PSY FPX 7520 Assessment 2

Objectives

In my role as a political advisor for the League of Women, I’ve been tasked with devising guidelines for conducting impartial and equitable public town hall debates. This presents a challenge due to the significant influence of both social media and mainstream media on public perceptions, which have become crucial in shaping opinions and beliefs. It is important that there be knowledge of the psychological effects and dynamics involved in the situation. Social psychology investigates the manner in which individuals behave when in social environments and how they experience and behave towards others (Van Lange, Kruglanski, & Higgins, 2012). Our social impressions shape how we interpret what happens and design reactions (Van Lange et al., 2012).

In an effort to balance the power of social and media forces, political consultants must review the questions posed by the media, ensure moderators provide equal time to the candidates, and ensure mediators’ fair and substantial questioning. The moderator’s conduct determines the outcome of debates significantly, with framing and question management being core. Moderators’ agendas focus on audience engagement, self-interest, or sensationalism rather than on the content (Turcotte, 2014). Despite the fact that the Commission on Presidential Debates initiated the town hall format in 1992, the media still exercise control over the question types to be posed (Turcotte, 2014). The town hall format appears to eschew confrontation in favor of public questioning of proposals and plans (Turcotte, 2014).

PSY FPX 7520 Assessment 2: Minimizing Social Influence in Debates 

Final Deliverable:

Town meetings offer an arena for freer and more objective debates. Since the audience is initiating the discussion for the most part, the moderator’s influence is minimized.

Risks:

• The bias of the moderator influences the audience.
• Inability to contain the questions of a large crowd.
• Interruptions from unruly audience members.
• Irrelevant or inappropriate questions from the audience.

Project Budget / Spending Estimate:

No budget is proposed in the initiative to enhance debate styles and diminish the impact of social influences at no additional cost.

Research-based Guidelines for Fair Public Debates and Media Coverage:

To ensure that public town hall meetings are fair, there is a need to acknowledge the influence of social and media dynamics. Social media sites are real-time forums for political debate, sometimes even more so in terms of shaping the instant reactions than the debates themselves (Pfeiffer, 2015). Preparation beforehand, close monitoring during the debate, and post-debate reflection are all highlighted as important by the League of Women Voters (2016). Turcotte (2014) notes emphasis during town hall-style debates being more on substance as far as policy goes than with traditional formats. Rooy, Wood, & Tran (2016) observe the effect of social comparison on group processes, determining individuals’ attitudes and behaviors.

Guidelines for Fair Public Debate:

Citing Festinger’s Social Comparison Model (Van Lange et al., 2012), the guidelines observe the need for unbiased moderation, restricting moderator influence, and providing an atmosphere conducive to serious debate. Non-verbal cues, i.e., body language, can have a subtle effect on audience perceptions (CNN, 2012). In a town hall meeting, audience involvement may assist candidates to stay issue-based and avoid combat rhetoric. Moderators must give fairness, regulate the audience, and select unbiased sites to uphold the integrity of the debate.