Proper Use Hypothesis
Overall, the public relations terms were used properly (58.4%) more often than improperly (41.6%). This contradicts H1, which proposed that public relations terms would be used inaccurately more than they would be accurately; however, investigation of the top two most commonly occurring terms revealed a difference in usage. According to crosstabs data analysis, the most common PR-related terms used in these stories were not used in the same manner (χ2 (1, N = 196) = 4.37, p < .05). A review of the data suggests that the term “PR” is used properly on the evening network news 64.5% of the time; however, the term “public relations” is used properly only 48.5%.
The accuracy of term usage by networks was examined as well. According to crosstabs data analysis, there was no difference in the treatment of the terms by network in a proper versus improper manner (χ2 (2, N = 226) = 4.38, p > .05).