Flemington, NJ, January 19, 2010 – A new media study among 312 viewers of a news clip featuring Christian Evangelist Pat Robertson discussing the earthquakes in Haiti revealed that the majority of viewers indicated that Robertson’s comments position Christianity in a negative light.
The study was conducted during January 18-19 by HCD Research using its MediaCurves.com® website, to obtain viewers’ perceptions of a news clip in which Pat Robertson claims that the recent earthquakes in Haiti may be a “blessing in disguise” and occurred because of a pact that Haiti made with the devil. To view detailed results go to: www.mediacurves.com.
A clear majority of viewers (86%) indicated that they disagree with Robertson’s statement that Haiti’s problems were due to their pact with the devil, and 68% indicated that they also disagree with Robertson’s statement that the earthquakes may be a blessing in disguise. In addition, the majority of viewers (76%) reported that they think the cause of the earthquakes is the sliding of the earth’s plates.
“Our automated response curves revealed that viewers’ believability levels plummeted when Robertson states that the earthquakes in Haiti are due to their pact with the devil.” commented Glenn Kessler, president and CEO, HCD Research.
Among the findings:
This news clip positions Christianity:
|
|
Total
|
|
Positively
|
7%
|
|
Negatively
|
57%
|
|
Neither positively or negatively
|
36%
|
Please indicate the extent to which you agree with Pat Robertson’s statement that:
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The earthquake in Haiti may be a “blessing in disguise”
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The cause of the earthquake in Haiti was due to their pact with the devil
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|
Agree completely
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6%
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4%
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|
Agree somewhat
|
26%
|
10%
|
|
Do not agree at all
|
68%
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86%
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Please select the reason that you feel best describes the cause of the recent earthquakes in Haiti.
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Before Video
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After Video
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Global climate change
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8%
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6%
|
|
Sliding of earth's plates
|
77%
|
76%
|
|
A pact that Haiti made with the devil
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3%
|
5%
|
|
Other
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2%
|
3%
|
|
Unsure
|
10%
|
9%
|
While viewing the video, participants indicated their levels of believability by moving their mouse from left to right on a continuum. The responses were recorded in quarter-second intervals and reported in the form of curves. The participants were also asked to respond to post-viewing questions.
Editors/Reporters: For more information on the study, or to speak with Glenn Kessler, president and CEO, HCD Research, please contact Vince McGourty, HCD Research, at (908) 483-9121 or (vince.mcgourty@hcdi.net). You can also receive updates from MediaCurves.com by following us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mediacurves and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Flemington-NJ/MediaCurves/86691908820
HCD Research is a marketing and communications research company headquartered in Flemington, NJ. The company's services include traditional and web-based research. For additional information on HCD Research, access the company’s web site at www.hcdi.net or call HCD Research at 908-788-9393. MediaCurves.com® (www.mediacurves.com) is a media measurement website that provides the media and general public with a venue to view Americans’ perceptions of popular and controversial media events and advertisements.
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