Knowledge Gap Hypothesis
The Knowledge Gap Hypothesis explains that knowledge, like other forms of wealth, is often differentially distributed throughout a social system. Specifically, the hypothesis predicts that “as the infusion of mass media information into a social system increases, higher socioeconomic status segments tend to acquire this information faster than lower socioeconomic-status population segments so that the gap in knowledge between the two tends to increase rather than decrease” Phillip J. Tichenor, then Associate Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication, George A. Donohue, Professor of Sociology, and Clarice, N. Olien, Instructor in Sociology – three University of Minnesota researchers – first proposed the knowledge gap hypothesis in 1970.
Read more about Knowledge Gap Hypothesis: Foundations, Specification of The Knowledge Gap Hypothesis, A Formal Summary of The Knowledge Gap Hypothesis, Hypothesis Operationalization and Initial Support, Refining The Hypothesis, Narrative Review and Meta-Analytic Support, Criticism and Directions For Future Research, Competing Hypotheses
Famous quotes containing the words knowledge, gap and/or hypothesis:
“Nature in darkness groans
And men are bound to sullen contemplation in the night:
Restless they turn on beds of sorrow; in their inmost brain
Feeling the crushing wheels, they rise, they write the bitter words
Of stern philosophy & knead the bread of knowledge with tears & groans.”
—William Blake (1757–1827)
“... we may leisurely
Each one demand and answer to his part
Performed in this wide gap of time since
First we were dissevered.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“It is more than likely that the brain itself is, in origin and development, only a sort of great clot of genital fluid held in suspense or reserved.... This hypothesis ... would explain the enormous content of the brain as a maker or presenter of images.”
—Ezra Pound (1885–1972)