| This dissertation proposes, deploys and evaluates a new methodology to measure frames in media content and audience perceptions by conceptualizing frames as comprised of correlated constructs instead of the traditional approach of measuring frames in content with preconceived notions of overarching framing categories. Using the pervasive issue of the sexual abuse of children by members of the Catholic clergy, a content analysis of 1,115 stories from national and regional newspapers from 1998-2008 was conducted. A subsequent exploratory factor analysis determined eight major frames in the news content (homosexuality, crime, reform, celibacy, deviance, retribution, shame and power). Also, audience framing of clergy sexual abuse was measured through a survey of 497 participants. An exploratory factor analysis discovered two common (homosexuality and celibacy) and six unique (punishment, women, psychological, authority, supervision and family) audience frames.;While some of the constructs congeal into frames similarly for news articles and audience perceptions (homosexuality and celibacy), this is the exception to the rule. News articles are mostly framed as retribution (financial reprisal in response to bishops who transferred accused priests, ignoring abuse allegations) while audiences tend to discuss the issue in terms of punishment (all punishment against accused clergy, including criminal trials, leaves of absence and laicization). Similar constructs were provided by news articles and survey respondents, but it is the sensemaking on the part of the audience that leads to a divergence in how the constructs interconnect into cohesive issue frames. This methodology shows that audiences consume words and concepts related to clergy sexual abuse from news frames but that audiences re-frame (highlight certain constructs while ignoring others, align constructs into different frames than news articles) the issue in order to make sense of it. The divergence can also be explained by attitudinal and cognitive perspectives unique to individuals. The correlation between sexual abuse history and audience framing of clergy sexual abuse supports this assumption. |
