Publication Date

2016-04-22

Availability

Open access

Embargo Period

2016-04-22

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Sociology (Arts and Sciences)

Date of Defense

2016-04-01

First Committee Member

Crystal Adams

Second Committee Member

Linda L. Belgrave

Third Committee Member

Jennifer Connolly

Abstract

A qualitative content analysis of editorial coverage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was conducted to understand the partisan political presentation and construction of the law during a time of intense political debate over the formation of the law. Using Ethnographic Content Analysis (ECA), it was found that two mainstream but nonetheless partisan publications (The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal) crafted their partisan positions differently, emphasizing different aspects of the law, and wrote in different styles in an effort to appeal to their particular partisan audiences as well as represent certain political and economic actors. It was concluded that liberal partisanship is framed as more educational and informative with appeals to access and morality, while conservative partisanship is written in a more entertaining style that was lighter on details and information with a topical focus on economic issues. Recommendations for further study are enclosed.

Keywords

affordable care act; content analysis; medical sociology; media studies

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