Effects of levels of statistics and the role of number anxiety on perceived story credibility and personal involvement

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] The purpose of this research is to examine effects of levels of statistics on perceived story credibility and personal involvement and the role of number anxiety on these results using a sports news release as a communications format. The concepts guiding the research are number anxiety, numeracy and a derivative concept, statistics literacy, defined below. The method is an experiment using one independent variable, statistics level, defined as the inclusion of no, low (simple statistics, such as frequencies or percentages, and high (more complex statistics, such as single-event probabilities, p-values, etc.). The experiment is between-subjects. Dependent variables are perceived story credibility and personal involvement. Number anxiety is measured as a potential control variable. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed. Results revealed that only one dependent variable, perceived credibility, yielded significant results. Recommendations for future research are provided.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Journalism (MU)

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Missouri--Columbia

Year dc:date.issued

2018

Author dc:creator

• Herring, Cassidy

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Rodgers, Shelly (Shelly Lannette), 1965-

Statement dc:rights

• Access to files is limited to the University of Missouri--Columbia with SSO login.

Language dc:language.iso

eng, English

DOI

https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/67722

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mospace.umsystem.edu:10355/67722