Diana Owen | Georgetown University (original) (raw)

Papers by Diana Owen

This study compares how Japanese and American voters understand the concept of "fake news&qu... more This study compares how Japanese and American voters understand the concept of "fake news" and the consequences of misinformation. The spread of misinformation is far less prevalent in Japan than in the U.S. The practices of politicians using the label "fake news" to discredit information that politicians dislike is widespread in the U.S., but just catching on in Japan. Using survey data, the study examines patterns of political media use and trust in the media for the two countries. Notably, newspapers are used more extensively in Japan than in the U.S., and are a trusted information source. Social media are far less important for disseminating political information Japan than in the U.S., which helps to limit the spread of misinformation.

Political Communication, Jul 30, 2008

The civic education of high need students-students living in poverty, minority students, English ... more The civic education of high need students-students living in poverty, minority students, English language learners, and special needs students-often is shortchanged, contributing to a "civic empowerment gap." This study examines differences in the pedagogies employed by teachers of high need students and non-high need students, focusing on the extent to which they employ techniques that will prepare students for citizenship in the age of digital politics. The study addresses the core question: Are there differences in the pedagogies, activities, and digital media use skills teachers of high need and non-high need students employ in the classroom? Data on 700 middle and high school teachers nationwide are used to examine the question empirically. The findings support the hypothesis that teachers of high need students are less likely to incorporate digital technology into the civics classroom than teachers of students who are not high need. The disparities in the use of technology in the classroom are apparent for accessing information as well as civics-related activities. The inequities in civic education that contribute to the civic empowerment gap are growing in the digital age. Students in high need schools are not receiving civics instruction that keeps pace with the augmented requirements of engaged citizenship.

Civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions form the cornerstones of democracy. Each of these compe... more Civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions form the cornerstones of democracy. Each of these competencies is necessary for responsible, productive, and engaged citizenship. Students who receive high quality civic education that takes an integrative approach to imparting these competencies are the most likely to become participatory adults. However, students from less privileged circumstances often attend poorly resourced schools and receive limited or substandard civics training that is especially devoid of attention to skills and dispositions. They also lack access to curricular interventions that take an active learning approach that is relevant to their needs and personal experience. We examine the effectiveness of two programs of the Center for Civic Education-the Congressional Academy for American History and Civics and Project Citizen. The programs take different approaches to active learning that facilitates students' development of civic skills and dispositions. We find that both programs impart civic orientations to high-need students more effectively than traditional civics classes. Differences in civic learning based on SES, race, and gender were evident which points to the importance of designing civics curricula that meet the needs of diverse student populations.

Mass Communication and Society, Feb 7, 2022

Society, Jul 1, 1991

W hat political difference does sexual difference make? The answer of political science to this q... more W hat political difference does sexual difference make? The answer of political science to this question depends on how both politics and sexual difference are conceptualized in academic discourse. For the social and political meanings that scholars attach to the terms male ...

Nexos (México, D.F.), 1994

Human behavior and emerging technologies, Jun 21, 2021

With the rise of smart devices in the 21st century, children are increasingly engaged in socially... more With the rise of smart devices in the 21st century, children are increasingly engaged in socially contingent interactions with conversational agents such as Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri. Using an online parent survey, young children's verbal interactions (parasocial interactions) and emotional relationships (parasocial relationships) with conversational agents were examined in a naturalistic study. A total of 92 parents responded to the survey, 70 of whom qualified because they had a conversational agent. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of emotional parasocial relationships with conversational agents in a subset of this sample (n = 58, m child age = 5.54 years, age range 3-10, 33 females) revealed three dimensions: attachment, personification, and social realism. These dimensions are consistent with children's parasocial relationships with media characters. The relation between parasocial verbal interactions and emotional parasocial relationships with conversational agents was bidirectional. The results indicate that children develop close emotional ties with artificial beings, treating them as human-like entities with feelings and for whom they have feelings. Implications for interactions with artificial life as children's trusted social partners are considered.

Journal of Women, Politics & Policy, 1988

ABSTRACT. Research on preaduit political socialization con-ducted prior to the women's movem... more ABSTRACT. Research on preaduit political socialization con-ducted prior to the women's movement and the rise of feminist con-sciousness indicated that girls lagged behind boys in many aspects of their political development. Studies in the 1970s showed that this gap was closing. We ...

Conversations on Jesuit Higher Education, 2013

As a conclusion of this book, this chapter revisits the relationship between the Internet and ele... more As a conclusion of this book, this chapter revisits the relationship between the Internet and elections. The Internet election has been evolving in somewhat different ways not only across the Pacific but also among East Asian democracies. Most notably, the degree of “Americanization” of elections is quite different among Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. This is because the Internet’s role in campaigns is influenced by contextual factors that define a country’s electoral environment. Contextual factors, especially the regulatory environment for technology and campaign finance, substantially influence the electoral process in East Asia and the United States. We also find that trends established in the era of mass media election have intensified with the rise of the Internet and digital media. Although American elections are candidate centered, parties in the United States have taken on new roles in online campaigns.

American Political Science Review, Dec 1, 1995

The Journal of Politics, Feb 1, 1999

Without his data, one can only compute bounds on the possible confidence intervals. These bounds ... more Without his data, one can only compute bounds on the possible confidence intervals. These bounds confirm that explicit tests are indeed necessary to determine whether the differences in behaviors were significant. In at least one test (Table 4.9) that otherwise would appear to support Canon's hypothesis, the difference clearly was not significant. (Canon does not note this.) Despite the need for clearer tests, however, the weight of the evidence seems to support Canon's theory. In conclusion, the findings in Race, Representation and Redistricting are of immediate and lasting importance. The variety of data sources and research methods is impressive, as is the effort that the author invested in data collection and coding. Race, Redistricting and Representation should be required reading for anyone with an interest in the linkage between representatives and their constituencies.

The 1992 presidential election ushered in a new era of campaign media. Candidates turned to enter... more The 1992 presidential election ushered in a new era of campaign media. Candidates turned to entertainment venues to circumvent the mainstream press" stranglehold on the campaign agenda. This development was marked by the signature moments of businessman Ross Perot launching his third party presidential bid on Larry King Live and Democratic nominee Bill Clinton donning dark shades and playing the saxophone on the Arsenio Hall Show. Voters became more visibly engaged with campaign media, especially through call-in radio and television programs. Communication researchers speculated about a new era of campaign media, alternately praising its populist tendencies and lamenting the degradation of political discourse. These trends were rooted primarily in old media. In less than a decade, new technologies had facilitated a major transformation of the campaign media system that has altered the ways in which campaigns are waged by candidates,

JSSE - Journal of Social Science Education, Mar 16, 2009

Election campaigns are regular opportunities for heightened political engagement and socializatio... more Election campaigns are regular opportunities for heightened political engagement and socialization. For many young people, politics becomes most visible and concrete during electoral contests. However, campaign media, at least in the United States, typically have not targeted young voters with messages that enhance their participation and turnout. In fact, much traditional election media coverage of youth has emphasized their lack of interest and involvement, and thus works to discourage the development of activist political orientations. With the evolution of new types of dynamic and populist media formats, such as blogs and social/political networking websites, young people have greater opportunities to establish a presence in election campaigns on their own terms. This piece will explore how new developments in campaign media are changing the relationship of young people to the electoral process. Contents 1. Introduction 2. The 2008 Election in Context 3. Young Voters and American Elections 4. Voter Turnout 5. Political Organization 6. Making Elections Visible in the Digital Age 7. The Long Awaited 'Net Campaign' 8. Social Media and Election Communication 9. Young Citizen Journalists 10. Conclusion References

Springer eBooks, 2018

The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this p... more The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.

The International Encyclopedia of Political Communication, Jan 4, 2016