The Narrative Policy Framework and Sticky Beliefs: An Experiment Studying Islamophobia

Abstract

Our study focuses on Islamophobia and the power of facts versus the power of a narrative in shaping individual opinion toward Muslims. We utilise an experimental design to explore three research questions: (1) Is Islamophobia and anti-Muslim sentiment lowered in narrative or factual treatments?; (2) What are the differential effects of the treatments by ideological orientation?; and (3) Is Islamophobia a predictor of policy stances? We find that neither the narrative or factual treatments lowered Islamophobia or anti-Muslim sentiment. However, moderates were significantly influenced by the Facts Treatment, expressing lower levels of anti-Muslim sentiment. Finally, the treatments significantly influenced policy positions for individuals in the Facts Treatment group, who were less likely to support funding increases for border security than subjects in the narrative treatment. Our findings have implications for understanding persuasion, identity protection cognition, and the persistence of Islamophobia within the context of the power of narrative.

Legislating Islamophobia: The factors for the existence of anti-sharia laws in the United States

“…In the second Poisson regression it was the only factor significant at the .05 probability level or higher. This accords with research on this topic that higher education corresponds to lower Islamophobia (Clemons et al., 2019).…”

“…Public Policy and Administration 37(3) topic that higher education corresponds to lower Islamophobia (Clemons et al, 2019). The take-aways from this analysis are the meaningful impacts of the presence of anti-Muslim hate groups, political competition, religiosity, traditionalism and education in either the frequency of anti-sharia law proposals or their existence.…”

Narrative Empathy

“…The first question asked, “Do climate change Skeptics empathize with a narrative that argues the opposite, and does it matter who tells the narrative?” We had expected, based on our literature review (Clemons et al . 2019; Crow and Jones 2018; Kahan et al .…”

“…Others have questioned the power of empathy as a narrative strategy. In NPF research, Crow and Jones (2018) discussed the concept of the “empathy fallacy” which predicts the findings of Clemons et al . (2019).…”

“…Yet, as Crow and Jones (2018) also pointed out, this appeal to empathy can be as ineffective as the similar appeal to knowledge made in many policy disputes. Such a finding is consistent with Clemons et al's (2019) conclusion that emotion and identity play into a person's empathy.…”