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Flood, Joseph Laurence (2025) Investigating the Influence of Social Media on Open-Mindedness & Political Bias. Undergraduate thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.
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Abstract
This current project aimed to examine the relationship between social media use, and open-mindedness & political bias. The study examined how time spent on social media, which political content is consumed and which political ideology participants identified with, associate with levels of open-mindedness and political bias. Previous research within the literature on this topic has suggested that an increase in both age and exposure to differing viewpoint on social media leads to an increase in levels of open-mindedness, while also suggesting that both left and right-wing individuals shared comparable levels of political bias. With the wish to expand on this literature, participants (n = 91) completed a set of demographic questions followed by two questionnaires: The Actively Open-minded Thinking Beliefs Scale & The Affective Polarization Scale. Responses were analysed through a standard multiple regression, which revealed that age and exposure to opposing beliefs have a relationship with levels of open-mindedness, while higher political bias levels can be predicted by individuals identifying as ideologically left-wing. These findings have provided a better understanding of both open-mindedness and political bias, and provided important information for policymakers on a key concern in todays society.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Undergraduate) |
|---|---|
| Supervisors: | Name Email Farrell, Lynn UNSPECIFIED |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Open-mindedness; political bias; political ideology; time spent on social media; age; political content |
| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > Psychology J Political Science > JA Political science (General) Z Bibliography. Library Science. Information Resources > ZA Information resources > ZA4150 Computer Network Resources > The Internet > World Wide Web > Websites > Online social networks T Technology > TK Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering > Telecommunications > The Internet > World Wide Web > Websites > Online social networks |
| Divisions: | School of Business (- 2025) > BA (Honours) in Psychology |
| Depositing User: | Ciara O'Brien |
| Date Deposited: | 10 Nov 2025 09:46 |
| Last Modified: | 10 Nov 2025 09:46 |
| URI: | https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/8894 |
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