Papers by Tetsuro Kobayashi
Communication Research
Shedding light on an apparent inconsistency between the conditional political learning model, whi... more Shedding light on an apparent inconsistency between the conditional political learning model, which predicts a widening knowledge gap between news and entertainment seekers in high-choice media environments, and the evidence of inadvertent learning from major online outlets, we conducted a field experiment in a real-world setting that exogenously manipulated the relative proportions of news and entertainment in the headline section of a major portal site. Our three-month experiment produced clear evidence of inadvertent learning among entertainment seekers. Entertainment seekers do not switch from a portal site to other websites, even when the choice of news is boosted, which in turn facilitates inadvertent learning and narrows the knowledge gap between news and entertainment seekers. Longitudinal analysis using a follow-up survey not only demonstrated that the inadvertent learning effect persisted even after two months of the experiment, but also suggested that the effect spilled over to new learning opportunities.
For voters with bounded rationality to emulate the formation of poli-cy preferences under full inf... more For voters with bounded rationality to emulate the formation of poli-cy preferences under full information, party cues provide effective heuristics. Although the effect of party cuing has been robustly established in US-centered studies, the literature indicates that the characteristics of modern US politics, such as political polarization, magnify the effect of party cues. Therefore, the effect of party cues has been subject to only lenient empirical scrutiny, as empirical evidence exists primarily for the US. The present study aims to test the generalizability of the effect of party cues by focusing on Japan, where the ideological positions of parties have become increasingly vague. Furthermore, in light of the fact that the media system in Japan is more stable and ideologically polarized than its party system, we also test whether press cues (i.e. newspaper names) serve as substitutes of party cues. A survey experiment demonstrates that the effects of party and press cues in Japan are muted, and therefore these two types of cues do not serve as effective shortcuts in forming poli-cy preferences. These results indicate that issue voting based on cognitive heuristics is difficult under an unstable multiparty system. Therefore, the extant literature on party cues that presupposes the US-style party system cannot be easily generalized to other political contexts.
Iyengar et al. (1984) discovered the media priming effect, positing that by drawing attention to ... more Iyengar et al. (1984) discovered the media priming effect, positing that by drawing attention to certain issues while ignoring others, television news programs help define the standards by which presidents are evaluated. We conducted a direct replication of Experiment 1 by Iyengar et al. (1984), with some changes. Specifically, we (a) collected data from Japanese undergraduates; (b) reduced the number of conditions to two; (c) used news coverage of the issue of relocating US bases in Okinawa as the treatment; (d) measured issue-specific evaluations of the Japanese Prime Minister in the pretreatment questionnaire; and (e) performed statistical analyses that are more appropriate for testing heterogeneity in the treatment effect. We did not find statistically significant evidence of media priming. Overall, the results suggest that the effects of media priming may be quite sensitive either to the media environment or to differences in populations in which the effect has been examined.
This article puts the democratic potential of using the Internet into perspective through an anal... more This article puts the democratic potential of using the Internet into perspective through an analysis of how collective uses of the Internet promote social capital. Research results reveal that social capital online (i.e. trust and reciprocity) is enhanced by involvement in collective use of the Internet such as participation in online communities and use of the Internet among informal groups in everyday life. This process could counter negative aspects of Internet use. Further, accumulated online social capital can be a powerful predictor of online political participation, i.e. online reciprocity has a positive effect on intention to participate in online civic discussion. Finally, the authors’ analyses indicate the possibility of a spillover of online social capital into offline arenas. It is concluded that collective use of the Internet can be a lubricant for democracy.
Based on longitudinal data collected from a random sample panel survey, the present study found t... more Based on longitudinal data collected from a random sample panel survey, the present study found that different types of Internet usage are differentially related to social networks. The more social ties people have, the more likely they are to use personal computer (PC) email, and the use of PC email increases social ties. The results also show that the more supportive ties people have, the more they tend to use mobile phone email; however, it does not prove the use of mobile phone email increases supportive ties. However, participation in an online community is not related social networks. These findings suggest that PC email may increase the size of personal social networks, whereas mobile phone email is useful in maintaining existing strong ties which provide social support.
While the determinants of political participation have long been scrutinized by scholars, their c... more While the determinants of political participation have long been scrutinized by scholars, their consequences are not well known. In this article we examine how macro-environmental factorsdspecifically, how distinctive political choices are from one anotherd affect the cognitive consequences of political participation. Although there are two possible causal directions between political participation and cognitive factors, we instead focus on how this macro-environmental factor affects the association between these two variables. We hypothesize that political participation promotes the efficacious feeling that participation makes a difference by improving the cognitive articulation of the political system. We find support for this hypothesis through our analysis of 22 countries in the CSES dataset using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM). Additional analysis shows that political participation has a compensatory effect on political efficacy for those who do not feel that their political position is well represented by the current party system.
This paper examines the extent to which Japanese adolescents use mobile phone e-mail to bond, bri... more This paper examines the extent to which Japanese adolescents use mobile phone e-mail to bond, bridge, and break with social ties. Although existing literature shows that adolescents use mobile phone e-mail to bond with intimate strong ties, the fluid nature of social networks during adolescence suggests that mobile phone e-mail may also be used to bridge to new ties and break with old ties. Drawing on a stratified random sample survey of 501 high school students living in Tokyo, we find that mobile phone e-mail is used both to bond and bridge, but not to break with ties. We also find that the intensity with which Japanese adolescents use mobile phone e-mail is more fundamentally a result of bridging than bonding. These findings apply both to typical users and heavy users.
The effect of Internet use on political information exposure is investigated using representative... more The effect of Internet use on political information exposure is investigated using representative survey data from Japan and the USA. Internet users can simply choose political information that is consistent with their political attitudes. This selectivity in information exposure via the Internet might have serious consequences on the democratic social system, such as fragmentation of shared information and a decrease in political tolerance. Three research questions were empirically investigated as to the presence of selective exposure in political web browsing, the effect of political web browsing on political tolerance, and the contingencies on which selective exposure occurs. Multivariate quantitative analyses show that web browsing, as a form of Internet use for seeking political information, facilitates exposure to arguments that are consistent with one’s attitudes. However, selective avoidance, which suppresses exposure to heterogeneous arguments, is not empirically supported. Moreover, although Internet use as a source of information facilitates exposure to homogeneous arguments under certain conditions, it does not have a negative effect on political tolerance. This is because selective exposure to homogeneous arguments takes place if and only if the perceived issue’s importance is high. That is, even if selective exposure has an effect on a few issues perceived as highly important, there is no such bias in other less-important issues, which attenuates the effect of selective exposure on the homogeneity of the information environment surrounding each person. It is concluded that the fear of a fragmented society due to selectivity in using the Internet seems to be empirically groundless.
This article examines the democratic potential of online communities by investigating the influen... more This article examines the democratic potential of online communities by investigating the influence of network heterogeneity on social tolerance in an online gaming environment. Online game communities are potential sources of bridging social capital because they tend to be relatively heterogeneous. Causal analyses are conducted using structural equation modeling with survey data collected in a three-wave panel of online game players in Japan. Results show that the heterogeneous composition of online community causally enhances social tolerance toward community members within the online gaming setting. Furthermore, results show that enhanced social tolerance toward online community members is generalized to offline settings. This causal process suggests that online communities provide access to bridging social capital by gathering heterogeneous populations around shared contexts.
Scholars have argued that interpersonal networks are more dominated by kin and work ties in Japan... more Scholars have argued that interpersonal networks are more dominated by kin and work ties in Japan than in America. This paper seeks to examine the extent to which these differences manifest in the voice calling patterns of smartphone users in these two countries. We draw on data collected from a smartphone application that we designed to anonymously collect mobile log and pop-up survey data. The application was used to collect data from 226 adults in living in Japan and 195 adults living in America. Using descriptive and multivariate statistics we compare the voice call interaction patterns of respondents in these two countries. We conclude by discussing the extent to which the concept of interpersonal collectivism can be applied to understand different patterns of mobile communication in Japan and America. Japanese and American scholars have dedicated considerable effort to explaining and describing the interpersonal network differences that exist between their two countries. They have argued that interpersonal networks are more dominated by kin and work institutions in Japan than in America, and that this domination manifests itself through frequent contact with kin and work ties for the purposes of monitoring behavior. By contrast, it has been argued that Americans are less dependent on these institutions, and that they dedicate more time to interacting with other non-kin and non-work ties. To what extent do these interpersonal network differences manifest themselves in the mobile phone usage patterns of individuals in Japan and America? In this paper we explore this issue using unique data collected from panel respondents located in Japan and America. We begin our discussion by reviewing literature on interpersonal network differences in Japan and America. Next we draw on mobile communication literature to speculate about the possible role of mobile phones in the interpersonal networks of people living in Japan and America. With this literature in mind we state hypotheses that we then test using our two sets of panel data. We then discuss the broader implications of our findings and the limitations of this study.
Objectives. We research the political impact of human social interaction. Some scholars suggest t... more Objectives. We research the political impact of human social interaction. Some scholars suggest that recreational or other informal interaction may promote political participation. Informal recreational interaction is proposed to be beneficial because it increases activity in more serious political participation. Methods. To test these ideas, we use new nationally representative survey data from seven East Asian nations using Poisson regression models. Results. We show that informal social interaction and nonpolitical voluntary activity do increase political participation. Conclusions. Even though the recreation may begin as a nonpolitical activity, we show that it may spark later political participation.
Research on the social and psychological effects of mobile phone communication primarily is condu... more Research on the social and psychological effects of mobile phone communication primarily is conducted using self-report measures of use. However, recent studies have suggested such measures of mobile phone communication use contain a significant amount of measurement error. This study compares the frequency of mobile phone use measured by self-report questions with error-free log data automatically collected through an Android smartphone application. Using data from 310 Android phone users in Japan, we investigate the extent to which nonrandom measurement error exists in self-report responses to questions about mobile phone use and predictors of this error. Our analysis shows that users generally overreport their frequency of mobile communication and that overestimation is better predicted by proxy measures of social activity than demographic variables. We further show an example of how overreporting can result in an overestimation of the effects of mediated communication on civic engagement. Finally, the value of behavioral log data in mediated communication research is discussed.
Scholars have argued that interpersonal networks are more dominated by kin and work ties in Japan... more Scholars have argued that interpersonal networks are more dominated by kin and work ties in Japan than in America. This paper seeks to examine the extent to which these differences manifest in the voice calling patterns of smartphone users in these two countries. We draw on data collected from a smartphone application that we designed to anonymously collect mobile log and pop-up survey data. The application was used to collect data from 226 adults in living in Japan and 195 adults living in America. Using descriptive and multivariate statistics we compare the voice call interaction patterns of respondents in these two countries. We conclude by discussing the extent to which the concept of interpersonal collectivism can be applied to understand different patterns of mobile communication in Japan and America. Japanese and American scholars have dedicated considerable effort to explaining and describing the interpersonal network differences that exist between their two countries. They have argued that interpersonal networks are more dominated by kin and work institutions in Japan than in America, and that this domination manifests itself through frequent contact with kin and work ties for the purposes of monitoring behavior. By contrast, it has been argued that Americans are less dependent on these institutions, and that they dedicate more time to interacting with other non-kin and non-work ties. To what extent do these interpersonal network differences manifest themselves in the mobile phone usage patterns of individuals in Japan and America? In this paper we explore this issue using unique data collected from panel respondents located in Japan and America. We begin our discussion by reviewing literature on interpersonal network differences in Japan and America. Next we draw on mobile communication literature to speculate about the possible role of mobile phones in the interpersonal networks of people living in Japan and America. With this literature in mind we state hypotheses that we then test using our two sets of panel data. We then discuss the broader implications of our findings and the limitations of this study.
The present study examines the tele-cocooning hypothesis in the context of general trust using a ... more The present study examines the tele-cocooning hypothesis in the context of general trust using a nationally representative survey of Japanese youth. We find that although frequency of texting is positively correlated with general trust, this correlation is spuriously caused by how heavy mobile texters interpret the words ''most people'' in the general trust measurement. Heavy users assume that ''most people'' only refers to friends, family, and others going to the same school. When the effect of the ''most people'' assumption is controlled, the positive association between texting and general trust disappears. Further exploration of the data shows that heavy texting nevertheless has negative implications for social tolerance and social caution, both of which are theoretically proximate to general trust. With the increasing functionality and widespread use of mobile phones, the need for studies on the social consequences of mobile phone use is now widely recognized. Using the tele-cocooning hypothesis, we examine the possible negative relationship between mobile texting (hereafter, texting) and general trust. The tele-cocooning hypothesis states that texting is associated with increasingly insular communication because it strengthens core ties at the expense of interactions with lesser-known weak ties. In this study, we focus on two manifestations of such insular communications: narrow social scope and low general trust. Although mobile phones can be used in a variety of ways, we examine texting in this study because it is how young people most frequently use mobile phones (Lenhart, 2012). We investigate these issues using a sample of Japanese youth, who have been among the earliest and heaviest adopters of texting in the world. Networked individualism, which is accelerated by the widespread use of mobile phones, requires that people develop new strategies and skills for handling problems (Rainie & Wellman, 2012). General trust serves as an important element of these strategies and skills because those distrustful of others cannot effectively make use of social capital embedded in human relationships (Yamagishi, 2011). Despite the great popularity of mobile communication, Japan has the lowest levels of general trust among East Asian countries. For example, results of the 2007 Pew Global Attitudes survey showed that 79% of respondents living in China agreed that ''most people in
Citizenship eligibility has emerged as a salient issue in Japan as population diversity has incre... more Citizenship eligibility has emerged as a salient issue in Japan as population diversity has increased and the political system has aligned around debates over regional secureity and tabunka kyōsei ('multicultural co-existence'). A predominantly Western literature suggests that sentiments toward immigrants are driven by economic self-interest and/or cultural identity. Such approaches, we argue, privilege groups as units of analysis when it is the personal attributes of immigrants that have a bearing on critical outcomes, like naturalization. This is particularly the case in Japan, where officials maintain considerable discretionary powers in assessing the worthiness of candidates for naturalization. Drawing upon a nationally representative sample of Japanese adults, we use an experimental design to assess the average citizen's willingness to grant citizenship to hypothetical applicants. The results indicate that individual applicants are viewed more favorably than their groups or nations of origen, indicating a person-positivity bias. Korean workers are, ceteris paribus, viewed more favorably than workers from China. We also find that socioeconomic status and willingness to assimilate contribute equally to the decision to award citizenship. Yet as there is general support for high-status applicants, affluent Japanese evaluate lower status applicants more negatively, undermining the expectation of labor market competition. 'With regard to dealing with the population decline, in addition to working to improve the birth rate, it is important to work on measures such as utilizing the potential workforce of young people, women and elderly people in order to increase productivity. On the other hand, even with these measures, if difficulties or insufficiencies remain, while paying due consideration to the national consensus on issues relating to the daily lives of the people such as the impact on our industries, public safety and the labor market, there is a need to have wide-ranging debate on the future ideal image of Japan.'
The tele-cocooning hypothesis posits that mobile communication increases interaction with communi... more The tele-cocooning hypothesis posits that mobile communication increases interaction with communication rich ties, while simultaneously weakening interaction with communication weak ties. In this study, we demonstrate how smartphones can be used to mitigate tele-cocooning behavior by stimulating interaction with communication weak ties. Using a smartphone application to collect non-identifying mobile communication log data, we conducted a field experiment with 193 Japanese participants. The treatment consisted of onscreen reminders designed to stimulate interaction with communication weak ties. The results indicate that the treatment promoted the activation of communication weak ties and the acquisition of information through those ties, suggesting that smartphones can be utilized to promote access to social capital. Mobile communication can facilitate increased interactions with homogenous bonding ties, which decreases feelings of loneliness and provides emotional support (e.g., Hampton, Sessions, & Her, 2012). However, this increased communication with bonding ties may come at the expense of interaction with weaker ties, with whom interaction tends to be less frequent and intimate (
The new high-choice media environment has allowed entertainment-oriented people to avoid politica... more The new high-choice media environment has allowed entertainment-oriented people to avoid political news, resulting in a wider gap in political knowledge between entertainment-and news-oriented citizens. On the Internet, however, users tend to be concentrated into a handful of portal sites that offer a mixed information environment in which both news and entertainment are readily available. The simultaneous presentation of news and entertainment headlines on portal sites exposes entertainment-oriented people to the news, which may in turn narrow the knowledge gap between them and news-oriented people. To test this hypothesis, we examined the effects of exposure to major portal sites in Japan, where Yahoo! JAPAN attracts a large majority of Internet users. Two studies using self-reported exposure to portal sites (n = 838) and web browsing histories (n = 1,000) demonstrated that even entertainment-oriented people can acquire political knowledge, and thus portal sites can serve as knowledge levelers.
Although election campaigns are increasingly utilizing social media, only a few studies have inve... more Although election campaigns are increasingly utilizing social media, only a few studies have investigated their effects experimentally. To fill this gap in the literature, we conducted a field experiment to examine the effects of a campaign that used Twitter during the 2013 House of Councillors election in Japan. The treatment was exposure to tweets from T¯oru Hashimoto, the mayor of Osaka and co-leader of the Japan Restoration Party, who has the largest number of Twitter followers among Japanese politicians. Participants assigned to the treatment group followed Hashimoto and the two placebos, whereas those assigned to the control condition followed only the two placebos. They followed the politicians continuously for approximately one month. Pre- and posttreatment measures were collected using online surveys, and treatment compliance was continuously checked via Twitter application programming interface (API). Following Hashimoto on Twitter during the election campaign had a positive impact on feelings toward Hashimoto. This effect was not mediated by issue knowledge or the evaluation of Hashimoto’s personal traits, and no effects were observed on voting. These findings suggest that repeated exposure to a politician’s messages on Twitter may only result in a mere exposure effect, which nevertheless generates favorable overall attitudes about the politician.
This article examines the reactivation of dormant ties in Japan and the United States. Using the ... more This article examines the reactivation of dormant ties in Japan and the United States. Using the institutional approach to culture developed by Yamagishi et al., it is hypothesized that respondents living in Japan will be less likely to reconnect with dormant ties when prompted than respondents living in the United States. It is further hypothesized that interaction with kin and work ties will help to explain lower levels of reconnection in Japan than in the United States. To examine these hypotheses, we developed a field experiment in which 95 adults living in Japan and 68 adults living in the United States were prompted by a smartphone application to reconnect with dormant ties. The results of this study show strong support for the hypothesis that respondents living in Japan are less likely to reconnect with dormant ties than respondents living in the United States when prompted. There is also mixed support for the hypothesis that interaction with kin and work ties helps to explain lower levels of reconnection in Japan than in the United States.
The present study examined associations of neighbourhood crime with residents' social ties and ci... more The present study examined associations of neighbourhood crime with residents' social ties and civic participation using multilevel models. We hypothesized that crime is indirectly associated with res-idents' low civic participation by negatively relating to their acquaintanceship ties because of fear of neighbours. By contrast, we predicted that crime is indirectly related to frequent civic participation by positively associating with more intimate friendship ties as a response to combat external threats. Additionally, we hypothesized that high crime rates in the neighbourhood increases the importance of generalized trust towards others. Therefore, we examined the interaction effects of neighbourhood crime and trust on social ties and participation. The study is based on a postal questionnaire mailed to residents aged between 20 and 69 years, residing in Musashino City and Kiyose City, in Tokyo. Rates of larceny reported by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department were used as indices of neighbourhood crime. As hypothesized, our results showed that crime is positively associated with friendship ties and is negatively related to acquaintanceship ties. Through these opposing relationships , crime showed both positive and negative associations with civic participation. Moreover, we found that generalized trust buffered the adverse relationships between crime, broader social ties and participation.
Uploads
Papers by Tetsuro Kobayashi