This study examines how ordinary citizens define terrorism following violent incidents. Despite ongoing public debates and political science frameworks, there's been little exploration into the average American's understanding of terrorism.
We synthesized scholarly definitions with media coverage to predict what factors shape public perception. Our methods included conjoint experiments, machine learning techniques, and automated content analysis.
📊 Data & Methods:
- Conjoint Experiment
- Machine Learning Techniques
- Automated Content Analysis
🔍 Key Findings:
- Violence Type Matters
- Severity Influences Perception
- Actor Motivation is Crucial
- Social Categorization Plays a Role
📝 Why It Matters: The media's choice of language significantly affects terrorism classification, impacting political discourse and policy responses.
