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To shop or shelter? Issue framing effects and social-distancing preferences in the COVID-19 pandemic

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  • Aaron Deslatte

    (Indiana University Bloomington)

Abstract

As a result of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19), U.S. federal, state, and local governmental officials have struggled to coordinate consistent, coherent messaging for citizens to social-distance. The pandemic presents an important context for examining alternative communication frames employed by governments. This study presents results from an artefactual survey experiment in which public-health information regarding COVID-19 was transmitted to a panel of U.S. adult respondents via alternative issue frames and messengers. The findings highlight the importance of delivering consistent messages to the public. Public-health frames positively influence citizen preferences for avoiding unnecessary travel. Conversely, economic frames appear to have the opposite effect, increasing the preference to make unnecessary trips to shop. However, federal messengers appear to strengthen the framing effect relative to expert messengers.

Suggested Citation

  • Aaron Deslatte, 2020. "To shop or shelter? Issue framing effects and social-distancing preferences in the COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Behavioral Public Administration, Center for Experimental and Behavioral Public Administration, vol. 3(1).
    • Handle: RePEc:bpd:articl:v:3:y:2020:i:1:jbpa.31.158
    DOI: 10.30636/jbpa.31.158
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Yuen, Vera W.H., 2023. "The efficacy of health experts’ communication in inducing support for COVID-19 measures and effect on trustworthiness: A survey in Hong Kong," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 317(C).
    2. Syon P. Bhanot & Daniel J. Hopkins, 2020. "Partisan polarization and resistance to elite messages: Results from survey experiments on social distancing," Journal of Behavioral Public Administration, Center for Experimental and Behavioral Public Administration, vol. 3(2).
    3. Sandra Aguilar-Gomez & Eva O. Arceo-Gomez & Elia De la Cruz Toledo & Pedro J. Torres L�pez, 2021. "Leadership, public health messaging, and containment of mobility in Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic," Documentos de Trabajo 18893, The Latin American and Caribbean Economic Association (LACEA).
    4. Avishai, Aya & Ribisl, Kurt M. & Sheeran, Paschal, 2023. "Realizing the Tobacco Endgame: Understanding and mobilizing public support for banning combustible cigarette sales in the United States," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 327(C).
    5. Schunk, Daniel & Wagner, Valentin, 2021. "What determines the willingness to sanction violations of newly introduced social norms: Personality traits or economic preferences? evidence from the COVID-19 crisis," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 93(C).

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    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • Z00 - Other Special Topics - - General - - - General
    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General

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