Who Said What The Effects of Source Cues in Issue

Authors: Todd K Hartman Christopher R Weber

Publish Date: 2009/03/18

Volume: 31, Issue: 4, Pages: 537-

PDF Link

Abstract

Drawing on previous research concerning the role that source cues play in political information processing we examine whether an ideological identity match between the source of a framed message and the respondent moderates framing effects We test our hypotheses in two experiments concerning attitudes toward a proposed rally by the Ku Klux Klan In Experiment 1 N = 274 we test our hypothesis in a simple issue framing experiment We find that framing effects occur for strong identifiers only when there is a match between the ideology of the speaker and respondent In Experiment 2 N = 259 we examine whether matched frames resonate equally well when individuals are simultaneously exposed to competing frames The results from this experiment provide mixed support for our hypotheses The results from our studies suggest that identity matching is an important factor to consider in future framing researchThis project was completed while we were graduate students at Stony Brook University and we owe thanks to our many discussions with the faculty and graduate students there In particular we would like to offer a special thanks to Milton Lodge Stanley Feldman and Howard Lavine for their guidance as well as Erin Cassese Jamie Druckman Nick Valentino and Paul Brewer for their helpful suggestions Earlier versions of this paper were presented at the American Political Science Association and Midwest Political Science Association annual conferences We also thank the editors and anonymous reviewers for their comments Finally Todd would like to thank his wife Kristen for entering the dataset in its entiretyHow far is Stony Brook University prepared to go to protect freedom of speech The Ku Klux Klan has requested a permit to conduct a speech and rally on the Stony Brook campus during the Spring Semester of 2006 Officials and administrators will decide whether to approve or deny the request in JanuaryNumerous courts have ruled that the US Constitution ensures that the Klan has the right to speak and hold rallies on public grounds and that individuals have the right to hear the Klan’s message if they are interested Many of the Klan’s appearances around New York have been marked by violent clashes between Klan supporters and counterdemonstrators who show up to protest the Klan’s racist activities In one confrontation last July in Buffalo New York several bystanders were injured by rocks thrown by Klan supporters and protesters Usually a large police force is needed to control the crowdsOpinion about the speech and rally is mixed Liberals/Conservatives worry about the rally but support the group’s right to speak One Liberal/Conservative remarked “I hate the Klan but they have the right to speak and people have the right to hear them if they want to We may have some concerns about the rally but the right to speak and hear what you want takes precedence over our fears about what could happen”Opinion about the speech and rally is mixed Liberals/Conservatives have expressed great concern about campus safety and security during a Klan rally One Liberal/Conservative remarked “Freedom of speech is important but so is the safety of the Stony Brook community and the security of the campus Considering the violence at past KKK rallies I don’t think the University has an obligation to allow this to go on Safety must be our top priority”

Keywords: