Belief maintenance as a media effect: a conceptualization and empirical approach

• While prominent theories of media effects suggest that the maintenance of societal perceptions (and misperceptions) is a critical and distinct outcome of exposure to mediated communication, the "maintenance effect"remains poorly understood. This article provides a theoretical conceptualization and operational approach to the maintenance effect. The first part addresses the distinct properties of the maintenance effect and proposes a conceptualization anchored in theories of cognitive media effects. The second part focuses on the psychological mechanisms behind the maintenance effect, outlining factors operating in the short and long run. Finally, building upon recent statistical developments for longitudinal data analysis, the third part suggests and illustrates a specific empirical approach for analyzing the maintenance effect.

Subject headings

HUMANIORA  -- Språk och litteratur -- Jämförande språkvetenskap och allmän lingvistik (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- Languages and Literature -- General Language Studies and Linguistics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

maintenance effect

media effects

misperceptions

perceptions

public opinion

societal beliefs

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)