The Influence of Mass Media and Other Culprits on the Projection of Personal Opinion

This study analyzed the relative predictive power of 4 theoretical models that have been tested as explanations for the projection bias – the tendency of people to see others’ opinions as much like ther own. The analysis focused particularly on audience processing of information in mass media, & used data from a random telephone sample of 760 US residents who answered opinion items about 4 current issues, including physician-assisted suicide. Data largely supported the hypothesis that media coverage will either enhance or diminish the projection bias in predictable directions. (22 refs)