Author

Camila Espina

Date of Award

8-2013

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Media Studies

Advisor(s)

Guy J. Golan

Keywords

Credibility, Cultural Proximity, Media, Puerto Rico

Subject Categories

Mass Communication

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between interaction with the United States, perceived cultural proximity between Puerto Rican and American culture, and perceived source credibility of American news media. Existing literature on media credibility, cultural proximity, and acculturation was used to design an online survey. The sample of this study consists of three hundred and seventy two Puerto Ricans that resided in Puerto Rico at the time of data collection (N=372).

Data analysis procedures involved paired samples t-test as well as Pearson's Correlation Coefficient. The current study yielded three key findings. The first finding demonstrates that respondents perceive American news media as more credible than national news sources. Second, there is a relationship between levels of interaction with the United States and perceived credibility of American news media. Finally, there is also a relationship between perceived similarities between the Puerto Rican and American culture, and perceived credibility of American news media.

The main implication of the current study suggests that additional influential factors might emerge when exploring credibility perceptions from a broader scope or cross-national perspective. These factors are inherently intertwined to the political economic context of the nations in question. Further, the findings of this study imply that these factors may be of more significance than perceived source-receiver similarities during credibility evaluations.

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Open Access

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