scholarly journals Public opinion and the social imaginary: towards a redefinition of the 'spiral of silence'

2005 ◽  
Vol 1 (7) ◽  
pp. 61
Author(s):  
Rubén Dittus
Keyword(s):  
Public Opinion ◽  
Social Imaginary ◽  
Spiral Of Silence ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Spiral Of Silence

Why Do Partisan Audiences Participate? Perceived Public Opinion as the Mediating Mechanism

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 112-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shira Dvir-Gvirsman ◽  
R. Kelly Garrett ◽  
Yariv Tsfati
Keyword(s):  
Public Opinion ◽  
Presidential Elections ◽  
Media Exposure ◽  
Positive Outcome ◽  
Selective Exposure ◽  
Spiral Of Silence ◽  
Behavioral Measures ◽  
The Spiral Of Silence ◽  
Partisan Media ◽  
The One

The bulk of current literature on partisan media explores its various detrimental influences on the democratic sphere. This study highlights a possible positive outcome of partisan media consumption: enhanced political participation. It is hypothesized that consumption of congruent partisan media will tilt perceptions of opinion climate so that it is viewed as more supportive of one’s views, while consumption of incongruent partisan media is viewed as less supportive. Consequently, consumers of congruent partisan media will participate more, and vice versa. The hypotheses are tested using two panel studies: the first conducted during the 2012 U.S. presidential elections ( N = 377) whereas the second, during the 2013 Israeli election ( N = 340). In the Israeli case, survey data are supplemented with behavioral measures. All hypotheses are supported except the one regarding the effects of incongruent partisan media exposure. The results are discussed in light of the spiral of silence theory and the selective exposure hypothesis.

Who Speaks and Why? An Examination of Outspokenness on Social Networking Sites and a Reflection on Assessing Public Opinion Online

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 421-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stella C Chia
Keyword(s):  
Public Opinion ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
National Survey ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Spiral Of Silence ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Same Sex Marriage ◽  
Speaking Out ◽  
The Spiral Of Silence ◽  
Attitude Extremity

Abstract Incorporating the spiral of silence theory and the model of corrective behavior, this study utilized a national survey (N = 373) to investigate the questions of who chooses to speak out on social networking sites (SNSs) and for what reasons in the context of same-sex marriage in Taiwan. Strong partisans were found the most outspoken; they spoke out to prevent media influence that might sway public opinion to the disagreeable side. Only respondents of low attitude extremity would refrain themselves from speaking out on SNSs when perceiving opinion incongruence. Nonpartisans who held a neutral stand could be motivated to speak out when perceiving majority’s support for same-sex marriage. The roles that opinion stances or attitude extremity each play in public opinion process online are discussed.

scholarly journals Are American’s Attitudes Toward GM Science Really Negative? An Academic Examination of Attitudes and Willingness to Expose Attitudes

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-131
Author(s):  
Taylor K. Ruth ◽  
Joy N. Rumble ◽  
Alexa J. Lamm ◽  
Traci Irani ◽  
Jason D. Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Public Opinion ◽  
National Survey ◽  
Genetic Modification ◽  
Spiral Of Silence ◽  
Opinion Formation ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
The Spiral Of Silence ◽  
Insight Into

The purpose of this study was to reexamine attitudes toward GM (genetic modification) science and explore whether tenets of the historic spiral of silence theory still exist to explain attitudes and willingness to expose attitudes. A national survey of 1,050 U.S. residents revealed the majority of respondents had positive attitudes toward GM science; however, these respondents were no more willing to express their attitudes compared to those with neutral or negative attitudes. The findings from this study did not fully support the spiral of silence but provided insight into public opinion formation and measurement.

Perceiving online public opinion: The impact of Facebook opinion cues, opinion climate congruency, and source credibility on speaking out

2020 ◽  
pp. 146144482093105
Author(s):  
Alisius D Leong ◽  
Shirley S Ho
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Public Opinion ◽  
Experimental Design ◽  
Significant Role ◽  
Source Credibility ◽  
Spiral Of Silence ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Speaking Out ◽  
The Spiral Of Silence ◽  
The Impact

The novel affordances and unique features on social media have transformed the way people assess public opinion. Drawing on the spiral of silence (SOS) theory, this study examines the roles that user-generated comments (UGCs) and aggregated user representations (AURs), represented by reaction emojis, play in shaping perceptions of the opinion climate. It also investigates how features on the platform trigger perceptions of source credibility to influence willingness to speak out. Results from a 3 (opinion cues: UGCs-only vs AURs-only vs UGCs and AURs) × 2 (opinion climate congruency: congruent vs incongruent) × 2 (source credibility: high vs low) between-subjects experimental design revealed that audiences perceived reaction emojis to reflect public opinion. Source credibility was found to affect willingness to speak out and moderate opinion climate congruency. The findings extend the SOS theory by highlighting the significant role that novel affordances have on SOS components operating online. Implications of the findings were discussed.

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