Watching the Palin-Biden debate last night, I had one of those “a-ha” moments when a theory’s power is revealed in real time. For me, this happened as Joe Biden was speaking of aternative energy policy. I was watching CNN’s coverage of the debate, during which the bottom of the screen flashed the read out of an EKG machine…err…I mean…the collective response from the “Perception Analyzers” of three dozen or so undeclared voters in Ohio. When Biden was on about clean coal and global warming, the needle didn’t move.
It wasn’t until Biden employed a “frame bridging” strategy of connecting clean coal to “good paying jobs” that the lines on the monitor shot up into very positive territory. Snow and Benford define frame bridging as a “linkage of two or more ideologically congruent but structurally unconnected frames regarding a particular issue or problem.” (467). The intent of which in the policy world is to gain greater support for a given policy, in this case “alternative energy”
The “perception analyzer,” and its progeny, desipte their prima facie corniness title, do greaty aid the watching of debates.
Comments 5
Jon Smajda — October 3, 2008
They really have that along the bottom of the screen the whole debate? We don't have a TV, so I watched online at ccn.com which was sadly lacking this Fancy Perception Analyzer Output Display Console.
jose — October 3, 2008
Yup. It's kind of addicitive. I learned that, at least for 36 Ohio undecideds, that:
1) the "Maverick" stuff is bombing big time!
2) Undecided was to drill NOW! Anywhere, anytime!
3) Iraq is a loser for the Republicans no matter how they spin it.
Kenneth M. Kambara — October 4, 2008
Can we have these during faculty and committee meeting discussions?
Seriously, this should be an applet for video web content.
David Paull — October 4, 2008
Jose - I'm glad you found it interesting and thanks for the comments.
Kenneth - If you are interested in possibly using our technology during upcoming meetings, you may contact me at david (dot) paull (at) perceptionanalyzer (dot) com.
jose — October 5, 2008
Hi David...It was very useful. I think Ken was being a bit tounge in cheek, but I wonder if these technologies are being used in classroom settings at all?