Are Photographs Worth More Than a Thousand Words? Examining the Effects of Photographic–Textual and Textual-Only Frames on Public Attitude Toward Nuclear Energy and Nanotechnology

This study examines the impact of photographic–textual and risk–benefit frames on the level of visual attention, risk perception, and public support for nuclear energy and nanotechnology in Singapore. Using a 2 (photographic–textual vs. textual-only frames) × 2 (risk vs. benefit frames) × 2 (nuclear...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournalism & mass communication quarterly Vol. 95; no. 4; pp. 948 - 970
Main Authors Lee, Edmund W. J., Ho, Shirley S.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.12.2018
SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
Subjects
Eye tracking
Nanotechnology
Nuclear energy
Photography
Public opinion
Public Support
Risk perception
Sensory perception
Tracking
Visual attention
Singapore
visual framing
nanotechnology
photographic framing
nuclear energy
risk perception
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Summary:This study examines the impact of photographic–textual and risk–benefit frames on the level of visual attention, risk perception, and public support for nuclear energy and nanotechnology in Singapore. Using a 2 (photographic–textual vs. textual-only frames) × 2 (risk vs. benefit frames) × 2 (nuclear energy vs. nanotechnology) between-subject design with eye-tracking data, the results showed that photographic–textual frames elicited more attention and did have partial amplification effect. However, this was observable only in the context of nuclear energy, where public support was lowest when participants were exposed to risk frames accompanied by photographs. Implications for theory and practice were discussed.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
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ISSN:1077-6990
2161-430X
DOI:10.1177/1077699017741090