Publics' communication on controversial sociopolitical issues: extending the situational theory of problem solving

Capturing a unique moment within a particularly volatile political climate where various issues such as climate change, immigration, and healthcare are increasingly polarized, this survey examines the factors driving publics' engagement in and disengagement from communication on controversial s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Applied Communication Research 2021-01, Vol.49 (1), p.44-65
Main Authors: Tao, Weiting, Hong, Cheng, Tsai, Wan-Hsiu Sunny, Yook, Bora
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Avoidance
Communication
Controversial issues
information avoidance
information omission
Problem solving
situational theory of problem solving (STOPS)
Sociopolitical factors
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Summary:Capturing a unique moment within a particularly volatile political climate where various issues such as climate change, immigration, and healthcare are increasingly polarized, this survey examines the factors driving publics' engagement in and disengagement from communication on controversial sociopolitical issues. It applies and expands the situational theory of problem solving (STOPS) by integrating the theoretical insights from the literature of information omission and avoidance. Results not only support the applicability of the STOPS model in explaining publics' communication on controversial sociopolitical problems but also the viability of integrating two new behavioral outcomes - information omission and avoidance - into the STOPS framework.
ISSN:0090-9882
1479-5752
DOI:10.1080/00909882.2020.1849770