Avoiding the Other Side?

Abstract

<jats:p> Abstract. Partisan selective exposure, the phenomenon of selectively attending to information that is in line with one’s political views, has received extensive research attention. Researchers have thus far largely neglected, however, to examine the tendency to avoid attitude-discrepant information, that is, selective avoidance. Selective avoidance can be considered a different phenomenon that is not necessarily implied by, nor only occurs simultaneously with, selective exposure. This study investigates these two separate phenomena, for the first time, using eye-tracking methodology. We exposed participants to political ads by liberal and conservative parties placed next to neutral political ads and tracked eye movements unobtrusively. Findings showed that individuals paid more visual attention to political ads that were consistent with their partisan ideology. Additionally, we found that individuals tended to avoid political ads that were inconsistent with their partisan ideology, which provides some evidence for selective avoidance processes. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed. </jats:p>

Staying Tuned or Tuning Out? A Longitudinal Analysis of News-Avoiders on the Micro and Macro-Level

“…Mixed results concerning this question might be rooted in the focus on either exposure or avoidance in prior research. An increasing relevance of political interest for searching out political information (e.g., Hopmann et al, 2016), does not necessarily entail the same for the avoidance of news (see also selective exposure and avoidance, e.g., Schmuck et al, 2020). Further, our paper highlights the relevance of a common theoretical understanding of news-avoiders and comparable measures in the field, by demonstrating that changes in operationalization can lead to dissimilar results.…”

Utilising online eye-tracking to discern the impacts of cultural backgrounds on fake and real news decision-making

“…Self-reported qualitative answers were included to establish if eye-tracking results mirrored participants' introspection on what they considered traits of real/fake news. Online webcambased eye-tracking was chosen over surveys and self-report studies due to its more unbiased collection of data (Schmuck et al, 2020). By using a participant's computer webcam at home versus an eye-tracking lab, it is suggested a better replicate of a real-world environment is provided (Hummel et al, 2017).…”

Licencia para ejercer el derecho a votar y regulación de la información ofrecida por los medios

“…Finalmente, tomando en cuenta algunos datos y argumentos que se describen arriba, como que la mayor parte de la sociedad está mal informada (Achen y Bartels, 2017). Así como el fenómeno de exposición selectiva partidista y evitación de la información política contraria al posicionamiento político del receptor (Schmuck et al, 2020). Se propone el uso del otorgamiento de un sello de calidad a aquellos medios de comunicación que sean confiables, plurales y libres de prejuicios después de ser evaluados por algún organismo independiente, tal y como proponen López-Raventós, Padrós-Blázquez y Navarro-Contreras (2023).…”

“…Respecto al uso de la publicidad, es importante señalar que los gastos en algunos casos se han multiplicado por ocho en los últimos años (Crettaz, 2019). Además de que se ha descrito el fenómeno conocido como exposición selectiva partidista, que consiste en atender de forma selectiva aquella información cercana al propio posicionamiento político y a evitar aquellos anuncios de contenido político contrario a la propia ideología (Schmuck et al, 2020).…”