Adolescent Perception of Moral Communication Sources

Date of Graduation

Fall 2007

Degree

Master of Arts in Communication

Department

Communication

Committee Chair

Isabelle Bauman

Abstract

This thesis explores effectiveness of moral communication sources in intergenerational transmission of morality. Survey data from 362 adolescent participants are used to measure adolescent perception in source awareness, source importance and source value in both mediated and non-mediated moral communication. Association with source perception is explored with demographics, media usage, moral development, and belief systems. Findings are that source perception changes in awareness, importance, and value subject to the topic of moral content; and, further, that when deliberating moral issues, adolescents listen most to non-mediated sources with whom they have a trusted relationship, and with whom they share beliefs. While adolescents report high awareness for media messages in sexuality and violence, most adolescents do not perceive media messages to be important or valuable for moral decision making.

Keywords

moral communication, moral education, moral development, communication, mediated communication

Subject Categories

Communication

Copyright

© Kate Yurka Spangler

Citation-only

Dissertation/Thesis

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