A serendipitous finding of a news media history effect: A research note

摘要: On January 16, 1989, a Hispanic Miami police officer shot and killed black motorcyclist in predominantly section of Miami. During the following week, shooting its aftermath received extensive newspaper, television, radio coverage. In criminal justice research, history effects are common concern but empirical demonstrations rarely reported. As part larger study recruits' training attitudes, news coverage this was discovered to have influenced attitudes recruits: it significantly altered their expectation that officers would use weapons while on duty. This effect not observed non-Hispanic recruits. serendipitous finding points need for researchers be alert threats validity, particularly as mass media become more pervasive intrusive. Further, empirically demonstrates social construction reality operation.