Research on the Characteristics and Nature of Japan's Televised Debate Programs: An Inquiry on Political Rhetoric and Involvement

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24530156
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Politics
• Research Institution: Doshisha University
• Principal Investigator: FELDMAN Ofer 同志社大学, 政策学部, 教授 (50208906)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 日本政治 / 国会議員 / テレビインタビュー / どっちつかず理論 / 政治的コミュニケーション / マスコミ効果

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Results of this research indicate that during televised political interviews in Japan (1) members of the national Diet (including members of the coalition and opposition camps, and members of the Cabinet) tend to equivocate more often than non-politicians in the replies they provide to questions; (2) Politicians tend to provide less explicit and less clear replies when they are asked in particular regarding controversial issues, most notably the economy and nuclear power-related questions; (3) Politicians who have higher level of responsibility in the administration (i.e., vice ministers, ministers, and prime ministers) tend to equivocate more often and in regard to a larger number of issues than any other group of politicians or non-politicians. The attitude toward equivocation in replying to interview questions is thus related not only to the issue politicians (and non-politicians) are asked about, but also to their position and level of responsibility within the political system.

Free Research Field

政治心理学