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An analysis of the representation of people with mental handicaps in a British newspaper

McGill, Peter, Cummings, Richard (1990) An analysis of the representation of people with mental handicaps in a British newspaper. Mental Handicap Research, 3 (1). pp. 60-69. ISSN 0952-9608. (doi:10.1111/j.1468-3148.1990.tb00081.x) (KAR id:34645)

Abstract

Articles from a British newspaper were analysed in terms of: the roles into which they cast the people with mental handicaps to whom they referred; and the frequency of their juxtaposition with other devalued groups. Results suggested that the articles were not representative in their description of people with mental handicaps, describing them as being children and patients more frequently than would be expected. Juxtapositions, particularly with people having mental health problems, occurred in about a third of the articles. Comparative analysis of the articles written by staff reporters and those written by non-staff suggested that the newspaper's own reporters were more likely to misrepresent the population of people with mental handicaps than other writers.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1111/j.1468-3148.1990.tb00081.x
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare > HV1568 Disability studies
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Tizard
Depositing User: Peter McGill
Date Deposited: 15 Jul 2013 12:17 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:12 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/34645 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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