The Role of Message Frame and Contact in Young Adults' Attitudes toward Older Adults and Social Security

Message framing and intergroup contact theories provide the framework for this study to examine how episodic and thematic political message frames affect young adults' attitudes toward older adults and Social Security. Three specific moderators were examined: direct contact, trait empathy, and...

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Main Author: Springer, Sheila Ann
Other Authors: Harwood, Jake
Language:en
Published: The University of Arizona. 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10150/265353
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spelling ndltd-arizona.edu-oai-arizona.openrepository.com-10150-2653532015-10-23T04:59:01Z The Role of Message Frame and Contact in Young Adults' Attitudes toward Older Adults and Social Security Springer, Sheila Ann Harwood, Jake Kenski, Kate Rains, Steve Episodic and thematic frames Political messages Communication Attitudes toward aging Contact theory Message framing and intergroup contact theories provide the framework for this study to examine how episodic and thematic political message frames affect young adults' attitudes toward older adults and Social Security. Three specific moderators were examined: direct contact, trait empathy, and critical consumption skills. Effects were explored experimentally using manipulated messages about abolishing Social Security. Results indicated that political message framing related to public policies does affect attitudes toward those policies. Respondents in the episodic condition reported significantly more negative attitudes toward Social Security than respondents in the thematic and control conditions. A significant effect on individual attribution of responsibility was also found such that respondents in the thematic condition rated individual responsibility significantly lower than respondents in the atypical condition. The study extends previous work by examining both intended and unintended attitudinal consequences of message frames. 2012 text Electronic Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10150/265353 en Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. The University of Arizona.
collection NDLTD
language en
sources NDLTD
topic Episodic and thematic frames
Political messages
Communication
Attitudes toward aging
Contact theory
spellingShingle Episodic and thematic frames
Political messages
Communication
Attitudes toward aging
Contact theory
Springer, Sheila Ann
The Role of Message Frame and Contact in Young Adults' Attitudes toward Older Adults and Social Security
description Message framing and intergroup contact theories provide the framework for this study to examine how episodic and thematic political message frames affect young adults' attitudes toward older adults and Social Security. Three specific moderators were examined: direct contact, trait empathy, and critical consumption skills. Effects were explored experimentally using manipulated messages about abolishing Social Security. Results indicated that political message framing related to public policies does affect attitudes toward those policies. Respondents in the episodic condition reported significantly more negative attitudes toward Social Security than respondents in the thematic and control conditions. A significant effect on individual attribution of responsibility was also found such that respondents in the thematic condition rated individual responsibility significantly lower than respondents in the atypical condition. The study extends previous work by examining both intended and unintended attitudinal consequences of message frames.
author2 Harwood, Jake
author_facet Harwood, Jake
Springer, Sheila Ann
author Springer, Sheila Ann
author_sort Springer, Sheila Ann
title The Role of Message Frame and Contact in Young Adults' Attitudes toward Older Adults and Social Security
title_short The Role of Message Frame and Contact in Young Adults' Attitudes toward Older Adults and Social Security
title_full The Role of Message Frame and Contact in Young Adults' Attitudes toward Older Adults and Social Security
title_fullStr The Role of Message Frame and Contact in Young Adults' Attitudes toward Older Adults and Social Security
title_full_unstemmed The Role of Message Frame and Contact in Young Adults' Attitudes toward Older Adults and Social Security
title_sort role of message frame and contact in young adults' attitudes toward older adults and social security
publisher The University of Arizona.
publishDate 2012
url http://hdl.handle.net/10150/265353
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