Digitalization vs. Robotization. Framing Effects on Fear in Context of the Digitalization of Work
Published in Précis Series of the Düsseldorf Institute for Internet and Democracy, 2019
The digitalization of work may lead to massive job losses in near future. However, public opinion polls show, that concerns regarding losing one’s job are currently quite low. I argue that this gap is explainable through simply framing this development as “digitalization”, which is a highly positive connoted term in German media landscape. In contrast, referring to the same process in a more technical way as “robotization”, will lead to a higher amount of fear for losing one’s job. I tested this assumption in a quantitative online experiment (N=214) and found partial support for my hypothesis.
Recommended citation: Kieslich, K. (2019). Digitalization vs. Robotization. Framing effects on Fear in Context of the Digitalization of Work. Düsseldorf Institute for Internet und Democracy.
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