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Persuading the Enemy: Estimating the Persuasive Effects of Partisan Media with the Preference-Incorporating Choice and Assignment Design

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  • DE BENEDICTIS-KESSNER, JUSTIN
  • BAUM, MATTHEW A.
  • BERINSKY, ADAM J.
  • YAMAMOTO, TEPPEI

Abstract

Does media choice cause polarization, or merely reflect it? We investigate a critical aspect of this puzzle: How partisan media contribute to attitude polarization among different groups of media consumers. We implement a new experimental design, called the Preference-Incorporating Choice and Assignment (PICA) design, that incorporates both free choice and forced exposure. We estimate jointly the degree of polarization caused by selective exposure and the persuasive effect of partisan media. Our design also enables us to conduct sensitivity analyses accounting for discrepancies between stated preferences and actual choice, a potential source of bias ignored in previous studies using similar designs. We find that partisan media can polarize both its regular consumers and inadvertent audiences who would otherwise not consume it, but ideologically opposing media potentially also can ameliorate the existing polarization between consumers. Taken together, these results deepen our understanding of when and how media polarize individuals.

Suggested Citation

  • De Benedictis-Kessner, Justin & Baum, Matthew A. & Berinsky, Adam J. & Yamamoto, Teppei, 2019. "Persuading the Enemy: Estimating the Persuasive Effects of Partisan Media with the Preference-Incorporating Choice and Assignment Design," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 113(4), pages 902-916, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:apsrev:v:113:y:2019:i:4:p:902-916_3
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    Cited by:

    1. Francesco Capozza & Ingar Haaland & Christopher Roth & Johannes Wohlfart, 2021. "Studying Information Acquisition in the Field: A Practical Guide and Review," CEBI working paper series 21-15, University of Copenhagen. Department of Economics. The Center for Economic Behavior and Inequality (CEBI).
    2. Krzysztof Krakowski & Juan S. Morales & Dani Sandu, 2020. "Violence Against Politicians, Negative Campaigning, and Public Opinion: Evidence from Poland," CHILD Working Papers Series 624 JEL Classification: D, Centre for Household, Income, Labour and Demographic Economics (CHILD) - CCA.
    3. Francesco Capozza & Ingar Haaland & Christopher Roth & Johannes Wohlfart, 2022. "Recent Advances in Studies of News Consumption," ECONtribute Discussion Papers Series 204, University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany.
    4. Magdalena Wojcieszak & Bernhard Clemm von Hohenberg & Andreu Casas & Ericka Menchen-Trevino & Sjifra Leeuw & Alexandre Gonçalves & Miriam Boon, 2022. "Null effects of news exposure: a test of the (un)desirable effects of a ‘news vacation’ and ‘news binging’," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. John M. Carey & Andrew M. Guess & Peter J. Loewen & Eric Merkley & Brendan Nyhan & Joseph B. Phillips & Jason Reifler, 2022. "The ephemeral effects of fact-checks on COVID-19 misperceptions in the United States, Great Britain and Canada," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 6(2), pages 236-243, February.
    6. Krzysztof Krakowski & Juan S. Morales & Dani Sandu, 2020. "Violence Against Politicians, Negative Campaigning, and Public Opinion: Evidence from Poland," Carlo Alberto Notebooks 624 JEL Classification: D, Collegio Carlo Alberto.

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