news source scored the highest were for killing time (M 2.97, SD=1.29), entertainment (M 2.92, SD=1.05), and surveillance (M 2.77, SD=1.01). When compared to newspapers and TV news, it was found that Facebook has a lower score for niche breadth, meaning that it serves a specific rather than general news function. Facebook also had a lower overlap score when compared with the other media, thereby performing a complementary function, while TV news and newspapers perform similarly. TV news scored better for providing balanced information, surveillance and social utility while Facebook scored highest for killing time. There was no difference in the category of entertainment. There was a similar picture when comparing Facebook with newspapers. Conclusion – The authors conclude that while users do not actively seek political news through Facebook, they are exposed to political news through this medium. Respondents did not consider the news to be well balanced, and that currently Facebooks’ niche is restricted to entertainment and killing time. The authors note that this may be disappointing for news organisations, but there is potential to expose large audiences to political news when they are not actively seeking it. The findings represent a specific time point in a changing landscape and future research will need to take these changes into account. Comparisons with other online news sources and the use of objective measures to validate self-reported data would be valuable areas for future research.

Public service motivation and willingness to collaborate

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Getha-Taylor ◽  
Alexa Haddock-Bigwarfe
Keyword(s):  
Homeland Security ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Public Service Motivation ◽  
The Body ◽  
Organizational Level ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Original Survey ◽  
The Individual

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine public service motivation (PSM) and the connection with collaborative attitudes among a sample of homeland security actors representing the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Design/methodology/approach – This study examines relationships between measures of PSM and collaboration using original survey data and hierarchical multiple regression. Findings – Findings reveal strong positive relationships between PSM measures and attitudes toward collaboration at the individual and organizational level. Research limitations/implications – Survey results are cross-sectional and are from respondents participating in a single state's homeland security summit. Practical implications – It is expected that results can be used to enhance collaboration at the individual and organizational levels. At the organizational level, results can be used for matching individuals with collaborative opportunities. At the individual level, results can be used for enhanced self-reflection and effectiveness purposes. Originality/value – This study provides insights on the relationship between PSM measures and collaborative attitudes. The research contributes to the body of scholarly work connecting PSM and correlates of interest.

scholarly journals Network structure and patterns of information diversity on Twitter

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesse Conan Shore ◽  
Jiye Baek ◽  
Chrysanthos Dellarocas
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Information Sharing ◽  
Cross Section ◽  
Network Structure ◽  
The Political ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
News Sources ◽  
Echo Chambers ◽  
Information Diversity

Social media have great potential to support diverse information sharing, but there is widespread concern that platforms like Twitter do not result in communication between those who hold contradictory viewpoints. Because users can choose whom to follow, prior research suggests that social media users exist in "echo chambers" or become polarized. We seek evidence of this in a complete cross section of hyperlinks posted on Twitter, using previously validated measures of the political slant of news sources to study information diversity. Contrary to prediction, we find that the average account posts links to more politically moderate news sources than the ones they receive in their own feed. However, members of a tiny network core do exhibit cross-sectional evidence of polarization and are responsible for the majority of tweets received overall due to their popularity and activity, which could explain the widespread perception of polarization on social media.

scholarly journals Determinants of Patient-Directed Citizenship Behaviors of Nurses in Thailand: A Motivation Model

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 94
Author(s):  
Ratana Somrongthong ◽  
Kanon Trichandhara
Keyword(s):  
Public Service ◽  
Structural Model ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Transformational Leaders ◽  
Citizenship Behaviors ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Multi Stage ◽  
Southern Border ◽  
Motivation Model

This cross-sectional study explored how transformational leaders and public service motives impacted patient-directed citizenship behaviors of the nurses in three southern border provinces of Thailand. The participants of 813 nurses were selected via multi-stage sampling. A questionnaire was employed as its instrument. The structural model analysis revealed a congruence between the hypothesized model and the empirical data where

scholarly journals EFFECT OF FRAUD RISK REDUCTION STRATEGY ON THE LEVEL OF EMPLOYEE FRAUD IN NIGERIAN PUBLIC SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-44
Author(s):  
Joe Duke II ◽  
Kechi A. Kankpang
Keyword(s):  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Service Organizations ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Reduction Strategy ◽  
Risk Reduction Strategy ◽  
Fraud Risk ◽  
Public Service Organizations ◽  
Employee Fraud

Given the rampant headline revelations of widespread fraud perpetrated in Nigerian public service organizations in recent times, this study addresses a topical subject that commands urgent attention, understanding and intervention. Using a survey design and case approach, a cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 54 systematically selected public service organizations spread across the South-South geopolitical region of Nigeria. The study showed that the fraud risk reduction strategy deployed in Nigerian public service organizations is not effective in reducing the overall level of employee fraud. The study showed that auditor’s monitoring strength is low. It also found that the prevailing reward and compensation system does not facilitate reduction of incentive for employee fraud. These results point to a need to review, strengthen and make more dynamic and responsive the current fraud risk reduction strategy used. Key words: employee fraud, organizations, Nigeria.

Is There a Measurable Difference between the Left and Right Modified Myocardial Performance Indices, and Does This Change to Reflect Unilateral Myocardial Dysfunction in Pathology?

2015 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 288-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alec W. Welsh ◽  
Amanda Henry ◽  
Neama Meriki ◽  
Aditi Mahajan ◽  
Linda Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Dysfunction ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Myocardial Performance ◽  
Performance Indices ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Pilot Data ◽  
Design Function ◽  
Left And Right ◽  
First Time ◽  
Twin Pregnancies

Introduction: Fetal cardiac dysfunction may manifest itself unilaterally as right and left ventricles differing in design, function and load, measurable as differing in myocardial performance indices (MPIs). We wished to define this difference (‘delta-MPI' or DMPI), present its normal range and pilot its use in pathological pregnancy. Material and Methods: Prospective cross-sectional study of 324 normal singleton fetuses (16-38 weeks of gestation). Left and right modified MPI (LMPI and RMPI) were performed during a single examination using the ‘peak' valve click technique. Thirty-seven pathological singleton and monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies were compared as pilot data. Results: Modified MPIs (mean ± SD) were 0.45 ± 0.06 (LMPI) and 0.47 ± 0.09 (RMPI), being similar at 18 weeks' gestation with DMPI increasing slightly throughout pregnancy (0.02 ± 0.08). Both singleton intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and recipient twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) showed significantly elevated RMPI, LMPI and DMPI, most pronounced for DMPI (450 and 500% increase, respectively; p < 0.01). DMPI acquisition rates were 83.3% normal and 87.0% pathological. Discussion: We demonstrate for the first time differing intrafetal LMPI and RMPI in a large gestational cohort, with this difference increasing with gestational age. Pilot data confirm the potential for DMPI as a tool to assess unilateral myocardial function in singleton IUGR and recipient twins in TTTS, and further studies are under way to evaluate its clinical utility.

Extraction and Annotation of News Topics From TV Streams for Web Video Sharing

2019 ◽  
pp. 272-294
Author(s):  
Tarek Zlitni ◽  
Walid Mahdi
Keyword(s):  
Video On Demand ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Automatic Process ◽  
Video Sharing ◽  
News Program ◽  
Operational Characteristics ◽  
Web Video ◽  
Tv News ◽  
Tv Program ◽  
Program Content

Today, with increased internet access, users are often interested in new content-based multimedia applications of high added value such as interactive TV, video on demand (VoD), and catch-up TV services such as YouTube or Dailymotion frameworks. Despite the easy and rapid access to media information of these services, they present the risk of the wide propagation of fake news. As a solution, the authors propose that the input for these services must be from a trustworthy traditional media, precisely TV program content. So, the automatic process of TV program identification and their internal segmentation facilitate the availability of these programs. In this chapter, the major originality of the authors' approach is the use of contextual and operational characteristics of TV production rules as prior knowledge that captures the structure for recurrent TV news program content. The authors validate their approach by experiments conducted using the TRECVID dataset that demonstrate its robustness.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document