Populist Twitter Posts in News Stories

Research in information processing suggests that the journalistic practice of embedding right-wing populist Twitter posts in news may stimulate political polarization. To test this notion, we conducted an online experiment (N?=?379). We investigated how highlighted right-wing populist statements affected individuals from different ideological stances and whether potential effects were determined by Twitter-specific characteristics (Twitter frame, profile picture). We exposed participants to two articles, each including a statement by a politician of the Austrian Freedom Party. In the first group, the statements were not highlighted (control group). In the second and third group, the statements appeared as conventional block quotes either without (G2) or with (G3) a picture of the politician. In the fourth and fifth group, the statements were highlighted as Twitter posts, again either without (G4) or with (G5) a picture of the politician. Results revealed that all highlighting conditions increased statement recognition among left-wing individuals. However, the full Twitter post condition exerted the strongest effect. Higher recognition then decreased left-wing individuals’ anti-immigrant attitudes and sympathy toward the right-wing populist candidate. Thus, embedding right-wing populists’ Twitter posts may induce disconfirmation bias among left-wing voters and trigger a process in which they strengthen their initial attitudes.     

Passion and Preparation in the Basic Course: The Influence of Students' Ego-Involvement with Speech Topics and Preparation Time on Public-Speaking Grades

Abstract

Authors of basic public-speaking course textbooks frequently encourage students to select speech topics in which they have vested interest, care deeply about, and hold strong opinions and beliefs. This study explores students' level of ego-involvement with informative and persuasive speech topics, examines possible ego-involvement predictors of students' speech grades, and investigates the influence of preparation time and process activities on public-speaking grades. Results reveal that students' ego-involvement is positively related to their speech success; however, the explanation is more complex than those offered by basic public-speaking course textbooks. Pedagogical implications and areas for future research are discussed.     

Evaluation of the speech dialect attitudinal scale

Listener groups employed the Speech Dialect Attitudinal Scale (SDAS) to rate speakers in a variety of situations. These involved: (A) foreign accent, (B) regional dialect, (C) speech pathology, (D) broadcast news reporting, and (E) use of obscene language. Reliability of ratings was consistently high, with a median of .98. Evidence of construct validity was provided by the factor structures of SDAS item scores. Except in the case of the speech pathology experiment, the factor analyses yielded a remarkably consistent three‐factor structure: Socio‐Intellectual Status, Aesthetic Quality, and Dynamism. In each case, analyses of variance and covariance of SDAS scores discriminated among speakers differentiated by linguistic variation, further supporting the validity of SDAS data.     

Tongue movements and vowel quality

Factor analyses were made of instructor ratings of 442 freshman speeches. Each speech was rated on 11 scales. It was found that only 3 factors, rather than 11, were actually being discriminated among by the'raters. These were an analysis‐content factor, a delivery factor, and a language factor. It was also demonstrated that the variance not attributable to one of these three factors could be accounted for in terms of rating unreliability.     

Surprise,Hurt, and Anger as Emotional Responses to Expectancy Violations Following Feedback Messages

ABSTRACT

Using expectancy violations theory, this study examined how the communication of unexpected feedback messages evoke emotional responses. A convenience sample (N = 309) reported instances of unexpected feedback within the last month. Results showed that receipt of the feedback message types were considered moderate-to-high violations. Violation expectedness and valence were negatively associated with the emotional responses, but violation importance was positively associated with the emotional responses. Finally, hurt and anger (but not surprise) were positively linked to perceptions of relational damage between the message sender and receiver. Taken together, our study demonstrates that expectancy violations are connected to emotions and relational outcomes.     

Communication patterns,sex, and length of verbalization in speech of four‐year‐old children

The mean length of verbalization of 56 four‐year‐old Head Start children was measured in four communication patterns—dyad, triad, small group, and role‐playing triad. The children produced more speech in the small group than in the dyad. Differences between other patterns were not significant. Similar results were obtained when repetitions of words and phrases were eliminated. Females produced, more speech than males in all communication patterns.     

Individual differences in the perception of comforting messages: An exploratory investigation

This study assessed the extent to which six individual difference variables—sex, interpersonal construct differentiation, interpersonal construct abstractness, emotional empathy, and two aspects of communication apprehension—affect the perceptions of preformulated comforting strategies. Theoretical, methodological, and pedagogical implications of the findings are discussed.     

Disaster Day! Integrating speech skills though impromptu group research and presentation

Courses: Disaster Day (DD) is a single-class activity designed for public speaking classrooms, but could also be applied to courses addressing small group communication.

Objectives: DD integrates fundamental skills of the basic speech course, fosters participation through group work, and introduces new concepts and skills. By the end of the activity, students should be able to (1) display fundamental speech skills by researching a topic quickly, organizing an informative speech, and delivering a presentation; (2) function effectively in a group by working cooperatively on a project with a tight deadline; and (3) understand basic elements of upcoming skills by creating an informative and visually appealing presentation for a mass audience before having visual aid instruction. DD has similar learning objectives to activities occurring later in the term (i.e., graded speeches) in order to introduce the students to expectations of future, more advanced assignments. As such, I do not treat DD as a graded activity, but rather a fun, low-risk, and useful practice opportunity.     

Television News Content of Minority Groups as an Intergroup Context Indicator of Differences Between Target-Specific Prejudices

Although research has shown that different types of prejudice are highly correlated, the existence of prejudice hierarchies indicates that individuals differentiate between target groups. Here we examine the relationship between television news coverage and differences in attitudes toward minority groups. We rely on intergroup threat theory, tone, and framing theories to formulate our hypotheses and conduct a multimethod study: All prime-time television news items in Flanders (N = 1,487) reporting on five minority groups (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender; Jews; Eastern Europeans; North Africans; Roma) were coded in terms of tone and framing and subsequently combined with individual-level survey data. Patterns in news coverage reflect differences in prejudice: Groups that are most negatively/positively evaluated by the public receive the most negative/positive coverage. Prejudice is especially high for minority groups associated with problems and criminal threat frames in the news. We conclude that news content is an important characteristic of the intergroup context reflecting differences in minority group appraisals in society.     

Disposition versus situation: Neurocommunlcology and the influence of trait apprehension versus situational factors on state public speaking anxiety

Research indicates that individuals with elevated levels of public speaking anxiety report significantly different mental representations of the public speaking context, when compared to individuals with lower levels of anxiety. To examine the effect of the differences in mental representations, narratives for three public speaking contexts were developed. Results indicated that disposition (i.e., trait apprehension) was a better predictor of state anxiety when giving an impromptu speech. Situational factors (i.e., importance, skills, impression), however, were better predictors of state anxiety when either giving a speech to a 5^th grade class or giving a speech to friends.     

Where populist citizens get the news: An investigation of news audience polarization along populist attitudes in 11 countries

This article presents a secondary analysis of two multi-national cross-sectional surveys conducted in 2015 (11 countries, N?=?10,570) and 2017 (4 countries, N?=?2165) to examine the relationship between populist attitudes and media use. The results indicate that populist citizens are more likely to consume news than non-populist citizens. Specifically, populist citizens exhibit a preference for commercial television (TV) news, as well as a tendency to read tabloid newspapers. While they use fewer quality newspapers, public TV news are not systematically avoided. Regarding the online news environment, populist citizens prefer Facebook over Twitter as a source of political information. This selective pattern will be discussed in light of the debates on news audience polarization and political polarization.     

The Appeal of Media Populism: The Media Preferences of Citizens with Populist Attitudes

Although a growing body of literature points to the particular media diet of populist voters, we know too little about what specific media preferences characterize citizens with populist attitudes. This article investigates to what extent citizens with antiestablishment and exclusionist populist attitudes are attracted to attitudinal-congruent media content. We collected survey data using a nationally representative sample (N = 809) and found that citizens’ preferences for media content are in sync with their populist attitudes. Beyond having a tabloidized and entertainment-based media diet, populist voters self-select media content that actively articulates the divide between the “innocent” people and “culprit” others. These findings provide new insights into the appeal of different types of media populism among citizens with populist attitudes on different dimensions.     

A semantic differential for speech correction concepts

The following study details the procedure by means of which a Semantic Differential for use in investigations in the area of speech correction was developed. It is the third in a series of studies by the same author to appear in SM, the preceding two having dealt with general speech and the theatre arts, respectively. The three studies are similar in scope and content, defining the problems, demonstrating the methodology, and offering suggestions concerning possible applications of the measuring instruments. The author acknowledges that the studies are exploratory and the results tentative. He suggests that the Semantic Differential offers a new approach to certain dimensions of meaning in the speech area which have been slow to yield to older methods.     

Listener adaptation to cerebral palsied speech

Tape recordings of cerebral palsied children with speech problems were played back to 10 speech correctionists on three different occasions one week apart. On the third occasion eight out of ten of the children were judged as having a less severe speech problem even though the correctionists were listening to exactly the same recordings under identical conditions. The results indicate that some of the improvement reported by speech therapists in the speech of cerebral palsied children, following a period of therapy, might represent a change in the listener rather than a change in the child's speech.     

A survey of native American serious drama from 1900 to 1918 1

This article seeks to isolate factors associated with effective and ineffective campaign speeches made by Adlai E. Stevenson in 1956. To distinguish effective from ineffective speeches, the author solicited the judgments of 105 campaign associates, Democratic and Republican politicians, journalists, and students of public address. Eighty‐seven replies were received and sixty‐four were sufficiently complete for analysis. There was high agreement that six speeches were effective and six ineffective.

Factors associated with effectiveness (their opposites with ineffectiveness) included the following: single issue discussed; relatively uncontroversial subject; constructive material emphasized and refutation de‐emphasized; responsive and sympathetic audience; speaker spent great deal of time editing and revising but little on basic draft; revisions were to clarify and identify with audience rather than to qualify remarks; emphasis on solutions rather than problems; introductions contained humor, irony, and satire; presence of direct ethical appeals; emphasis on values rather than needs; frequent alterations in text during delivery.

The author also found several factors common to both effective and ineffective speeches. These included, among others: foreign or domestic issue; size of audience and size of auditorium; length of speech of introduction; length of program prior to speech; logical organization; poor use of summaries and transitions.     

Communication Strategies for Instant Messaging and Chat Reference Services

Summary

Instant messaging (IM) reference is gaining in popularity but still faces resistance. Some librarians agree with some researchers in the field of computer-mediated communications (CMC) that it can never approach the complexity of face-to-face communication, and is therefore an unsuitable medium for reference. Librarians in face-to-face reference use nonverbal communication skills such as a welcoming expression and an interested tone of voice to encourage patrons to approach the desk and discuss their topic; they also interpret the nonverbal cues of patrons. This analysis of online reference conversations shows how online skills can substitute for many of these nonverbal cues. Some skills are unique to computer-mediated communication while others involve written language skills to encourage exploration of the topic, increase clarity, demonstrate approachability and empathy, and instruct. The study illustrates communication problems and solutions using actual conversations, giving particular attention to the reference interview.     

Validation of systematic desensitization of speech anxiety through galvanic skin response

Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) was used as a precise instrument to measure the effect of systematic desensitization on speech anxiety. It was found that speech anxiety can be significantly reduced by desensitization and can be precisely measured by GSR.     

News Talk: Investigating the Language of Journalism

The “topless radio”; phenomenon was briefly widespread— and controversy about such formats continues to appear. This article reviews two important FCC decisions, Sonderling (WGLD‐FM), and Pacifica (WBAI‐FM), to discern and describe FCC policy trends and attempts to define just what obscenity and indecency is and what standards for broadcasting should exist. Dr. Feldman is on the speech faculty at Denison University (Ohio), while Dr. Tickton teaches mass communication and speech at, respectively, Norfolk State College and Old Dominion University, both in Virginia.     

An Examination of Aggression and Adaption Traits with Moral Foundation

ABSTRACT

Moral Foundation Theory forwards that morality is a traitlike disposition that guides one's behaviors, attitudes, and communication. This study examined the relationship between participants' moral foundations and their aggressive and adaptation communication traits. Results of this study suggest that the foundations that concern others (i.e., harm/care and fairness/reciprocity) were associated negatively to verbal aggressiveness, argumentativeness, and Machiavellianism and associated positively with responsiveness, assertiveness, and cognitive flexibility. The foundations that concern socially binding constructs (i.e., in-group/loyalty, authority/respect, and purity/sanctity) were negatively related to Machiavellianism and cognitive flexibility.     

Moving wor(l)ds: Practicing evocative language use through fairy tales

Courses: Public Speaking, Storytelling, Performance Ethnography, Oral Interpretation, Language and Communication

Objectives: The aims of this this class exercise are:

• To engage in a collaborative creative process of developing a story/topic from a simple idea to deepening the relationship with the audience through vivid and evocative language;

• To practice the use of various linguistic devices and figures of speech;

• To gain an understanding of the affective and relational functions of language; and

• To gain performance practice.