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Social constructions of obesity target population: an empirical look at obesity policy narratives

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  • Maria Husmann

Abstract

The present article discusses the results of an empirical test of Schneider and Ingram’s target population framework in terms of the NPF, taking a controversial contemporary issue of obesity as the context for the study. According to Schneider and Ingram, people form normative judgments about policy target populations, which in turn influence the development of public policies serving these populations. A between-subject experiment was conducted to test the power of four policy narratives, devised in accordance with the framework, and to examine the effects of social constructions of target populations on public support for policies either penalizing or benefiting the target population. Findings indicate that social constructions of target populations play an important role in the policy process by triggering individuals to support policies helping and benefiting the positively constructed populations, and policies punishing the negatively constructed populations. In addition, blame and anger as well as sympathy were identified as critical normative judgments produced by social constructions and affecting public attitudes toward the policy issue. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Husmann, 2015. "Social constructions of obesity target population: an empirical look at obesity policy narratives," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 48(4), pages 415-442, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:policy:v:48:y:2015:i:4:p:415-442
    DOI: 10.1007/s11077-015-9229-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Schneider, Anne & Ingram, Helen, 1993. "Social Construction of Target Populations: Implications for Politics and Policy," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 87(2), pages 334-347, June.
    2. Mark Mcbeth & Elizabeth Shanahan, 2004. "Public opinion for sale: The role of policy marketers in Greater Yellowstone policy conflict," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 37(3), pages 319-338, December.
    3. Charles S. Taber & Milton Lodge, 2006. "Motivated Skepticism in the Evaluation of Political Beliefs," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 50(3), pages 755-769, July.
    4. Mark C. Donovan, 1993. "Social Constructions of People with AIDS: Target Populations and United States Policy, 1981–1990," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 12(3‐4), pages 3-29, September.
    5. Thomas J. Kaplan, 1986. "The narrative structure of policy analysis," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 5(4), pages 761-778.
    6. Jill Nicholson‐Crotty & Sean Nicholson‐Crotty, 2004. "Social Construction and Policy Implementation: Inmate Health as a Public Health Issue," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 85(2), pages 240-256, June.
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