政治传播中的框架效应——国外研究现状及其对中国的启示

Framing Effects in Political Communication: A Review of International Research and its Implications for China

本文对国外政治传播领域中广受关注的框架效应的研究现状进行了回顾性分析。文章首先对国外有关框架和框架效应的界定、框架类型的相关文献做了梳理,对西方学者关于框架与议程设置、启动、说服等相关概念的异同进行了述评,然后对框架效应产生的心理机制、影响框架效应的因素、框架效应对民主的影响等方面的文献进行了评析。文章指出,框架理论与议程设置理论存在较大的相似性和重叠,但议程设置理论较少关注公众自身的特性以及在何种情境下媒体信息(或精英话语、政党倾向)会对舆论倾向产生作用,而这些方面恰好是框架研究的重点。文章还指出,框架的心理机制奠基于心理学的前景理论和社会学的信息简化理论。影响框架效应的因素可分为框架自身的特性、受众的特性和框架发生的具体情境三类。文章还介绍了西方学者关于框架效应对民主体制的挑战以及学者们对该问题的回应。在此基础上,文章就国内研究现状进行了评估,认为中国学界需要借鉴和学习国外已有的研究成果,展开更多的以实证为基础的政治传播研究。

This article reviews the literature on framing effects in political communication. It describes research trends based on theories of framing and framing effects since the 1970 s,introduces definitions and types of framing,and discusses the differences and similarities between the theories of framing,agenda-setting,and priming. The article then reviews analyses of the psychological mechanisms of framing effects,the factors influencing framing effects,and the implications of framing effects for democracy. The author argues that framing and agenda-setting overlap to a large extent,but agenda-setting theory focuses more on information input,such as media coverage,elite discourse,and partisan cues,while framing theory focuses on output,i. e.,the audience. The article points out that the mechanisms of framing effects are rooted in two theoretical backgrounds: 'prospect theory'in psychology and 'primary frameworks'or 'interpretive schema'in sociology. Factors determining framing effects can be classified into three types based on the communication features of framing itself,the individual characteristics and preferences of the audience,and the context within which the audience receives the frame. The article also reviews scholars' concern about how framing effects skew or alter 'true'public opinion and how to overcome these challenges under democracy. Finally,the author critiques the domestic research status quo and argues that Chinese scholars of political communication should learn from existing international research and conduct more empirical studies.