Subduing attitude polarization?

Abstract

Researchers have sought to understand the effects of like-minded versus contrary news exposure on attitude polarization, which can be a threat to democracy. The online news environment offers opportunities for exposure to both types of news, albeit unequally. This study tests the effects of exposure to heterogeneous partisan news bundles (both like-minded and contrary news) on attitude polarization. Because media exposure can lead to bias, attitude polarization is tested as a direct and indirect effect via hostile media perceptions. Data in this study are from a between-subjects experimental design about the issue of assisted suicide. Results indicate that even though the effect of the partisan news bundle on hostile media perceptions is significant, both direct and indirect effects on attitude polarization are null.

Polarization of Opinions on COVID-19 Measures: Integrating Twitter and Survey Data

“…Affective polarization describes the extent to which supporters of one political party oppose other parties, whereas ideological polarization refers to the range of ideological positions and policies of different political parties (Tucker et al, 2018). Further research on political polarization often focuses on the influence of news, online information, and social media on the differentiation of opinions among different constituencies (Abril, 2018; Bail et al, 2018; F. L. Lee, 2016). Besides the influence of information and social media, educational inequality is also a relevant determinant of political polarization.…”