A Comparative Study of the Attitudes of Selected Students at the University of Oklahoma Toward Press Freedom in Reporting Military News during Wartime.
Abstract
Study examined the attitudes of selected college students, at a large university, concerning press freedom in reporting wartime military news. Survey sample consisted of 200 students randomly selected from each of the following groups: ROTC, Journalism, and students not in the former two categories. A mail questionnaire was used to gather data. Numerous independent variables were analyzed to determine what the attitudes were and, just as importantly, why these attitudes were held. The variables included: sample groups themselves, political ideology, year in ROTC program, existence or absence of ROTC contract, grade level, attitudes toward military and press numbers, and knowledge about media law and foreign affairs news. Nine hypotheses were posited, in all. Each projected the direction in which attitudes would differ and were analyzed using the one-tailed t-test for significance. The dependent variable was a summated-rating scale comprised of 30 Likert-scale items developed by the author. Findings revealed significant differences in attitudes in the areas of three independent variables. Among survey groups, ROTC students exhibited the least favorable attitude toward press freedom concerning military news, and Journalism students were the most favorable. Politically conservative students, regardless of group, had less favorable attitudes than their liberal counterparts. Finally, students who rated military members more favorably than those of the press were less supportive of press freedom than those favoring press members over the military.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 06, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA162958
Entities
People
- William E. Benner Jr