How Narrative Focus and a Statistical Map Shape Policy Support Among State Legislators

• In Event: ICA Plenary Interactive Paper/Poster Session and Reception
  In Interactive Paper Session: Political Communication Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

This study attempts to advance theorizing about policy advocacy with combinations of narrative focus and a statistical map in an attempt to increase state legislators’ support for policies to address the issue of obesity by reducing food deserts. Specifically, we examine state legislators’ responses to variations in narrative focus (individual vs. community) and a statistical map (presence vs. absence) depicting the prevalence of food deserts across the U.S. Using a web-based randomized experiment (N = 496), we show that narrative focus and the statistical map interact to produce different patterns of cognitive response and support for policies to reduce the prevalence of food deserts. Individual narratives were more effective when paired with a statistical map than in the absence of such an image; the image did not have an impact when combined with a story describing a community at large. Cognitive responses fully mediated message effects on intended persuasive outcomes.

Authors

• Jeff Niederdeppe, Cornell U

• Sungjong Roh, Cornell University

• Caitlin Dreisbach, Johns Hopkins U