Date of Completion
4-20-2017
Embargo Period
4-19-2017
Keywords
Spiral of silence, online news comments, fear of isolation, online anonymity, opinion expression, abortion
Major Advisor
David Atkin
Associate Advisor
Carolyn Lin
Associate Advisor
Diana Rios
Field of Study
Communication Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Open Access
Open Access
Abstract
This study examines the Spiral of Silence (SoS) phenomenon in online news discussions under the mechanism of online news comments about the issue of abortion. The results from 530 participants in the experiment primarily substantiate that individuals’ fear of isolation fluctuates by context, supplementing the theoretical gray area left in Noelle-Neumann’s original conceptualization. Moreover, the participants’ contextual fear of isolation, perceived online anonymity, opinion congruity with other commenters, and issue involvement significantly predict their willingness to post their own views. Yet, neither their dispositional fear of isolation nor the influence of the media-reported poll results emerged as predictors. The research findings offer support for a more comprehensive conceptualization of SoS components operating in cyberspace contexts.
Recommended Citation
Wu, Tai-Yee, "Exploring the Predictors of the Spiral of Silence in Online News Discussions" (2017). Doctoral Dissertations. 1396.
https://digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu/dissertations/1396