Michael Schmierbach
Biographic Data
| ID | 157928 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Michael Schmierbach |
| GIVEN NAMES | Michael |
| FAMILY NAME | Schmierbach |
| SIGNATURE | SCHMIERBACH M |
| AFFILIATIONS | Pennsylvania State University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-2765-2602 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 24 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 74 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 24 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2002 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 5 |
The Necessary Evolution of Mass Communication Research in a Fragmenting Media Landscape
With the ongoing evolution of media channels, debates over the concept of mass communication have been reignited. When we live in a society of filter bubbles and AI-generated content, the very notion of a large uniform audience has been undermined. Indeed, the process of mass communication looks different today than in the early days of the field, which naturally affects how to define and measure media effects. In this forum, leading communicatio…
Amplifying Player Experience to Facilitate Prosocial Outcomes in a Narrative-Based Serious Game
The rise and development of serious games have shown promise in addressing critical social issues, including school bullying. However, prior work often compares game-based interventions with the conventional non-game approach, failing to generate insights about which game features should be emphasized to create more effective games. To bridge this research gap, in light of video games’ advantages for creating immersive experiences that benefit pe…
Biased processing of political fact-checks on social media
Purpose Social media platforms offer users the opportunity to engage with fact-checking posts aimed at countering misinformation surrounding political figures. However, limited research considers how the efficacy of fact-checking messages hinges on individuals’ perceptions and acceptance of the information, with user comments and individuals’ pre-existing partisan viewpoints both presenting possible barriers to positive reception of fact-checking…
The Influence of Fact-Checking Is Disputed! The Role of Party Identification in Processing and Sharing Fact-Checked Social Media Posts
Social media play an important role in political communication, leading to growing concerns about the credibility of shared information. Attempts to slow the spread of misinformation by platforms such as Facebook and Twitter include adding fact-checking labels to social media posts, the effectiveness of which remains unclear. Using two experiments, we tested the credibility effects of fact-checking labels (confirmed vs. disputed) on graphical pre…
Why We Broke Up with X (And You Should Too)
Another Point of View
In a series of essays, scholars respond to Perloff and Shen’s article, “The Third-Person Effect 40 Years After Davison Penned It.” They offer further thoughts on how to measure the phenomenon, where future research is headed, and even whether the effect is real
Coverage of Public Opinion Polls
This project examines news coverage of public opinion polls and explores whether journalists and readers are familiar with best practices in this domain. Study 1 tests the effects of related errors on readers’ perceptions, and Study 2 asks journalists to reflect upon this kind of coverage. Readers (N = 495) only noticed errors when they were very frequent, and many did not assess stories differently based on the presence of errors. Journalists (N…
Reflections on a Legacy
In response to Perloff's (this issue) essay examining the development and future of agenda setting, a series of scholars offer their own reactions to the essay and the broader issues it raises
A Recipe for Success
Cooperative game play has been associated with a growing list of prosocial benefits. However, less research has examined its constituent parts to determine their contribution to subsequent positive outcomes. The current study examined partners’ communication as a common and even imperative aspect of cooperative play that may largely account for its positive effects on cooperative behaviors and effective teamwork. Partners played a cooperative gam…
The Ineffectiveness of Fact-Checking Labels on News Memes and Articles
With most Internet users now getting news from social media, there is growing concern about how to verify the content that appears on these platforms. Two experiments tested the effects of fact-checking labels (confirmed vs. disputed) by source (peer vs. third-party) on credibility, virality, and information seeking of news posted on social media. Study 1 (N = 312) tested the effects of these labels on memes, and Study 2 (N = 452) tested the same…
Concrete Examples of Abstract Others
Explanations for the third-person phenomenon generally hinge on either self-favoring biases or cognitive mechanisms. While controlling for common perceptual factors, we demonstrate an additional cognitive component: exemplar availability, using a 2-study design. The first considers the third-person perception in the context of media-generated stereotypes. The second considers 3 distinct types of advertisements meant to evoke varied third- and fir…
Media Theory and the 2016 Election
By the morning of Tuesday, November 8, 2016, journalists and pundits had settled into a comfortable narrative—Hillary Clinton would be the first female president of the United States, most likely b
The Role of Exemplification in Shaping Third-Person Perceptions and Support for Restrictions on Video Games
The origins of third-person perceptions remain uncertain, with most research focusing on psychological mechanisms. We investigate whether media content might also play a role, using a 2 × 2 experiment presenting a single story describing video games as harmful or harmless and using either research and statistics or a specific anecdotal exemplar to illustrate this claim. Results show perceived effects on others are influenced by the use of an exem…
The Effects of “Friend” Characteristics on Evaluations of an Activist Group in a Social Networking Context
Research suggests that individuals use cues about the popularity of a cause or group to make judgments. This bandwagon phenomenon has found particular support in online contexts. However, perceptions regarding the group may also depend on the identity of those supporters. We employed a 2 × 2 × 2 experiment to test the effect of number of affiliates and affiliate race and age on feelings toward the group, its page, and intended support. Results su…
Exploring Third-Person Differences Between Gamers and Nongamers
Numerous studies have demonstrated the third-person perception, but many aspects of its origin and consequences remain unaddressed. In this study, we examine how potential positive and negative video game effects are perceived differently based on the extent to which respondents actually play video games. Although video games exhibit clear third-person perceptions and subsequent support for censorship, these patterns are greatly diminished for he…
Content Analysis of Video Games
A handful of recent content analyses have explored video games to date, focusing primarily on violence and gender issues. Further work in this area is needed, but several methodological challenges must be addressed. In particular, scholars need to consider the problems of effectively unitizing and sampling interactive content, accounting for nonindependence. In addition, they need to improve coder training and take steps to mitigate potential bia…
Understanding Person Perceptions
This article addresses whether current methods of measurement are sufficient to reflect all nuances of the third-person effect. We do so by content analyzing all major third-person effect (3PE) articles, assessing measurement and analysis approaches employed by 3PE researchers. We revisit data from two published studies, comparing analytical models that emerged as commonly used by 3PE researchers (i.e., the standard subtractive measure, Whitt's D…
Expressive Responses to News Stories About Extremist Groups
With the tension between national security and civil liberties as a backdrop, this study examines responses to news coverage of activist groups. This 2 × 2 experiment presented participants with news stories about government efforts to restrict the civil liberties of an “extremist” individual or group (news frame) advocating for a cause supported or opposed by the respondent (cause predisposition). Willingness to take expressive action was greate…
Media Dissociation, Internet Use, and Antiwar Political Participation
Media are thought to exert social control over dissenters by discouraging political expression and oppositional activities during periods of conflict. With the rise of the Internet, however, people play an increasingly active role in their media interactions, potentially reducing this media influence and increasing dissenters' likelihood of speaking out and taking action. To understand what spurs some dissenters to become politically active, we c…
Civic Attachment in the Aftermath of September 11
After September 11, 2001, many theorists saw indications of a surge in social capital, indicated by increased trust and civic engagement. This surge may have been linked to factors such as rally effects and the spiral of silence, as well as to behaviors like participation and conversation. This study analyzes panel data collected shortly after September 11 and again several months later. Predictors of civic attachment were very different from Wav…
Media Dialogue
Scholars have long debated the role of media and discussion in encouraging tolerance and engagement in politics and community. Theories range from the dismissal of effects to the assertion of powerful influences, and from claims of “media malaise” to the promise of “virtuous circles. ” Of course, results from research exploring these issues vary by context and methods of study. Yet most past research is plagued by at least 1 of 2 methodological w…
Method Matters
Journalistsmake frequentuse of social science research in news stories, andthis informationcan help shape public opinion and policy. Despite this, few scholars have examined how this coverage is assembled. In particular, researchers have rarely considered how the methodology of social science influences journalists’ judgments. This article uses an experimental design embedded within an e-mail survey of working journalists to compare judgments of …
The Interplay of News Frames on Cognitive Complexity
This research considers how distinct news frames work in combination to influence information processing. It extends framing research grounded in prospect theory (Tversky & Kahneman, 1981) and attribution theory (Iyengar, 1991) to study conditional framing effects on associative memory. Using a 2 × 3 experimental design embedded within a probability survey (N= 379), tests examined the effects of two different frame dimensions—loss-gain and indivi…
Nonrecursive Models of Internet Use and Community Engagement
Although some argue that Internet use may erode involvement in public life, the most common Internet behaviors, social communication and information searching, may actually foster social and civic participation. To examine this possibility, we test a series of non-recursive models using a national survey of nearly 3,400 respondents. Two-stage least squares regressions were performed to simultaneously test the reciprocal relationship between frequ…
Understanding Person Perceptions
This article addresses whether current methods of measurement are sufficient to reflect all nuances of the third-person effect. We do so by content analyzing all major third-person effect (3PE) articles, assessing measurement and analysis approaches employed by 3PE researchers. We revisit data from two published studies, comparing analytical models that emerged as commonly used by 3PE researchers (i.e., the standard subtractive measure, Whitt's D…
Media Dialogue
Scholars have long debated the role of media and discussion in encouraging tolerance and engagement in politics and community. Theories range from the dismissal of effects to the assertion of powerful influences, and from claims of “media malaise” to the promise of “virtuous circles. ” Of course, results from research exploring these issues vary by context and methods of study. Yet most past research is plagued by at least 1 of 2 methodological w…
The Ineffectiveness of Fact-Checking Labels on News Memes and Articles
With most Internet users now getting news from social media, there is growing concern about how to verify the content that appears on these platforms. Two experiments tested the effects of fact-checking labels (confirmed vs. disputed) by source (peer vs. third-party) on credibility, virality, and information seeking of news posted on social media. Study 1 (N = 312) tested the effects of these labels on memes, and Study 2 (N = 452) tested the same…
Media Dissociation, Internet Use, and Antiwar Political Participation
Media are thought to exert social control over dissenters by discouraging political expression and oppositional activities during periods of conflict. With the rise of the Internet, however, people play an increasingly active role in their media interactions, potentially reducing this media influence and increasing dissenters' likelihood of speaking out and taking action. To understand what spurs some dissenters to become politically active, we c…
Civic Attachment in the Aftermath of September 11
After September 11, 2001, many theorists saw indications of a surge in social capital, indicated by increased trust and civic engagement. This surge may have been linked to factors such as rally effects and the spiral of silence, as well as to behaviors like participation and conversation. This study analyzes panel data collected shortly after September 11 and again several months later. Predictors of civic attachment were very different from Wav…
Content Analysis of Video Games
A handful of recent content analyses have explored video games to date, focusing primarily on violence and gender issues. Further work in this area is needed, but several methodological challenges must be addressed. In particular, scholars need to consider the problems of effectively unitizing and sampling interactive content, accounting for nonindependence. In addition, they need to improve coder training and take steps to mitigate potential bia…
The Influence of Fact-Checking Is Disputed! The Role of Party Identification in Processing and Sharing Fact-Checked Social Media Posts
Social media play an important role in political communication, leading to growing concerns about the credibility of shared information. Attempts to slow the spread of misinformation by platforms such as Facebook and Twitter include adding fact-checking labels to social media posts, the effectiveness of which remains unclear. Using two experiments, we tested the credibility effects of fact-checking labels (confirmed vs. disputed) on graphical pre…
Why We Broke Up with X (And You Should Too)
Concrete Examples of Abstract Others
Explanations for the third-person phenomenon generally hinge on either self-favoring biases or cognitive mechanisms. While controlling for common perceptual factors, we demonstrate an additional cognitive component: exemplar availability, using a 2-study design. The first considers the third-person perception in the context of media-generated stereotypes. The second considers 3 distinct types of advertisements meant to evoke varied third- and fir…
Method Matters
Journalistsmake frequentuse of social science research in news stories, andthis informationcan help shape public opinion and policy. Despite this, few scholars have examined how this coverage is assembled. In particular, researchers have rarely considered how the methodology of social science influences journalists’ judgments. This article uses an experimental design embedded within an e-mail survey of working journalists to compare judgments of …
Another Point of View
In a series of essays, scholars respond to Perloff and Shen’s article, “The Third-Person Effect 40 Years After Davison Penned It.” They offer further thoughts on how to measure the phenomenon, where future research is headed, and even whether the effect is real
The Role of Exemplification in Shaping Third-Person Perceptions and Support for Restrictions on Video Games
The origins of third-person perceptions remain uncertain, with most research focusing on psychological mechanisms. We investigate whether media content might also play a role, using a 2 × 2 experiment presenting a single story describing video games as harmful or harmless and using either research and statistics or a specific anecdotal exemplar to illustrate this claim. Results show perceived effects on others are influenced by the use of an exem…
The Effects of “Friend” Characteristics on Evaluations of an Activist Group in a Social Networking Context
Research suggests that individuals use cues about the popularity of a cause or group to make judgments. This bandwagon phenomenon has found particular support in online contexts. However, perceptions regarding the group may also depend on the identity of those supporters. We employed a 2 × 2 × 2 experiment to test the effect of number of affiliates and affiliate race and age on feelings toward the group, its page, and intended support. Results su…
Nonrecursive Models of Internet Use and Community Engagement
Although some argue that Internet use may erode involvement in public life, the most common Internet behaviors, social communication and information searching, may actually foster social and civic participation. To examine this possibility, we test a series of non-recursive models using a national survey of nearly 3,400 respondents. Two-stage least squares regressions were performed to simultaneously test the reciprocal relationship between frequ…
The Interplay of News Frames on Cognitive Complexity
This research considers how distinct news frames work in combination to influence information processing. It extends framing research grounded in prospect theory (Tversky & Kahneman, 1981) and attribution theory (Iyengar, 1991) to study conditional framing effects on associative memory. Using a 2 × 3 experimental design embedded within a probability survey (N= 379), tests examined the effects of two different frame dimensions—loss-gain and indivi…
Civic Attachment in the Aftermath of September 11
After September 11, 2001, many theorists saw indications of a surge in social capital, indicated by increased trust and civic engagement. This surge may have been linked to factors such as rally effects and the spiral of silence, as well as to behaviors like participation and conversation. This study analyzes panel data collected shortly after September 11 and again several months later. Predictors of civic attachment were very different from Wav…
Media Dialogue
Scholars have long debated the role of media and discussion in encouraging tolerance and engagement in politics and community. Theories range from the dismissal of effects to the assertion of powerful influences, and from claims of “media malaise” to the promise of “virtuous circles. ” Of course, results from research exploring these issues vary by context and methods of study. Yet most past research is plagued by at least 1 of 2 methodological w…
Method Matters
Journalistsmake frequentuse of social science research in news stories, andthis informationcan help shape public opinion and policy. Despite this, few scholars have examined how this coverage is assembled. In particular, researchers have rarely considered how the methodology of social science influences journalists’ judgments. This article uses an experimental design embedded within an e-mail survey of working journalists to compare judgments of …
Expressive Responses to News Stories About Extremist Groups
With the tension between national security and civil liberties as a backdrop, this study examines responses to news coverage of activist groups. This 2 × 2 experiment presented participants with news stories about government efforts to restrict the civil liberties of an “extremist” individual or group (news frame) advocating for a cause supported or opposed by the respondent (cause predisposition). Willingness to take expressive action was greate…
Media Dissociation, Internet Use, and Antiwar Political Participation
Media are thought to exert social control over dissenters by discouraging political expression and oppositional activities during periods of conflict. With the rise of the Internet, however, people play an increasingly active role in their media interactions, potentially reducing this media influence and increasing dissenters' likelihood of speaking out and taking action. To understand what spurs some dissenters to become politically active, we c…
Understanding Person Perceptions
This article addresses whether current methods of measurement are sufficient to reflect all nuances of the third-person effect. We do so by content analyzing all major third-person effect (3PE) articles, assessing measurement and analysis approaches employed by 3PE researchers. We revisit data from two published studies, comparing analytical models that emerged as commonly used by 3PE researchers (i.e., the standard subtractive measure, Whitt's D…
Content Analysis of Video Games
A handful of recent content analyses have explored video games to date, focusing primarily on violence and gender issues. Further work in this area is needed, but several methodological challenges must be addressed. In particular, scholars need to consider the problems of effectively unitizing and sampling interactive content, accounting for nonindependence. In addition, they need to improve coder training and take steps to mitigate potential bia…
Exploring Third-Person Differences Between Gamers and Nongamers
Numerous studies have demonstrated the third-person perception, but many aspects of its origin and consequences remain unaddressed. In this study, we examine how potential positive and negative video game effects are perceived differently based on the extent to which respondents actually play video games. Although video games exhibit clear third-person perceptions and subsequent support for censorship, these patterns are greatly diminished for he…
The Role of Exemplification in Shaping Third-Person Perceptions and Support for Restrictions on Video Games
The origins of third-person perceptions remain uncertain, with most research focusing on psychological mechanisms. We investigate whether media content might also play a role, using a 2 × 2 experiment presenting a single story describing video games as harmful or harmless and using either research and statistics or a specific anecdotal exemplar to illustrate this claim. Results show perceived effects on others are influenced by the use of an exem…
The Effects of “Friend” Characteristics on Evaluations of an Activist Group in a Social Networking Context
Research suggests that individuals use cues about the popularity of a cause or group to make judgments. This bandwagon phenomenon has found particular support in online contexts. However, perceptions regarding the group may also depend on the identity of those supporters. We employed a 2 × 2 × 2 experiment to test the effect of number of affiliates and affiliate race and age on feelings toward the group, its page, and intended support. Results su…
Media Theory and the 2016 Election
By the morning of Tuesday, November 8, 2016, journalists and pundits had settled into a comfortable narrative—Hillary Clinton would be the first female president of the United States, most likely b
Concrete Examples of Abstract Others
Explanations for the third-person phenomenon generally hinge on either self-favoring biases or cognitive mechanisms. While controlling for common perceptual factors, we demonstrate an additional cognitive component: exemplar availability, using a 2-study design. The first considers the third-person perception in the context of media-generated stereotypes. The second considers 3 distinct types of advertisements meant to evoke varied third- and fir…
The Ineffectiveness of Fact-Checking Labels on News Memes and Articles
With most Internet users now getting news from social media, there is growing concern about how to verify the content that appears on these platforms. Two experiments tested the effects of fact-checking labels (confirmed vs. disputed) by source (peer vs. third-party) on credibility, virality, and information seeking of news posted on social media. Study 1 (N = 312) tested the effects of these labels on memes, and Study 2 (N = 452) tested the same…
A Recipe for Success
Cooperative game play has been associated with a growing list of prosocial benefits. However, less research has examined its constituent parts to determine their contribution to subsequent positive outcomes. The current study examined partners’ communication as a common and even imperative aspect of cooperative play that may largely account for its positive effects on cooperative behaviors and effective teamwork. Partners played a cooperative gam…
Coverage of Public Opinion Polls
This project examines news coverage of public opinion polls and explores whether journalists and readers are familiar with best practices in this domain. Study 1 tests the effects of related errors on readers’ perceptions, and Study 2 asks journalists to reflect upon this kind of coverage. Readers (N = 495) only noticed errors when they were very frequent, and many did not assess stories differently based on the presence of errors. Journalists (N…
Reflections on a Legacy
In response to Perloff's (this issue) essay examining the development and future of agenda setting, a series of scholars offer their own reactions to the essay and the broader issues it raises
Why We Broke Up with X (And You Should Too)
Another Point of View
In a series of essays, scholars respond to Perloff and Shen’s article, “The Third-Person Effect 40 Years After Davison Penned It.” They offer further thoughts on how to measure the phenomenon, where future research is headed, and even whether the effect is real
Biased processing of political fact-checks on social media
Purpose Social media platforms offer users the opportunity to engage with fact-checking posts aimed at countering misinformation surrounding political figures. However, limited research considers how the efficacy of fact-checking messages hinges on individuals’ perceptions and acceptance of the information, with user comments and individuals’ pre-existing partisan viewpoints both presenting possible barriers to positive reception of fact-checking…
The Influence of Fact-Checking Is Disputed! The Role of Party Identification in Processing and Sharing Fact-Checked Social Media Posts
Social media play an important role in political communication, leading to growing concerns about the credibility of shared information. Attempts to slow the spread of misinformation by platforms such as Facebook and Twitter include adding fact-checking labels to social media posts, the effectiveness of which remains unclear. Using two experiments, we tested the credibility effects of fact-checking labels (confirmed vs. disputed) on graphical pre…
Amplifying Player Experience to Facilitate Prosocial Outcomes in a Narrative-Based Serious Game
The rise and development of serious games have shown promise in addressing critical social issues, including school bullying. However, prior work often compares game-based interventions with the conventional non-game approach, failing to generate insights about which game features should be emphasized to create more effective games. To bridge this research gap, in light of video games’ advantages for creating immersive experiences that benefit pe…
The Necessary Evolution of Mass Communication Research in a Fragmenting Media Landscape
With the ongoing evolution of media channels, debates over the concept of mass communication have been reignited. When we live in a society of filter bubbles and AI-generated content, the very notion of a large uniform audience has been undermined. Indeed, the process of mass communication looks different today than in the early days of the field, which naturally affects how to define and measure media effects. In this forum, leading communicatio…
Psychology (18 works) · Social Psychology (14 works) · Computer Science (13 works) · Social Media and Politics (12 works) · Sociology (12 works) · Political science (10 works) · Social Psychology (10 works) · Law (7 works) · Media Influence and Health (7 works) · Politics (7 works)