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TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF THE SPIRAL OF SILENCE: A CONCEPTUAL REVIEW AND EMPIRICAL OUTLOOK
Abstract
Numerous studies have been conducted on the spiral of silence since Noelle-Neumann (1974) formulated the theory a quarter of a century ago. As a whole, these studies draw upon different conceptualizations, employ inconsistent operationalizations, and give short shrift to imintportant macroscopic variables. Such inconsistencies potentially account for substantial prointportions of the variance in spiral of silence effects. This paper examines these three areas in greater detail. First, we review key assumptions and theoretical statements of the spiral of silence. Second, we examine how these conceptual issues translate into operational ones. Finally, we outline areas that have remained largely unexplored over the last 25 years. Specifically, we contend that spiral of silence studies in different cultures have failed to take into account culture-specific variables that may mitigate the imintportance of opinion perceptions as predictors of individual behavior or attitudes. In other words, cross-cultural differences are key factors in predicting speaking-out, the key dependent variable in spiral of silence research. As a result, we call for the return to a more macroscopic focus in spiral of silence research.
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“These detrimental associations relate to the ‘spiral of silence’ idea, that is, the notion that people’s willingness to express their political opinions online depends on the perceived popularity of their opinions (see relevant overview articles53,54).”
From A systematic review of worldwide causal and correlational evidence on digital media and democracy (2022) · cites this paper as [53]
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Items 301–331 of 331
Handžar, S., & Mehmedović, A. (2023) · Istraživanja · doi:10.57136/2744-2500.2022.17.17.239
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КҮН ТАРТИБИН АНЫКТОО ЖАНА ФРЕЙМИНГ: АЗЕРБАЙЖАН КЫРГЫЗСТАНДЫН ЭЛЕКТРОНДУК МААЛЫМАТ КАРАЖАТТАРЫНДА
Algalieva, G. S., Акматбекова, Ж. А., & Тыналиева, Р. Т. (2023) · Nauka, novye tehnologii i innovacii Kyrgyzstana. · doi:10.26104/nntik.2023.97.62.078
Li, J. (2024) · Communications in Humanities Research · doi:10.54254/2753-7064/2025.18986
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Tsai, T., & Yu, C.-H. (2025) · Political Studies Review · doi:10.1177/14789299251323444
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Al-Kandari, A. A., Frederick, E., Alsaber, A., Murad, H. A., AlShallal, A. K., & Dashti, A. (2025) · Communication and the Public · doi:10.1177/20570473251323750
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Li, L., & Xin, J. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5381862
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Jiang, M., & Cluett, L. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-96-8050-4_1
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Akerele-Popoola, O. E., Azeez, A. L., Adeniyi, A., Ajakaiye, O. O. P., Ejem, A. A., & Ojeka-John, R. O. (2025) · Howard Journal of Communications · doi:10.1080/10646175.2025.2573635
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Cozzo, E., & Castillo, J. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5658898
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Castillo, J., & Cozzo, E. (2025) · Chaos Solitons & Fractals · doi:10.1016/j.chaos.2025.117660
Lyu, Z., Takikawa, H., & Shimokubo, T. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5512197
Mishra, V., & Uppal, N. (2026) · Group & Organization Management · doi:10.1177/10596011261425558
With Several Voices: What in situ Group Interviews Can Contribute to Sociology of Voting
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Murunga, P. A. (2026) · Ius gentium · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-17654-7_8
Haumer, F. (2026) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-658-50422-9_13
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Mammadov, R. (2026) · Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly · doi:10.1177/10776990261447911
Holbert, R. L., Bowman, N. D., & Walter, N. (2026) · De Gruyter eBooks · doi:10.1515/9783111087139-004
Development and Psychometric Validation of the Political Silence Scale
Kapusızoğlu, M., & Karadağ, A. (2026) · Politik Ekonomik Kuram · doi:10.30586/pek.1955620
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Bartha, E., & Wolszczak‐Derlacz, J. (2008) · Cadmus - EUI Research Repository (European University Institute)
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Metadata
- Authors
- Scheufle, D. A., & Moy, P.
- ORCID
- Moy, Patricia
- Venue
- International Journal of Public Opinion Research
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2000-03-01
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 3-28
- ISSN
- 0954-2892 (ISSN-L)
- 1471-6909
- OpenAlex
- W2099668057
- Cited by
- 331
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 28 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 15
- FWCI
- 14.63
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Public Opinion Research (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Communication › News Media Framing and Political Communication
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Media Influence and Politics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Statistical and Nonlinear Physics › Opinion Dynamics and Social Influence
- Keywords
- spiral of silence, Noelle-Neumann, cross-cultural comparison, macroscopic variables, attitude expression, conceptualization and operationalization
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