Table 3 Explanations and Measurements of Variables.

From: Home Team Effect and Opinion Network after the Sewol Ferry Disaster: A mixed-method study of the influence of symbol and feedback on liberal versus conservative newspapers’ negative opinions

Variables

Explanations

Measurements

Dependent Variable

Negative opinion

on President Park’s administration

A magnitude of negative opinions of President Park’s administration presented in liberal/conservative newspapers’ editorials. A higher absolute value represents a stronger negative opinion.

The sum of centrality for President Park’s administration (Park administration, President Park, Blue House, and ruling party) within a network map of negative opinion messages.

Independent Variables

 Independent Variables - Symbol on Hypothesis 1 – MSA

Emotional Symbol

A magnitude of condolences, pities, sympathies, and comforts offered to victims of the Sewol Ferry Disaster expressed through positive opinions in liberal/conservative newspapers’ editorials. A higher absolute value represents a stronger positive opinion.

The sum of the centrality for positive opinion (in-degree) of the victims, victims’ families, high school victims, and survivors per week.

Cognitive Symbol

Number of missing bodies found per week.

Take the log of the sum of discovered bodies per week.

 Independent Variables – Positive and Negative Feedback on Hypothesis 2 – PET

Positive Feedback]

Resignation of Prime Minister Chung

The period prime minister Chung resigned. Prime Minister Chung resigned for failed obligations in the Sewol Ferry Disaster (April 27, 2014). He remained in office after failing to select an alternative Prime Minister (June 26, 2014).

Before resigning, Prime Minister Chung: 1–2 weeks (coded with 0)

After resigning Prime Minister Chung: 3–11 weeks (coded with 1)

After resigning, President Park told to Prime Minister Chung to remain current: 12–38 weeks (coded with 0)

Positive Feedback]

Chasing Mr. Yoo

The period of Mr. Yoo’s search. The prosecutor notified Mr. Yoo to appear as a suspect (May 13, 2014), asking for a preliminary arrest warrant (May 16, 2014).

Before searching for Mr. Yoo: 1–4 weeks (coded with 0)

After searching for Mr. Yoo: 5–14 weeks (coded with 1)

After Mr. Yoo was revealed to be dead: 15–38 weeks (coded with 0)

Positive Feedback]

Announcing dismantling KCG

The period after President Park declared KCG dismantlement. President Park declared the dismantling of KCG (May 19, 2014).

Before announcing dismantling KCG: 1–5 weeks (coded with 0)

After announcing dismantling KCG: 6- 38 weeks (coded with 1)

Positive Feedback]

Passing Bills (three Sewol Acts)

The period after passing bills. The day the agenda was submitted to the plenary session and passed (November 7, 2014).

Before passing bills: 1–30 weeks (coded with 0)

After passing bills: 31–38 weeks (coded with 1)a

Negative feedback]

End of the retrieving bodies mission.

The period after the body retrieval mission. The government declared the end of body retrieval (November 11, 2014).

Before the end of the body retrieval mission: 1–30 weeks (coded with 0)

After the body retrieval mission: 31–38 weeks (coded with 1)

Negative feedback]

Establishing MPSS

The period after MPSS establishment. After dismantling KCG, the government established MPSS (November 19, 2014).

Before establishing MPSS: 1–31 weeks (coded with 0)

After establishing MPSS: 32–38 weeks (coded with 1)

  1. aBecause November 7, 2014, was Friday (30 week), I considered that the bill was not passed until week 30 because the newspapers did not have time to express their opinion. Thus, passing a bill and end of the operation were considered as occurring at 31 weeks.
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