DOI

https://doi.org/10.25772/SDMY-NH84

Author ORCID Identifier

0009-0002-8688-8946

Defense Date

2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Public Policy & Administration

First Advisor

Nancy Morris

Second Advisor

Lindsey Evans

Third Advisor

Robyn McDougle

Fourth Advisor

Nicole Corley

Abstract

This dissertation examines how exposure to social media and internet news videos depicting police misconduct influences college students' perceptions of campus police legitimacy, procedural justice, and willingness to cooperate. Although prior research has demonstrated the impact of media portrayals on perceptions of municipal police, limited attention has been given to campus policing contexts. Guided by Tyler’s process-based theory of police legitimacy and Gerbner’s cultivation theory, this quantitative study surveyed 400 students at a large public university in the Southeastern Mid-Atlantic region. Measures included self-reported viewing and engagement with police misconduct content on social media, internet, and traditional media platforms, as well as assessments of legitimacy, procedural justice, and cooperation.

Multivariate regression analyses revealed that greater exposure to police misconduct on internet news and social media platforms was significantly associated with lower perceptions of legitimacy, procedural justice, and cooperation with campus police. Political orientation moderated these relationships, with conservatives showing steeper declines in trust and willingness to cooperate with increased exposure, while liberals maintained lower, stable perceptions across exposure levels.

These findings underscore the relevance of digital media in shaping students’ views of institutional authority and support the resonance and substitution hypotheses of cultivation theory. The study concludes that campus police legitimacy is not insulated from national police narratives and suggests the need for trauma-informed, transparent, and community-based policing strategies tailored to university environments.

Rights

© Kamal Alhassan

Is Part Of

VCU University Archives

Is Part Of

VCU Theses and Dissertations

Date of Submission

5-8-2025

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