Dr. Blackwell's BLOG

Monday, December 20, 2010

Research Study Shows High Level of Ignorance among Fox News Viewers

Filed under: American Life and Society,National and International News — Dr. Christopher Blackwell @ 01:10

  While there have been plenty of research studies assessing the bias of Fox (Faux) News Channel, a new study indicates that those who view Fox News are significantly more likely to be misinformed of factual truths in current events. The study, conducted by the Program on International Policy Attitudes at the University of Maryland, found not only were Faux News viewers more likely to believe falsities about current events, but that the more exposure to the channel viewers had, the more likely they were to be ignorant of factual information. The study compared several national news companies including CNN, MSNBC, NPR, and PBS. Faux News viewers had statistically significant higher levels of ignorance and believed the following items to be actual truths, despite the fact they are all incorrect. The data speak for themselves:

  • Most economists estimate the stimulus caused job losses (12 points more likely)
  • Most economists have estimated the health care law will worsen the deficit (31 points)
  • The economy is getting worse (26 points)
  • Most scientists do not agree that climate change is occurring (30 points)
  • The stimulus legislation did not include any tax cuts (14 points)
  • Their own income taxes have gone up (14 points)
  • The auto bailout only occurred under Obama (13 points)
  • When TARP came up for a vote most Republicans opposed it (12 points)
  • And that it is not clear that Obama was born in the United States (31 points)

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