The role of media coverage and other variables in shaping prejudicial attitudes towards Muslims
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Course
Research Methods (2002PY)
Institution
Coventry University (West Midlands) (CU)
An example of a quantitative design report from 2002PY Psychology module. The report looked a the role the media has on influencing people's opinions on the Muslim population.
The role of media coverage and other variables in shaping prejudicial attitudes towards
Muslims
Abstract:
The study tested news and media effects on portraying Muslims as terrorists on
support for public policies damaging Muslims natively and internationally. Muslims have
often been portrayed as aggressive, violent and terrorists as shown in past research from
public opinion surveys (Sides & Gross, 2013; Pew Research Center, 2013). These surveys
and studies found that the public/non-Muslims are willing to support harsher civil restrictions
and regulations (The Brookings Institution, 2011). Past research shows that
counterstereotypic portrayals and representations of minorities reduce negative attitudes
compared with stereotypic portrayals (Mastro & Tukachinsky, 2012). The study performed
tested the effects of stereotypic, neutral, and counterstereotypic Muslim news portrayals. The
news videos were predicted to prime the schemas about Muslims, and thus temporarily effect
perceptions of Muslims as terrorists and violent. Participants were shown 1 of the 3
levels/primers before attempting the survey. A no-video condition was contained within the
study as a control measure. The results proposed that negative media bias does have an effect
on people’s opinions and attitudes towards Muslims. The issue occurs when the public is so
heavily influenced by what the media shows and represents Muslims as, thus promoting
negative attitudes towards Muslims and encouraging stricter and harmful policies against
them.
, Introduction:
Muslims and people generally from the Middle East are hugely misrepresented and
stereotyped through mass media outlets as aggressive violent terrorists (Dixon & Williams,
2015; Shaheen, 2009). Experience viewing these depictions is harmful to Muslims as it
creates negative attitudes and schemas towards them. These negative attitudes could then lead
to more extreme views causing Islamophobia (Bleich, 2012). The current study looks at the
degree in which media stereotypes of Muslims as aggressive, violent terrorists, effects
backing and support for public policies and civil restrictions that are damaging and harmful to
Muslims. This study aims to develop past research about the effects the media has
stereotyping Muslims as terrorists to a greater extent. The observation that the media has
represented Muslims this way has been documented on many accounts, (Nacos & Torres-
Reyna, 2007; Shaheen, 2009). The media’s effect on feelings and attitudes toward Muslims
can be justified and explained with social-cognitive theories explaining the function and
effect of priming (Anderson & Bushman, 2002). The theory proposes that our thoughts,
emotions, memories and thus our actions derive from our own experiences and encounters
throughout our lives. People’s experiences can be developed over time thereby making
connections in the brain stronger thus solidifying concepts in the brain. For example,
concepts that are often and frequently triggered over time create a stronger and more
convincing schema. Schemas essentially influence how people conceptualise and devise
concepts of things after repeated actions. They can affect perceptions, behaviours and
interpretations. In terms of media stereotypes, the portrayal of Muslims can be damaging and
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