The impact of political identity,grouping, and discussion on young people's views of political documentaries

ABSTRACT

This study focuses on how young people read and discuss two political documentary films, Labor Day and Hillary: The Movie. We were specifically interested in the impact of the film viewing and discussion on participants’ beliefs about the issues in the films, how they view evidence and expertise in the films, and how the session impacted their views of documentaries as a source. Groups were designed according to composite political scores and individuals (n?=?30) were selected to form liberal, conservative, and two mixed groups (strong and moderate) for the viewing and discussion. Our analysis illustrates the power of political ideology in shaping how expertise is viewed and how evidence is warranted in film – and the role of social context and peer discussion in this process. Implications for media and democratic education in times of political polarization are discussed.     

论政治文化对我国政治决策制度的影响

作为我国社会主义民主政治建设重要内容，科学的、民主的政治决策制度建设对我们有重要意义。政治决策制度受政治文化的影响。我国正处于社会转型时期，存在不同性质的政治文化。这些不同形态的政治文化势必会对我国政治决策制度产生不同的影响。研究政治文化对政治决策制度的影响不无裨益。     

Testimony and Narrative as a Political Relation: The Question of Ethical Judgment in Education

In this article, we explore the role of film in educational settings and argue that testimony and narrative are dependent upon each other for developing ethical judgments. We use the film 12 Angry Men to enhance our thesis that the emotional response that sometimes is intended in using film as testimonies in classrooms requires a specific listening; a listening that puts pupils at risk when they relate testimonies to their own life narratives. The article raises the importance of listening in training narrative ethos in relation to violence witnessed in film. The article contributes by enhancing an understanding of a relational dimension to testimony and narrative, which, in an Arendtian sense, is also put forward as a political relation.     

Appreciation of Pro-Attitudinal Versus Counter-Attitudinal Political Humor: A Cognitive Consistency Approach to the Study of Political Entertainment

This study highlights the explanatory principle of cognitive consistency as a foundation for political entertainment research. More specifically, appreciation for pro- versus counter-attitudinal political humor is analyzed via one statewide (N = 304) and two national surveys (N = 1008, N = 786, respectively). Analyses reveal a preference for pro-attitudinal over counter-attitudinal humor. In addition, an assessment of pro- versus counter-attitudinal political humor appreciation serving as potential mediators of one another relative to political party identification is offered. Pro-attitudinal political humor appreciation serves as the stronger mediator, but a full range of mediation-based processes are evident. Implications and potential future lines of research are detailed.     

Communication Behaviors as Mediators: Examining Links Between Political Orientation,Political Communication,and Political Participation

This study reveals the mediation process of mass and interpersonal communication between antecedent political orientation variables and the outcome response variable of political participation. It provides insight into the direct and indirect effects of political communication on political behavior using an advanced social cognitive approach. The study explores the interrelations among political orientations, communication behaviors, and political participation using the theoretical framework of the Orientation 1–Stimulus–Orientation 2–Response model (Markus &; Zajonc, 1985 Markus , H. , &; Zajonc , R. B. ( 1985 ). The cognitive perspective in social psychology . In G. Lindzey &; E. Aronson (Eds.), The handbook of social psychology , (3rd ed. , pp. 137 – 229 ). New York , NY : Random House . [Google Scholar]; McLeod, Kosicki, &; McLeod, 2002 McLeod , J. M. , Kosicki , G. M. , &; McLeod , D. M. ( 2002 ). Resurveying the boundaries of political communication effects . In J. Bryant &; D. Zillman (Eds.), Media effects: Advances in theory and research , (2nd ed. , pp. 215 – 267 ). Mahwah , NJ : Lawrence Elbaum Associates, Inc . [Google Scholar]). A structural equation model was built and supported by 2004 American National Election Survey data. After controlling for demographic variables, both political interest and need for cognition had direct effects on political media use, whereas political interest and need to evaluate had direct effects on interpersonal political discussion. These results suggest that need for cognition and need to evaluate—2 important personality constructs—affect political communication on 2 different levels. Meanwhile, as antecedent orientation variables, political interest, political extremity, and need to evaluate all contribute to political participation. Both political media use and interpersonal discussion directly affect political participation while they also mediate the effect of the political orientation variables on political participation. Furthermore, interpersonal political discussion mediates the effect of political media use on political participation, and political media use mediates the effect of political interest and need for cognition on interpersonal political discussion.     

The role of entertainment in engagement with climate change

Abstract

The blending of entertainment and education is often used as a mechanism for communicating science to the general public. Key to dissemination of scientific information is cognitive engagement of the audience with the content. The authors describe a study investigating the relationship between entertaining videos and cognitive engagement of the viewer on a topic associated with climate change. Two identical videos discussing the science of climate change were created, with one video containing additional content that was entertaining and based on popular cultural references. Viewers completed an online survey (n?=?472) and the data demonstrated that there was no direct link between presentation of the climate change information in an entertaining video and an individual’s level of cognitive engagement with the content. Further, that an indirect link was identified so that perceived entertainment increased cognitive engagement. These findings may be useful for communicators of environmental issues, especially with consideration of the development of the field of edutainment.     

论政治认同与合法性的关系

政治认同和合法性之间的关系是相当复杂的，在某种程度上往往把二者混为一谈，但细细推敲起来，政治认同更侧重感性，是形成规定、制度等之前的心理状态，是以情感的归宿为重心的；合法性更侧重理性，是规定性的。政治认同是达到合法性的实践前奏；而合法性是政治认同的最终归宿和理论升华。政治认同还存在着一种在几种认同选择项中选择的意味，所以认同还不是很牢固的，而合法性就是比较牢固的认同，是上升到理性层面的理论化了的认同，可以说认同了的未必能达到合法的程度，但合法的肯定是受认同的。两者是辩证地相互运动着的。     

Political ideology and Taiwanese school curricula

Taiwanese textbooks play a central role in Taiwanese education. In the wake of the political reform and social protest movements of the 1970s and 1980s that prompted Taiwanese educational reform, critics have charged that traditional curricula tend to reinforce the dominant national Chinese cultural identity. The purpose of this article is to review recent research on the complex ideological processes in Taiwan’s school curriculum. The article begins with an overview of the political and social impact on social studies curricula in Taiwan from 1949 to the present, followed by a theoretical discussion of the interrelationship between school curriculum and political ideology using an analysis of Taiwanese textbooks as evidence. The article then suggests a number of classroom practices and methodologies for elementary and secondary school teachers in social studies classes.     

Education and political engagement

While the robust and positive relationship between education and political engagement has been widely documented, the direct causal link is still a subject of debate. This study contributes to the ongoing debate by presenting suggestive evidence for the ‘cause’ view on the causal effect of education on political engagement. Exploiting the plausibly exogenous variation in education induced by the compulsory schooling reforms across 39 countries, we find that education cultivates political interest, promotes the acquisition of political knowledge, and fosters supportive attitudes towards political freedoms. Nevertheless, the better educated are no more likely to vote in elections nor adopt any specific position in the left–right political spectrum.     

论媒体对政治参与的影响

政治参与是现代民主政治生活的一个重要表现。不论是参与政治决策、参与对政治决策及其后果的评论、参与对公共事务的评议,还是参与社会政治活动、运动,都必须以获取政治信息、了解政治情况为前提。而传媒是发布信息的职业机构,政治信息是新闻传媒内容中的重要组成部分。因此,新闻传媒成为了现代社会沟通政治信息的主要载体,对政治参与造成了巨大的正面和负面影响。     

Intergenerational exchange: undergraduate researchers’ learning and listening enhanced through older adults’ entertainment preferences

The purpose of this qualitative study was to provide an intergenerational exchange as undergraduate students taking an introductory Psychology of Aging course, interviewed and watched films with older adult participants (N = 13) residing in an assisted living community. The undergraduate researchers (N = 10) conducted and transcribed interviews, wrote about their perceptions of interviews and film viewing with older adults, and their instructor interviewed assisted living staff (N = 2) creating an assessment of participants, researchers, and staff. Researchers listened and learned from older adult’s words, thereby improving researchers’ understanding that older adults preferred in-person discussions over film viewing. Researchers learned from older adults’ words, as they began to understand that sexual content in today’s films may reduce entertainment viewing for youth and older adults. Older adults described television remotes and phones with frustration and researchers felt angst for their frustration. Findings suggested understanding and meaning for participants and researchers in this service learning intergenerational exchange generated through undergraduate research.     

Audience Activity and Reality Television: Identification,Online Activity,and Satisfaction

This study is an examination of audience activity in reality television. This genre was chosen because the program producers encourage activity with Web-based video footage, photos, program summaries and speculations, online discussions, and voting. Hypotheses predicted that audience viewing motives would be significant predictors of identification, online post-exposure activity, and satisfaction. In general, the study's hypotheses were supported. Identification was predicted by watching for social learning and cognitive and emotional involvement. Engaging in online activity after watching was predicted by elaboration and feeling negative emotion. Viewing satisfaction was predicted by viewing motive; cognitive and emotional involvement; and, surprisingly, less online activity after watching.     

基层民主选举投票中的政治效能感研究

在关于政治参与影响政治效能感的研究中,国外学者提出了“工具说”、“发展说”和“结果说”三种解释框架．虽然三种解释不尽相同,但学者普遍认为积极的政治参与对政治效能感有一定的正面影响,尽管影响的因素,程度和范围存在不同．本文基于浙江省闾村实证调研,发现选举式的参与活动均未能显著影响政治效能感和村民效能感。甚至在村民的投票行为与主观期望的结果相一致时,亦未能发现其对效能感的显著影响。     

协商民主:扩大公民有序政治参与的重要途径

我国公民的政治参与还存在着参与意识不强,自主性参与不足;参与的组织化程度不高,参与的形式与渠道单一;参与的制度化程度不高,非制度化参与增多等困境。造成这些困境的原因在于我国现阶段社会物质条件相对薄弱与不平衡,政治体制改革相对滞后和传统文化消极层面的制约。协商民主能有效地扩大公民有序政治参与:协商民主比选举民主更有利于公民实质性政治参与;协商民主作为横向结构因素,有利于公民政治参与;多层次多渠道的协商民主,拓宽了公民有序参与的途径。     

探究式学习在政治理论课教学中的运用

探究式学习作为一种新型的教学模式和学习模式,更能有效地适应政治理论课的特点,是政治理论课教学不可缺少的方法;政治理论课的理论性、实时性、实践性等特点,以及目前我国社会转型的现实和大学生的思想特点、以学生为本的教学目标要求等都迫切需要对传统的说教式教学模式进行改革;实践表明,问题探讨模式、社会实践模式和自学思考模式作为探究式学习模式的具体体现,在政治理论课教学过程中的具体运用需要与接受式教学模式有机结合,合理搭配。     

政治社会化视阈下高校思想政治教育的建构

大学生是社会主义事业的建设者和接班人,他们对社会主流政治文化即政治上层建筑的指导思想认同与否关系到主流意识形态的维护与稳定,进而关系社会政治体系的稳健运行。大学生政治社会化是高校思想政治教育的重要任务之一,对大学生进行思想政治教育是大学生政治社会化的主要手段和有效途径。当前我国大学生政治社会化的效果总体是好的,但也存在着一些问题和偏差。为此深入分析政治社会化与高校思想政治教育的内在逻辑关联性和当前我国大学生政治社会化的现状及存在的问题与原因,对新形势下高校思想政治教育的建构提出了具体措施和对策。     

Teachers’ affective presentation of children’s books and young children’s display of affective engagement during classroom book reading

This study examines how teachers’ use of affective strategies (voice intonation, dramatization, personal involvement comments) during the reading and discussion of books influence young children’s affective reactions (dramatization, personal engagement, language play comments). Twenty kindergarten teachers read four books, two fiction and two information ones (narrative/expository text). We found significant differences in both teachers’ affective presentation and young children’s affective reactions between fiction and information books, between the two fiction books but not between the narrative and expository text. A strong bi-directional relationship was found between teachers’ affective presentation of stories and young children’s affective reactions. In particular, teachers’ personal involvement comments prompted children’s personal engagement reactions, teachers’ reenactment was followed by children’s imitations of such reenactments and teachers’ voice intonation elicited children’s personal engagement comments. On the other hand, children’s use of paralinguistic cues and personal engagement comments reinforced teachers’ use of voice intonation and personal involvement comments. Finally, text features, such as rhyming, were followed by children’s language play.     

Student school elections and political engagement: A cradle of democracy?

Studies have found that prior involvement in student politics while in school seems to be a good predictor of adult political engagement. While most studies of adults have obtained retrospective data on participation in school elections, there have been few studies of students about this activity. We contribute to this latter relatively unexplored area by reporting the results from a national survey of Australian secondary school students about the relationship between participation in school elections and future intended political engagement activities. We found that voting in school elections is positively related to feeling prepared to vote as an adult, to being committed to vote when 18, to political knowledge, and to engagement in forms of peaceful activism. Running for student government office is related to political knowledge and participation in peaceful activism. These results reinforce the findings of adult retrospective studies, and show that participation in school elections serves as a beneficial experience in the preparation of students for life as an active adult citizen. The implications of these findings for the structure and conduct of student elections in schools are discussed.     

贵州省大学生思想政治素质特点研究

目的为了探究大学生思想政治素质的特点,以期能进一步引起政府和社会的高度关注和采取更有效改变其现状的对策。方法使用问卷测量法,调查了1200名在校大学生。结果 （1）大学生的思想政治素质总体上说是积极的、健康的、向上的。（2）大学生的思想素质存在学校类型上的差异。理想维度上表现在道德理想因子;道德维度上表现在社会公德因子;在政治观维度上表现在政治认知和政治立场两个因子;在人生观维度上表现在人生态度因子。（3）大学生的思想政治素质存在性别上的差异。理想维度上表现在生活理想因子;道德维度上表现在社会公德和家庭美德两个因子;政治观维度上表现在政治情感因子。（4）大学生的思想政治素质不存在年级和专业科类的差异。     

刍议政治文化建设视阈下的当代中国政治发展

一个国家政治文化的形成是该国漫长历史发展的凝集和积淀,是同国家传统的民族文化相关联的。一国国情的本质是该国政治文化传统的延续性的表现。然而,政治与民主的现代化势必要求政治文化的现代化,国家在力求实现政治、经济现代化的改革进程中也必然会遇到如何实现政治文化现代化的问题。基于政治文化内涵学习的探讨的视域研究,分析了当前中国政治文化呈现的特征,探讨新型政治文化的创建对当代中国政治发展的意义。