Work

A Source Like Any Other? Field and Survey Experiment Evidence on How Interest Groups Shape Public Opinion

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: Interest groups increasingly communicate with the public, yet we know little about how effective they are in shaping opinions. Since interest groups differ from other public communicators, we propose a theory of interest group persuasion. Interest groups typically have a low public profile, and so most people are unlikely to have strong attitudes regarding them. Source-related predispositions, such as credibility assessments, are therefore less relevant in moderating effects of persuasive appeals by interest groups than those of high-profile communicators. We test this argument in multiple large-scale studies. A parallel survey and field experiment (N = 4,659) establishes the persuasive potential of low-profile interest groups in both controlled and realistic settings. An observational study (N = 700) shows that substantial portions of the public are unable to assess interest group credibility. A survey experiment (N = 8,245) demonstrates that credibility assessments moderate the impact of party but not interest group communication.

Source: Journal of Communication

DOI: 10.1093/joc/jqab005

Authors: Andreas Jungherr, Alexander Wuttke, Matthias Mader, Harald Schoen

Institutions: Friedrich Schiller University Jena, University of Mannheim, Mannheim Centre for European Social Research, University of Konstanz

Language: English

Topic: Electoral Systems and Political Participation

Subfield: Political Science and International Relations

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,638

Funders: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Universität Konstanz