The Cognitive Mediation Model of Learning From the News

Abstract

The cognitive mediation model predicts that the impact of a learning gratification for news media use on knowledge of news content is mediated by information processing variables. Specifically, surveillance gratifications seeking should encourage two forms of information processing: news attention and elaboration. These forms of information processing should covary and have a direct and positive impact on learning of news content. The impact of surveillance gratifications seeking on knowledge—expected at the zero-order level—should be approximately zero when these information processing variables are controlled. A secondary analysis of two sample surveys (N = 512 and N = 567) plus analysis of original data specifically designed to test the model (N = 299) provide nearly complete support for hypotheses derived from the model in the context of political learning from the news. Suggestions for expansion of the model are provided.