Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2025
06:42
Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses
Published on: September 28, 2018
11.6K
Narratives and opinion polarization: a survey experiment
Armenak Antinyan1, Thomas Bassetti2, Luca Corazzini3
1Thames Water Utilities, Clearwater Court Vastern Rd, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 8DB, UK.
Scientific Reports
|August 25, 2024
Summary
Narratives shape beliefs about COVID-19 origins, potentially increasing polarization. Exposure to different explanations influences policy opinions, with one narrative fostering trust in science and climate protection.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Political Science
- Communication Studies
Background:
- Understanding the influence of information narratives on public opinion is crucial.
- COVID-19 pandemic origins have been a subject of intense public and political debate.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how different narratives about COVID-19 origins impact beliefs and policy opinions.
- To identify mechanisms of polarization driven by narrative exposure and social context.
Main Methods:
- A survey experiment exposing US subjects to two distinct COVID-19 origin narratives: 'Lab Narrative' and 'Nature Narrative'.
- Analysis of changes in individual beliefs about virus origins and policy preferences.
Main Results:
- Both narratives influenced beliefs about COVID-19 origins, aligning with exposure.
- The 'Nature Narrative' increased support for climate protection and trust in science.
- The 'Lab Narrative' induced polarization on climate change and foreign trade policy between partisan groups.
Conclusions:
- Narrative exposure can polarize beliefs and policy opinions through different mechanisms.
- Exposure to scientific narratives can foster pro-science and climate-friendly attitudes.
- Social context and partisan alignment moderate the impact of specific narratives on policy opinions.
Related Concept Videos
01:01Group Polarization
34.2K
Group polarization is the strengthening of an original group attitude following the discussion of views within a group (Teger & Pruitt, 1967). That is, if a group initially favors a viewpoint, after discussion the group consensus is likely a stronger endorsement of the viewpoint. Conversely, if the group was initially opposed to a viewpoint, group discussion would likely lead to stronger opposition.
34.2K
02:16Surveys
14.7K
Often, psychologists develop surveys as a means of gathering data. Surveys are lists of questions to be answered by research participants, and can be delivered as paper-and-pencil questionnaires, administered electronically, or conducted verbally. Generally, the survey itself can be completed in a short time, and the ease of administering a survey makes it easy to collect data from a large number of people.
14.7K
00:52Social Proof
27.6K
Social proof is a form of persuasion based on comparison and conformity. People compare their behavior and actions to what others are doing and will change to conform to do what their peers do.
27.6K
02:09Stereotype Threat and Self-fulfilling Prophecies
37.6K
When we hold a stereotype about a person, we have expectations that he or she will fulfill that stereotype. A self-fulfilling prophecy is an expectation held by a person that alters his or her behavior in a way that tends to make it true. When we hold stereotypes about a person, we tend to treat the person according to our expectations. This treatment can influence the person to act according to our stereotypic expectations, thus confirming our stereotypic beliefs. Research by Rosenthal and...
37.6K
01:13Data Collection by Experiments
24.0K
Data collection is a systematic method of obtaining, observing, measuring, and analyzing accurate information. An experimental study is a standard method of data collection that involves the manipulation of the samples by applying some form of treatment prior to data collection. It refers to manipulating one variable to determine its changes on another variable. The sample subjected to treatment is known as “experimental units.”
An example of the experimental method is a public...
An example of the experimental method is a public...
24.0K
01:13Randomized Experiments
6.8K
The randomization process involves assigning study participants randomly to experimental or control groups based on their probability of being equally assigned. Randomization is meant to eliminate selection bias and balance known and unknown confounding factors so that the control group is similar to the treatment group as much as possible. A computer program and a random number generator can be used to assign participants to groups in a way that minimizes bias.
Simple randomization
Simple...
Simple randomization
Simple...
6.8K