The silence is deafening : a pilot study of the role media plays in peoples’ perceptions regarding firearm silencers and suppressors
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Matthew R. Burke (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Steve Kroll-Smith
Abstract: Many people have strong opinions and beliefs regarding issues of firearms, gun rights, and the proliferation of firearms, and firearm accessories such as silencers or suppressors. The mass media is at the forefront of the hype surrounding these debates on both sides of the political spectrum. Typically, the mass media is inundated with salacious headlines designed to capture the reader’s attention and induce a sense of fear or dread (Jewkes, & Linnemann, 2018). Research suggests that the techniques of priming framing can cause people’s opinions to shift based on the priming or framing stimulus (Chong & Druckman, 2007; Haider-Markel & Joslyn, 2001; Perera, 2021). Mass media is omnipresent in our daily lives and frequently employs priming and or framing strategies to significantly alter, effect, or enhance feelings and opinions (Cohen, 1963; Jewkes & Linnemann, 2018; Lim, & Rasul, 2015; McCombs & Shaw, 1972). My research examined the thoughts and opinions of focus group participants regarding the controversial and fiercely debated topic of firearm silencers and suppressors in a pilot study. This study consisted of a single cohort of participants over the course of two focus groups. During the first group meeting, I first identified the participant’s initial feelings, opinions, and reactions to this topic. At the conclusion of the first focus group, I primed the participants by showing them two fictional yet controversial videos. After a 24-hour reflection period, I conducted a second focus group with the same cohort. I framed the questions posed to the participants around the concept of the movie’s producers using the stylized depictions as a political motive to push the gun control debate in a particular direction. In the second meeting, I was able to obtain a preliminary look at how media portrayals may influence opinions and beliefs.
The silence is deafening : a pilot study of the role media plays in peoples’ perceptions regarding firearm silencers and suppressors
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590 KB
Created on 5/1/2023
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Thesis
- Language: English
- Date: 2023
- Keywords
- Firearms, Silencer
- Subjects
- Silencers (Firearms) $x Public opinion
- Mass media and public opinion
- Firearms in motion pictures