Effects of Exposure to and Presentation Format of News Reporting Conflicting Scientific Evidence on Perceived Issue Uncertainty

• In Event: ICA Plenary Interactive Paper/Poster Session II
  In Interactive Paper Session: Mass Communication Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of exposure to and presentation format of news reporting conflicting scientific evidence on perceived issue uncertainty. Prior studies have compared conflicting coverage and one-sided coverage in their effect on causing uncertainty and examined effects of conflicting coverage on various perception variables. It is unknown what personal characteristics might determine the effect of conflicting coverage on perceptions. It is also unknown whether presentation format would generate different levels of issue uncertainty. There are at least two formats to present the same conflicting information. First, a single news story reporting two conflicting studies. Second, two news stories with each reporting one of the two studies. An online experiment (N=491) found that prior issue knowledge moderated the effect of exposure to conflicting coverage on perceived issue uncertainty, and perceived issue uncertainty did not differ between the one-story format and the two-story format.

Author

• Hui Zhang, Colorado State University