Narrative premiums in policy persuasion

Bibliographic Data

ID7352123
AuthorsKeisuke Kawata (0000-0002-2761-9255, Institute Social Science The University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan), Kenneth Mori Mcelwain (0000-0002-9982-4784, Institute Social Science The University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan), Masaki Nakabayashi (0000-0003-1096-1350, Institute Social Science The University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan)
Year2023
Volume45
Issue2
Pages383-405
Publication date2023-09-22
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePolitical Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0162-895X • E-ISSN: 1467-9221
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/pops.12928
OpenAlexW4386982726
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited50

Survey experiments have shown mixed results about the effect of information provision on attitudes toward controversial policies. We argue that one reason is varied receptiveness to different modes of information. Prior research suggests that people selectively ignore factual, statistical information that contradicts prior beliefs but are more attentive to narrative information that describes individual experiences. We test this in the context of Japanese attitudes toward poverty relief programs, which are less popular than other welfare expenditures. Using a conjoint survey, we show that there is a “narrative premium”: Respondents who are shown a narrative story about the plight of a single mother are more likely to support higher expenditures on poverty relief than those who are shown statistical information about the share of single parents living in poverty. This premium is particularly effective in strengthening the convictions of those who are already aware of levels of societal poverty

Context (archaeology · Economic growth · Economics · Narrative · Persuasion · Poverty · Sociology · Test (biology · Welfare · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · History · Media Influence and Politics · Psychology · Social Psychology

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Open DOIOpen Access