James Shanahan
Biographic Data
| ID | 3619951 |
|---|---|
| NAME | James Shanahan |
| GIVEN NAMES | James |
| FAMILY NAME | Shanahan |
| SIGNATURE | SHANAHAN J |
| AFFILIATIONS | Boston University |
| VERIFIED | No |
| TOTAL WORKS | 24 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 145 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 23 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 1 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1990 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 6 |
Psychological distance and efficacy
Agriculture has significantly contributed to overall greenhouse gas emissions. Farmers’ perceptions of climate change play a critical role in shaping their attitudes toward adopting sustainable agricultural practices. News media play a crucial role in shaping public awareness and perceptions of climate change, which in turn may influence people’s behavior. Agricultural media serve as an important source of information for agricultural practices. …
The moderating role of partisanship in the relationship between perceptions of media bias and Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy in the U.S
This study examines the moderating role of political partisanship between perceptions of media bias and vaccine hesitancy. Data from three cross-sectional online surveys, collected in the summer of 2021, are analyzed. The results show that the variation in perception of media bias contributes to vaccine hesitancy more among Republicans, compared to Democrats
An Analysis of Questions from Teachers' Online Groups
Background or Context: During the first months of the COVID pandemic, teachers were forced to move to online instruction without the appropriate resources. They resorted to social media to gather expertise and ideas. This study is grounded in an analysis of the questions posed by K–12 teachers on popular Facebook groups. Purpose, Objective, Research Question, or Focus of Study: The authors argue that a close analysis of what K–12 educators are as…
Climate Change and Resilience in Indiana and Beyond
Theorizing inconsistent media selection in the digital environment
Choice inconsistency has long been studied in behavioral economics. In this article we critically review theories of media choice, showing that they have not explicitly dealt with this phenomenon. Although digitalization has recently made it more salient, the communication literature on inconsistent choice still remains highly fragmented. We draw on behavioral economics literature to address blind spots in our theorization of inconsistent media s…
What Do We Know About the Entertainment Industry’s Portrayal of Science? How Does It Affect Public Attitudes Toward Science?
Because the entertainment media command most of the attention of the mass audience most of the time, across the years scholars have devoted significant energy to understanding their impact. However, despite the large amount of entertainment content that is science-focused, the field of science communication has focused comparatively little attention on it. Not many researchers have assumed that entertainment bears an important relationship on how…
Television and the Cultivation of Authoritarianism
The 2016 Presidential election brought a surprise: the rise of Donald Trump as a viable candidate for the Republican nomination. What started as a seeming publicity stunt morphed into something more. Trump raised fears of authoritarianism—and even fascism—that were thought to be mostly confined to other countries. This study uses a national sample to examine television viewing’s relationship to authoritarian values. We find that heavy viewers of …
Cultivation Theory
Cultivation theory is concerned with the most general consequences of long‐term exposure to centrally produced, commercially supported systems of stories. Cultivation analysis concentrates on the common consequences of living with television: the cultivation of stable, resistant, and widely shared assumptions and conceptions reflecting the institutional interests of the medium and the larger society. The range of topics examined by cultivation ha…
TV News Framing Supports Societal Poverty Solutions
An analysis of television and newspaper coverage of poverty indicates that coverage has focused largely on societal-level, as opposed to individual causes and solutions. Television news viewing was positively associated with viewers' perceived government responsibility for solving problems
Science on Television in the 21st Century
Twenty-five years after George Gerbner and colleagues’ seminal report on television and science attitudes, there is a need to update the data on television’s portrayals of science and to revisit the cultivation question. We address this need by analyzing 21st-century television depictions of science and examining the relationships between exposure to television and attitudes toward science with an analysis of 2006 General Social Survey data. Cont…
Who Cares About the Issues? Issue Voting and the Role of News Media During the 2000 U.S. Presidential Election
Analyzing data from the 2000 American National Election Study, we examined the role of news media in facilitating issue voting. We found that respondents who paid greater attention to news coverage of the election were more likely to hold specific opinions on campaign issues. Voters who devoted greater attention to news media were also more aware of where each candidate stood on various policy issues. These two political cognitions (issue opinion…
Media Attention and Exposure in Relation to Support for Agricultural Biotechnology
This article shows that attention to television news, science television, and entertainment television are all significantly related to a composite measure of agricultural biotechnology support after controlling for demographics as well as self-reported biotechnology awareness, trust in institutions, and perceived role of science. These findings contradict previous commentary that suggested that no measurable relationship exists between communica…
The literature of environmental communication
This paper examines the growth and development of the literature of “environmental communication” research. The paper collects citations of all papers matching specified keywords covering environmental communication topics in the social science journal literature from relevant indices. The indices used were: the Institute for Scientific Information's (ISI) Social Sciences Citation Index (Web of Science), the ISI Arts and Humanities Citation Index…
Knowledge, Reservations, or Promise
This study introduces a media effects model specific to public perceptions of science and technology. Analysis of the National Science Board's Science and Engineering Indicators Survey provides evidence that different media—newspapers, general television, science television, and science magazines—do affect perceptions differently. These media effects are direct but also indirect, as mediated through effects on science knowledge. Although newspape…
Television and its Viewers
Television and its Viewers reviews 'cultivation' research, which investigates the relationship between exposure to television and beliefs about the world. James Shanahan and Michael Morgan, both distinguished researchers in this field, scrutinize cultivation through detailed theoretical and historical explication, critical assessments of methodology, and a comprehensive 'meta-analysis' of twenty years of empirical results. They present a sweeping…
Telling Stories About Global Climate Change
A theory of cyclical patterns in media coverage of environmental issues must account for more than intrinsic qualities of the issues themselves: Narrative factors must be considered. A content analysis of The New York Times and The Washington Post stories from 1980 to 1995 shows how media construct narratives about global warming and how these narratives may influence attention cycles. Empirically, the frequency of newspaper coverage shows cyclic…
Meta‐analysis and mass communication criticism
Television and Authoritarianism
This article examines the relationship between television viewing and authoritarianism from the perspective of cultivation research. Earlier analyses of these data (Shanahan, 1995) showed "mainstreaming" patterns: Television viewing was associated with authoritarian attitudes. In this article, I explore the mainstreaming explanation more extensively, including questions about causality. The data presented below indicate that adolescents authorita…
Television's Portrayal of the Environment
This paper examines data from an ongoing project which content analyzes television's messages about environmental issues. The data are weeklong samples taken yearly from prime-time network television programs sampled in the Boston, Massachusetts, and Ithaca, New York, areas. We analyze the environment as a “theme” in prime-time entertainment programming, recording its prevalence in comparison to other themes. A multiple dimensional scaling shows …
Perceived Support for One's Opinions and Willingness to Speak Out
Journal Article Perceived Support for One's Opinions and Willingness to Speak Out: A Meta-Analysis of Survey Studies on the 'Spiral of Silence' Get access CARROLL J. GLYNN, CARROLL J. GLYNN Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar ANDREW F. HAYES, ANDREW F. HAYES Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar JAMES SHANAHAN JAMES SHANAHAN Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Ac…
Television viewing and voting 1972-1989
Television and the Cultivation of Political Attitudes in Argentina
Michael Morgan, James Shanahan; Television and the Cultivation of Political Attitudes in Argentina, Journal of Communication, Volume 41, Issue 1, 1 March 1
Do VCRs Change the TV Picture
Adolescents, VCRs, and the Family Environment
With the rapid diffusion of the VCR into the home media environment, a central question is whether the special features of the VCR lead to transformations in the family, or whether preexisting family relationships and media orientations determine the uses of the VCR and its role in the family. This study, using cross-sectional and longitudinal data from adolescents, suggests that VCRs mainly augment and extend family television patterns and that …
Perceived Support for One's Opinions and Willingness to Speak Out
Journal Article Perceived Support for One's Opinions and Willingness to Speak Out: A Meta-Analysis of Survey Studies on the 'Spiral of Silence' Get access CARROLL J. GLYNN, CARROLL J. GLYNN Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar ANDREW F. HAYES, ANDREW F. HAYES Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar JAMES SHANAHAN JAMES SHANAHAN Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Ac…
Media Attention and Exposure in Relation to Support for Agricultural Biotechnology
This article shows that attention to television news, science television, and entertainment television are all significantly related to a composite measure of agricultural biotechnology support after controlling for demographics as well as self-reported biotechnology awareness, trust in institutions, and perceived role of science. These findings contradict previous commentary that suggested that no measurable relationship exists between communica…
Television's Portrayal of the Environment
This paper examines data from an ongoing project which content analyzes television's messages about environmental issues. The data are weeklong samples taken yearly from prime-time network television programs sampled in the Boston, Massachusetts, and Ithaca, New York, areas. We analyze the environment as a “theme” in prime-time entertainment programming, recording its prevalence in comparison to other themes. A multiple dimensional scaling shows …
Television viewing and voting 1972-1989
Television and Authoritarianism
This article examines the relationship between television viewing and authoritarianism from the perspective of cultivation research. Earlier analyses of these data (Shanahan, 1995) showed "mainstreaming" patterns: Television viewing was associated with authoritarian attitudes. In this article, I explore the mainstreaming explanation more extensively, including questions about causality. The data presented below indicate that adolescents authorita…
Adolescents, VCRs, and the Family Environment
With the rapid diffusion of the VCR into the home media environment, a central question is whether the special features of the VCR lead to transformations in the family, or whether preexisting family relationships and media orientations determine the uses of the VCR and its role in the family. This study, using cross-sectional and longitudinal data from adolescents, suggests that VCRs mainly augment and extend family television patterns and that …
TV News Framing Supports Societal Poverty Solutions
An analysis of television and newspaper coverage of poverty indicates that coverage has focused largely on societal-level, as opposed to individual causes and solutions. Television news viewing was positively associated with viewers' perceived government responsibility for solving problems
Adolescents, VCRs, and the Family Environment
With the rapid diffusion of the VCR into the home media environment, a central question is whether the special features of the VCR lead to transformations in the family, or whether preexisting family relationships and media orientations determine the uses of the VCR and its role in the family. This study, using cross-sectional and longitudinal data from adolescents, suggests that VCRs mainly augment and extend family television patterns and that …
Television and the Cultivation of Political Attitudes in Argentina
Michael Morgan, James Shanahan; Television and the Cultivation of Political Attitudes in Argentina, Journal of Communication, Volume 41, Issue 1, 1 March 1
Do VCRs Change the TV Picture
Television viewing and voting 1972-1989
Television's Portrayal of the Environment
This paper examines data from an ongoing project which content analyzes television's messages about environmental issues. The data are weeklong samples taken yearly from prime-time network television programs sampled in the Boston, Massachusetts, and Ithaca, New York, areas. We analyze the environment as a “theme” in prime-time entertainment programming, recording its prevalence in comparison to other themes. A multiple dimensional scaling shows …
Perceived Support for One's Opinions and Willingness to Speak Out
Journal Article Perceived Support for One's Opinions and Willingness to Speak Out: A Meta-Analysis of Survey Studies on the 'Spiral of Silence' Get access CARROLL J. GLYNN, CARROLL J. GLYNN Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar ANDREW F. HAYES, ANDREW F. HAYES Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar JAMES SHANAHAN JAMES SHANAHAN Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Ac…
Television and Authoritarianism
This article examines the relationship between television viewing and authoritarianism from the perspective of cultivation research. Earlier analyses of these data (Shanahan, 1995) showed "mainstreaming" patterns: Television viewing was associated with authoritarian attitudes. In this article, I explore the mainstreaming explanation more extensively, including questions about causality. The data presented below indicate that adolescents authorita…
Television and its Viewers
Television and its Viewers reviews 'cultivation' research, which investigates the relationship between exposure to television and beliefs about the world. James Shanahan and Michael Morgan, both distinguished researchers in this field, scrutinize cultivation through detailed theoretical and historical explication, critical assessments of methodology, and a comprehensive 'meta-analysis' of twenty years of empirical results. They present a sweeping…
Telling Stories About Global Climate Change
A theory of cyclical patterns in media coverage of environmental issues must account for more than intrinsic qualities of the issues themselves: Narrative factors must be considered. A content analysis of The New York Times and The Washington Post stories from 1980 to 1995 shows how media construct narratives about global warming and how these narratives may influence attention cycles. Empirically, the frequency of newspaper coverage shows cyclic…
Meta‐analysis and mass communication criticism
The literature of environmental communication
This paper examines the growth and development of the literature of “environmental communication” research. The paper collects citations of all papers matching specified keywords covering environmental communication topics in the social science journal literature from relevant indices. The indices used were: the Institute for Scientific Information's (ISI) Social Sciences Citation Index (Web of Science), the ISI Arts and Humanities Citation Index…
Knowledge, Reservations, or Promise
This study introduces a media effects model specific to public perceptions of science and technology. Analysis of the National Science Board's Science and Engineering Indicators Survey provides evidence that different media—newspapers, general television, science television, and science magazines—do affect perceptions differently. These media effects are direct but also indirect, as mediated through effects on science knowledge. Although newspape…
Who Cares About the Issues? Issue Voting and the Role of News Media During the 2000 U.S. Presidential Election
Analyzing data from the 2000 American National Election Study, we examined the role of news media in facilitating issue voting. We found that respondents who paid greater attention to news coverage of the election were more likely to hold specific opinions on campaign issues. Voters who devoted greater attention to news media were also more aware of where each candidate stood on various policy issues. These two political cognitions (issue opinion…
Media Attention and Exposure in Relation to Support for Agricultural Biotechnology
This article shows that attention to television news, science television, and entertainment television are all significantly related to a composite measure of agricultural biotechnology support after controlling for demographics as well as self-reported biotechnology awareness, trust in institutions, and perceived role of science. These findings contradict previous commentary that suggested that no measurable relationship exists between communica…
Science on Television in the 21st Century
Twenty-five years after George Gerbner and colleagues’ seminal report on television and science attitudes, there is a need to update the data on television’s portrayals of science and to revisit the cultivation question. We address this need by analyzing 21st-century television depictions of science and examining the relationships between exposure to television and attitudes toward science with an analysis of 2006 General Social Survey data. Cont…
TV News Framing Supports Societal Poverty Solutions
An analysis of television and newspaper coverage of poverty indicates that coverage has focused largely on societal-level, as opposed to individual causes and solutions. Television news viewing was positively associated with viewers' perceived government responsibility for solving problems
Cultivation Theory
Cultivation theory is concerned with the most general consequences of long‐term exposure to centrally produced, commercially supported systems of stories. Cultivation analysis concentrates on the common consequences of living with television: the cultivation of stable, resistant, and widely shared assumptions and conceptions reflecting the institutional interests of the medium and the larger society. The range of topics examined by cultivation ha…
What Do We Know About the Entertainment Industry’s Portrayal of Science? How Does It Affect Public Attitudes Toward Science?
Because the entertainment media command most of the attention of the mass audience most of the time, across the years scholars have devoted significant energy to understanding their impact. However, despite the large amount of entertainment content that is science-focused, the field of science communication has focused comparatively little attention on it. Not many researchers have assumed that entertainment bears an important relationship on how…
Television and the Cultivation of Authoritarianism
The 2016 Presidential election brought a surprise: the rise of Donald Trump as a viable candidate for the Republican nomination. What started as a seeming publicity stunt morphed into something more. Trump raised fears of authoritarianism—and even fascism—that were thought to be mostly confined to other countries. This study uses a national sample to examine television viewing’s relationship to authoritarian values. We find that heavy viewers of …
Theorizing inconsistent media selection in the digital environment
Choice inconsistency has long been studied in behavioral economics. In this article we critically review theories of media choice, showing that they have not explicitly dealt with this phenomenon. Although digitalization has recently made it more salient, the communication literature on inconsistent choice still remains highly fragmented. We draw on behavioral economics literature to address blind spots in our theorization of inconsistent media s…
Climate Change and Resilience in Indiana and Beyond
The moderating role of partisanship in the relationship between perceptions of media bias and Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy in the U.S
This study examines the moderating role of political partisanship between perceptions of media bias and vaccine hesitancy. Data from three cross-sectional online surveys, collected in the summer of 2021, are analyzed. The results show that the variation in perception of media bias contributes to vaccine hesitancy more among Republicans, compared to Democrats
An Analysis of Questions from Teachers' Online Groups
Background or Context: During the first months of the COVID pandemic, teachers were forced to move to online instruction without the appropriate resources. They resorted to social media to gather expertise and ideas. This study is grounded in an analysis of the questions posed by K–12 teachers on popular Facebook groups. Purpose, Objective, Research Question, or Focus of Study: The authors argue that a close analysis of what K–12 educators are as…
Psychological distance and efficacy
Agriculture has significantly contributed to overall greenhouse gas emissions. Farmers’ perceptions of climate change play a critical role in shaping their attitudes toward adopting sustainable agricultural practices. News media play a crucial role in shaping public awareness and perceptions of climate change, which in turn may influence people’s behavior. Agricultural media serve as an important source of information for agricultural practices. …
Political science (18 works) · Sociology (17 works) · Psychology (14 works) · Law (12 works) · Media Studies and Communication (12 works) · Media studies (11 works) · Computer Science (9 works) · Politics (9 works) · Climate Change Communication and Perception (8 works) · Social science (8 works)