William P. Eveland|Dietram A. Scheufele
Connecting News Media Use with Gaps in Knowledge and Participation
article examines relative size gaps knowledge participation less educated vary quantity type news media use predicted gap high low education groups would smaller among heavy television news users among light users whereas gap high low education groups would larger among heavy newspaper users among light users also predicted gap general political participation votingwould greater among heavy television news users heavy newspaper users among light news users predictions based logic derived communication effects gap hypothesis cognitive psychology learning research political behavior analyzing data collected part american national election study 1996 us presidential campaign found gaps knowledge higher lower education groups greater among light heavy users television news similar pattern found knowledge gaps across levels newspaper use pattern weaker may possibly attributed ceilings imposed nature test natural ceiling information domain contrast neither television news use newspaper use related gaps voting however newspaper use television news use related gaps general political participation