Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The Multi-channel Political Motivation and Elaboration Model was tested. Results showed those who used television and Internet for political needs were more gratified than those who used only one of these channels. Instrumental media use was related to central route message processing. For television viewers, age, education, affinity, and involvement predicted greater political activity. For Internet users, age, education, social interaction motivation, involvement, and need for cognition predicted greater political activity.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This study, grounded on the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM), examines why the individuals impose more salience on one issue instead of other ones, which is beyond the Agenda Setting effects. Using NES 2004 data and multivariate analysis, the results suggest that some routine issues, such as the job and standard living issues, were viewed as salient because the individuals’ pertinence for and involvement in them keep the issue in their central information-processing route, regardless of the media coverage’s intensity on the issue. The study implies that individuals’ responsibility of thinking is also related to the perceived salience of the issue.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The present experiment examined how the lack of individuating information affects message elaboration and conformity to group norms in text-based computer-mediated communication (CMC). Participants made decisions about choice dilemma scenarios and exchanged their arguments with three ostensible partners via computer. Consistent with the social identity model of deindividuation effects (SIDE), those who had exchanged personal profiles with their partners were better able to differentiate between strong and weak arguments and were more likely to make conformity decisions based on the message content than those who had not. On the other hand, those with no identity cues were more likely to factor in group identification for their conformity decisions. Results suggest that less systematic message processing and greater reliance on normative considerations account for how deindividuation moderates the effects of argument strength on group conformity.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Different levels of agent prominence in a sentence (active voice, passive voice with the agent present, and passive voice with the agent missing) were examined as possible variables within the Elaboration Likelihood Model of persuasion. Agent prominence did not affect persuasion as a modifier of motivation. The data supports agent prominence acting as a central cue. There was a significant interaction effect of agent prominence and argument strength on the amount of outcome-relevant and value-relevant involvement the messages produced. There was also a main effect for argument strength.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This research aims to analyse the participation of the Indians, Brazilians and South Africans non-state actors in the deliberations on environmental issues, either in the elaboration of the external policy in each country, or in the United Nations environmental conferences. One of the main challenges opened up by the process of globalization refers to the need of more legitimacy in the democratic decisions in multilateral themes. While the substantive themes of politics are getting globalized, the institutions of the traditional political process remain internally oriented. The analysis of the possibilities and limits of the process of social participation of environmental movements and non-governmental organizations aims to contribute to a theoretical and practical qualification of the theme. In the theoretical plan, the research has the objective to contribute with the conceptual debate of some still blurred terms such as cosmopolitan democracy, international civil society and global public sphere. In the empirical plan, the results of the research aim to enhance the sensitiveness of the actors involved in the theme for the external dimension, and the articulation among them.