Lennert Coenen
Biographic Data
| ID | 168562 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Lennert Coenen |
| GIVEN NAMES | Lennert |
| FAMILY NAME | Coenen |
| SIGNATURE | COENEN L |
| AFFILIATIONS | KU Leuven |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-7542-337X |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 9 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 12 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 9 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2016 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Lost in a Maze? On the Philosophical Problems With Differential and Individual-Level Susceptibility in Research on Media Effects
This paper provides a philosophical discussion of moderators and person-specific differences (referred to as “hedges”) in research on media effects. It is shown that while, historically, the reliance on hedges has been regarded as a sign of theoretical sophistication (the “hedges-as-progress-perspective”), it has left the field behind in a maze of epistemological problems. The paper therefore urges to reinterpret the role of hedges as a sign of t…
Adapting the Selective Exposure Perspective to Algorithmically Governed Platforms: The Case of Google Search
Experimental research on selective exposure on online platforms is generally limited by a narrow focus on specific parts of the information selection process, rather than integrating the entire sequence of user-platform interactions. The current study, focusing on online search, incorporates the entire process that stretches from formulating an initial query to finally satisfying an information need. As such, it comprehensively covers how both us…
Strong-Form Frequentist Testing In Communication Science: Principles, Opportunities, And Challenges
This paper discusses 'strong-form' frequentist testing as a useful complement to null hypothesis testing in communication science. In a 'strong-form' set-up a researcher defines a hypothetical effect size of (minimal) theoretical interest and assesses to what extent her findings falsify or corroborate that particular hypothesis. We argue that the idea of 'strong-form' testing aligns closely with the ideals of the movements for scientific reform, …
The indirect effect is omitted variable bias. A cautionary note on the theoretical interpretation of products-of-coefficients in mediation analyses
This paper intends to remind communication scientists that the indirect effect as estimated in mediation analyses is a statistical synonym for omitted variable bias (i.e. confounding or suppression). This simple fact questions the interpretability of statistically significant ‘indirect effects’ when using observational data: in social reality, all variables correlate with each other to some extent – the so-called ‘crud factor’ – which means that …
Family technoference: Exploring parent mobile device distraction from children’s perspectives
The goal of the present study is to understand how preadolescents’ perceptions of their parents’ mobile device distraction (“technoference”) are related to their global assessment of family satisfaction. Building on existing research, a model is established that investigates this association through three mediators: parent–child conflict; companionship; and perceived emotional support. Data from a cross-sectional survey ( n = 742, 9–13 years, 50.…
The problem with our attitude: A meta-theoretical analysis of attitudinal media effects research
While most studies on attitudinal media effects are concerned with a comparable scientific question they do not always coincide in their theoretical approach. In the present paper, we show that this state of affairs has caused controversies about the meaning and testability of specific types of attitudinal media effects – in particular, framing, cultivation, priming, and persuasion effects. We argue that such disagreements are misguided and could…
The Bridget Jones effect: The relationship between exposure to romantic media contents and fear of being single among emerging adults
sponsorship: This research was funded by a grant from the Flemish Fund for Scientific Research (FWO; FWO.G.0814.13.N). (Flemish Fund for Scientific Research (FWO)|FWO.G.0814.13)
The Bricklayer Effect: How Accounting for Method Bias Affects First-Order Cultivation Relationships
Although the issue of method bias is a well-known threat to the validity of self-reports, it has seldom been addressed in empirical media effects studies. This may be problematic because independent and dependent variables are often measured using similar methods. Thus, reported correlations may not only reflect common variance between the constructs of interest but also indicate common variance between the measurement methods. In this article, w…
Cultivating the Opinionated: The Need to Evaluate Moderates the Relationship Between Crime Drama Viewing and Scary World Evaluations
The literature on cultivation processes assumes that second-order judgments (e.g., attitudes) are repeatedly updated during viewing (i.e., on-line) and can be reported when asked. In this article, we propose this reasoning only holds for people high in their need to evaluate (NTE). Low-NTE individuals do not update their opinions on-line and have to construct their attitudes memory-based, limiting the likelihood of finding second-order relationsh…
The Bridget Jones effect: The relationship between exposure to romantic media contents and fear of being single among emerging adults
sponsorship: This research was funded by a grant from the Flemish Fund for Scientific Research (FWO; FWO.G.0814.13.N). (Flemish Fund for Scientific Research (FWO)|FWO.G.0814.13)
The indirect effect is omitted variable bias. A cautionary note on the theoretical interpretation of products-of-coefficients in mediation analyses
This paper intends to remind communication scientists that the indirect effect as estimated in mediation analyses is a statistical synonym for omitted variable bias (i.e. confounding or suppression). This simple fact questions the interpretability of statistically significant ‘indirect effects’ when using observational data: in social reality, all variables correlate with each other to some extent – the so-called ‘crud factor’ – which means that …
Family technoference: Exploring parent mobile device distraction from children’s perspectives
The goal of the present study is to understand how preadolescents’ perceptions of their parents’ mobile device distraction (“technoference”) are related to their global assessment of family satisfaction. Building on existing research, a model is established that investigates this association through three mediators: parent–child conflict; companionship; and perceived emotional support. Data from a cross-sectional survey ( n = 742, 9–13 years, 50.…
Cultivating the Opinionated: The Need to Evaluate Moderates the Relationship Between Crime Drama Viewing and Scary World Evaluations
The literature on cultivation processes assumes that second-order judgments (e.g., attitudes) are repeatedly updated during viewing (i.e., on-line) and can be reported when asked. In this article, we propose this reasoning only holds for people high in their need to evaluate (NTE). Low-NTE individuals do not update their opinions on-line and have to construct their attitudes memory-based, limiting the likelihood of finding second-order relationsh…
The Bricklayer Effect: How Accounting for Method Bias Affects First-Order Cultivation Relationships
Although the issue of method bias is a well-known threat to the validity of self-reports, it has seldom been addressed in empirical media effects studies. This may be problematic because independent and dependent variables are often measured using similar methods. Thus, reported correlations may not only reflect common variance between the constructs of interest but also indicate common variance between the measurement methods. In this article, w…
Cultivating the Opinionated: The Need to Evaluate Moderates the Relationship Between Crime Drama Viewing and Scary World Evaluations
The literature on cultivation processes assumes that second-order judgments (e.g., attitudes) are repeatedly updated during viewing (i.e., on-line) and can be reported when asked. In this article, we propose this reasoning only holds for people high in their need to evaluate (NTE). Low-NTE individuals do not update their opinions on-line and have to construct their attitudes memory-based, limiting the likelihood of finding second-order relationsh…
The Bridget Jones effect: The relationship between exposure to romantic media contents and fear of being single among emerging adults
sponsorship: This research was funded by a grant from the Flemish Fund for Scientific Research (FWO; FWO.G.0814.13.N). (Flemish Fund for Scientific Research (FWO)|FWO.G.0814.13)
The problem with our attitude: A meta-theoretical analysis of attitudinal media effects research
While most studies on attitudinal media effects are concerned with a comparable scientific question they do not always coincide in their theoretical approach. In the present paper, we show that this state of affairs has caused controversies about the meaning and testability of specific types of attitudinal media effects – in particular, framing, cultivation, priming, and persuasion effects. We argue that such disagreements are misguided and could…
Family technoference: Exploring parent mobile device distraction from children’s perspectives
The goal of the present study is to understand how preadolescents’ perceptions of their parents’ mobile device distraction (“technoference”) are related to their global assessment of family satisfaction. Building on existing research, a model is established that investigates this association through three mediators: parent–child conflict; companionship; and perceived emotional support. Data from a cross-sectional survey ( n = 742, 9–13 years, 50.…
Adapting the Selective Exposure Perspective to Algorithmically Governed Platforms: The Case of Google Search
Experimental research on selective exposure on online platforms is generally limited by a narrow focus on specific parts of the information selection process, rather than integrating the entire sequence of user-platform interactions. The current study, focusing on online search, incorporates the entire process that stretches from formulating an initial query to finally satisfying an information need. As such, it comprehensively covers how both us…
Strong-Form Frequentist Testing In Communication Science: Principles, Opportunities, And Challenges
This paper discusses 'strong-form' frequentist testing as a useful complement to null hypothesis testing in communication science. In a 'strong-form' set-up a researcher defines a hypothetical effect size of (minimal) theoretical interest and assesses to what extent her findings falsify or corroborate that particular hypothesis. We argue that the idea of 'strong-form' testing aligns closely with the ideals of the movements for scientific reform, …
The indirect effect is omitted variable bias. A cautionary note on the theoretical interpretation of products-of-coefficients in mediation analyses
This paper intends to remind communication scientists that the indirect effect as estimated in mediation analyses is a statistical synonym for omitted variable bias (i.e. confounding or suppression). This simple fact questions the interpretability of statistically significant ‘indirect effects’ when using observational data: in social reality, all variables correlate with each other to some extent – the so-called ‘crud factor’ – which means that …
Lost in a Maze? On the Philosophical Problems With Differential and Individual-Level Susceptibility in Research on Media Effects
This paper provides a philosophical discussion of moderators and person-specific differences (referred to as “hedges”) in research on media effects. It is shown that while, historically, the reliance on hedges has been regarded as a sign of theoretical sophistication (the “hedges-as-progress-perspective”), it has left the field behind in a maze of epistemological problems. The paper therefore urges to reinterpret the role of hedges as a sign of t…
Psychology (7 works) · Social Psychology (6 works) · Media Influence and Health (5 works) · Social Psychology (5 works) · Computer Science (3 works) · Social and Intergroup Psychology (3 works) · Social Media and Politics (3 works) · Artificial Intelligence (2 works) · Data science (2 works) · Developmental psychology (2 works)