Michel Dupagne

The Third-Person Effect: A Meta-Analysis of the Perceptual Hypothesis

In this study, we report the results of a meta-analysis concerning the third-person effects perceptual hypothesis. The hypothesis predicts that people judge the media to exert greater persuasive influence on other people than on themselves. Thirty-two published and unpublished studies with 121 separate effect sizes were examined. The overall effect size between estimated media effects on self and on others was r = .50. Among the 8 moderators investigated (source, method, sampling, respondent, country, desirability, medium, and message), 3 (sampling, respondent, and message) yielded significant effect size variations. Third-person perception in nonrandom and college student samples was significantly larger than in random and noncollege student samples. From a theoretical perspective, these findings may have been due to student participants perceiving themselves to be smarter than other people. A more disturbing explanation would attribute these findings to researchers relying on student samples.

Determinants of U.S. television fiction imports in Western Europe

Our primary hypothesis is that a country having a larger gross domestic product (GDP) or broadcast television economic infrastructure (BTEI) will import a lower proportion of its programming from the United States than a country with lower GDP or BTEI. Results support our primary hypothesis but also indicate that the percentage of private stations may be a more important predictor. Contrary to our expectations, the existence of program quotas is unrelated, and English fluency negatively related, to the proportion of U.S. imports.

Communication Technology Adoption and Ethnicity

ABSTRACT A national telephone survey was conducted to examine differences in communication technology adoption across Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics and identify adoption predictors based on demographics, media use, and perceptions of new technologies for each ethnic group. Results revealed few ethnic variations in individual communication technologies penetration. Even after controlling for socioeconomic variables, ethnicity remained a significant source of influence on communication technology adoption. Although income was the only common predictor in the adoption regressions within each ethnic group, perceived relative advantage of new technologies and household size were also important determinants for White and Black respondents.

Effectiveness of Video Podcast Use as a Revision Tool

The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether the use of video podcasts as a revision tool would improve test scores of undergraduate students enrolled in an introductory communication theory course. Twelve podcasts were created from videos presented in class and made available online to students for optional viewing prior to completion of three tests. Results indicated that students who viewed the podcasts did not score higher on the test questions related to the videos than their non-viewing classmates. Video podcast attitudes was the only significant predictor of video podcast use.

Effects of Video Streaming Technology on Public Speaking Students' Communication Apprehension and Competence

This study examines whether video streaming can reduce trait and state communication apprehension, as well as improve communication competence, in public speaking classes. Video streaming technology has been touted as the next generation of video feedback for public speaking students because it is not limited by time or space and allows Internet users to view video content without prior downloading. Seventy-two public speaking students in two treatment classes and two control classes taught by the same instructor participated in a quasi-experiment to test three hypotheses. Although students who had viewed their speeches online reacted positively to their video streaming experience, results revealed no significant differences in communication apprehension and competence between the treatment and control groups.

Comparison Between Early High-Definition Television Owners and Non-Owners

A national random telephone survey was conducted to profile early high-definition television (HDTV) adopters based on demographics, media use, interpersonal communication, social participation, cosmopoliteness, perceived innovation attributes of new communication technologies, and ownership of communication technologies. Of all respondents, 21% reported owning an HDTV set at home. In the primary logistic regression, Web news reading, religious service attendance, complexity, trialability, and ownership of communication technologies were significant predictors of HDTV adoption.