Medya Kuruluşlarının Siyasi Tarafsızlık Algısı Ölçeğinin Güveni
Reliability and validity study of the perception of political neutrality scale for media organizations

Summary/Abstract: The impartiality of the media is critically important for the healthy flow of information and the formation of public opinion in democratic societies. It is clear that the existence of an impartial media, especially during election periods, contributes to the conduct of elections in accordance with democratic principles. In this context, the aim of the present study is to develop a valid and reliable scale to measure the perception of political impartiality of media organizations. Accordingly, this study examines the following question: ‘Is the scale developed to measure the perception of political impartiality of media organizations a valid and reliable tool in the context of Turkey, and how effectively do its four main sub-factors (Impartiality and Objectivity, News Sources and Accuracy, Political Equality and Justice, Manipulation and Distortion) play a role in measuring media perceptions?’ The lack or absence of such a scale in the Turkish sample, as well as the inadequacy of existing scales developed for other countries to suit the general structure of the Turkish sample, has made this research necessary. The study focuses on four main sub-factors: Impartiality and Objectivity, News Sources and Accuracy, Political Equality and Justice, and Manipulation and Distortion. These factors aim to provide a comprehensive assessment of the perception of political impartiality in media organizations. The research sample consists of voluntary participants aged 18 and over residing in Istanbul. Data were collected using the ‘Perception of Political Impartiality of Media Organizations Scale’ and analyzed using SPSS and AMOS software. As a result of Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses, the four-factor structure of the scale was found to be valid and reliable. The findings reveal that the developed scale is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring the perception of political impartiality of media organizations in Turkey. This scale can be used as an important measurement tool for evaluating the performance of media organizations and examining perceptions of impartiality. By filling a significant gap in the literature on media impartiality, the developed scale offers a measurement tool that can be used in both theoretical and applied fields. For future research, it is recommended that the scale be administered to different socio-cultural and demographic groups. This will provide deeper insights into the validity and reliability of the scale and offer a broader perspective on media impartiality.

• Details
• Contents