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    Constructing the Message: The Influence of Differing Political Communication Styles of Voter Decision Making

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    Walz_ku_0099M_10340_DATA_1.pdf (1.529Mb)
    Issue Date
    2009-04-28
    Author
    Walz, Carl Julius
    Publisher
    University of Kansas
    Format
    102 pages
    Type
    Thesis
    Degree Level
    M.A.
    Discipline
    Communication Studies
    Rights
    This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
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    Abstract
    Practitioner communication is commonly criticized for substituting emotion for policy, while deliberative communication is critiqued for removing emotion from reason altogether. This study proposes agonism as an attempt to bridge the divide. Agonistic political communication strives to substantively inform and motivate citizens. Furthermore, it attempts to shift unavoidable political divides from the moral realm to the political realm. To study the effects of all three message types, sample messages were constructed to reflect the differing theoretical approaches. These messages then served as the basis of small group discussions about politics and the economy. A pretest/posttest design was utilized to measure how the messages affected levels of political knowledge, efficacy, party favorability, social trust and institutional trust. Qualitative analysis of short answers and video recorded discussion offered further understanding of effects. Statistical analysis offered little support for agonism, but qualitative analysis showed agonism had potential to fulfill its theoretical purpose.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/1808/5462
    Collections
    • Theses [3710]
    • Communication Studies Dissertations and Theses [127]

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    KU Libraries
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    Lawrence, KS 66045
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    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

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