A downward spiral: Young people, the media, and political disengagement

This study examines whether political disengagement is related to the amount and/or type of television that young people watch. The study was conducted through survey research at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, with over one hundred undergraduate participants. It demonstrates that there is no relationship between the amount of television which students watch and their political engagement. However, it also demonstrates that there is a relationship between the types of television programs which students watch and their attitudes toward politics and politicians. Frequent viewers of local news feel less trusting toward the government in Washington, whereas frequent viewers of late-night talk shows feel greater trust toward politics and politicians. Further, there is a relationship between the types of programs which students watch and their level of political involvement. Frequent viewers of local news, network news, and political talk shows are more involved with politics than less frequent viewers.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Communication Studies

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Year

2000

Author dc:creator

• Maloy, Jacqueline M

Contributors dc:contributor

• Lawrence Mullen

Statement dc:rights

• IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

https://oasis.library.unlv.edu/rtds/1123

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:oasis.library.unlv.edu:rtds-2122