Knowledge Gap

The Knowledge Gap theory also known as Knowledge Gap hypothesis, suggests that there is a difference between more and less formal education. This theory was first proposed in 1970 by Philip J Tichenor, then Associate Professor of Journalism and mass Communication, George A. Donohue, Professor of Sociology and Clarice. N Olien,  Instructor in Sociology, all three researchers in the University of Minnesota. They defined the Knowledge Gap theory, “as the infusion of mass media information into a social system increases higher socioeconomic status segments tend to acquire this information faster than lower socioeconomic status population segments so that gap in knowledge between the two tends to increase rather than decrease.” This theory further suggests that this gap widens as more information comes into the world. Essentially, the theory states that the people who are already rich in information get richer when they have access to more information platforms such as reading newspapers and even watching television news reports. While those who have relatively less background knowledge gain information at a lesser rate. According to Bonfadelli (2002) he views the knowledge gap as an apparent failure by the mass media to reach the public and thereby concentrating on those who are not in real need of it which are the motivated and already informed segment of the society.

            An example of this theory would be the Digital Divide. According to WhatIs.TechTarget.Com,  it refers to the gap between demographics and regions that have access to modern information and communications technology, and those that don't or have restricted access. This technology can include the telephone, television, personal computers and the Internet. It exists between the cities and in the rural areas; the educated and the non-educated; and between the more and less developed countries in the world. It comes in the form of low-performance computers, low-speed internet connections, and limited access to wireless connections.

            Because of the theory, the kids-tv show Sesame Street was created. The 1965 television debut of the show was designed specifically to narrow the knowledge disparities as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society initiative, provides an example of the difficulties of closing the gap. It was an educational, government head-start program for the disadvantaged pre-schoolers. According to Ball and Bogatz 1970-1971, the first and second year of the showed evidence of increasing differences, helping children who were sort of prepared for formal reading and education far more less than the less prepared children, the show said to have narrowed the gap.

            My final example for the theory is the controlled media in Nigeria. It is said that in Nigeria, more than 60% of the media is controlled by politicians. This itself is a pointer to the fact that those within the political circle access information faster than the people of Nigeria. Also, there is a low percent of newspaper readership in the country, with only less than one million readers. Newspapers tends to only inform the elite, party conscious and not the less casual reader. Although television makes up for the gap in Nigeria. The theory leaves us to debate over the point if one’s level of education truly endears you to public affairs.