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Vested interest and symbolic politics--observations and recommendations: reply To Sears (1997)
1Department of Communication, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, USA. crano@ccit.arizona.edu
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|March 1, 1997
Summary
This study addresses critiques of research on vested interest, symbolic politics, and attitude-behavior consistency. It defends the analytic logic and significance of effects, suggesting a more integrated approach is needed.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Political Psychology
Background:
- Critiques questioned the analytic design, effect sizes, and respondent characteristics in previous research on vested interest and symbolic politics.
- A commentary by D. Sears (1997) specifically addressed these points regarding an original article by W. D. Crano (1997).
Purpose of the Study:
- To respond to critiques concerning the analytic logic, strength of effects, and potential respondent characteristics influencing attitude-behavior consistency.
- To clarify the relationship between survey and laboratory findings on self-interest and attitudes.
Main Methods:
- The study involves a critical response and defense of the original analytic approach.
- It re-evaluates the statistical and practical significance of reported effects.
- It discusses the integration of self-interest and symbolic politics in attitude research.
Main Results:
- The analytic logic employed is deemed appropriate and consistent with standard practices, despite differing from typical survey studies.
- The reported effects are both statistically significant and practically meaningful.
- The perceived discontinuity between laboratory and survey findings may be less pronounced than suggested.
Conclusions:
- The original study's analytic approach is defended.
- The significance of the findings is reaffirmed.
- A stronger integration of self-interest and symbolic politics is recommended for future research to enhance understanding of attitude-behavior consistency.