Priming More Productive Views of Government: Survey Experiment Results

Negative views of government are no surprise. But the effects of different frames might be.

This study reports on a priming experiment conducted via telephone with 2,603 adults nationwide. Unlike a descriptive survey, a priming survey is experimental, testing the effects of different frames and frame elements. Results show that an effective reframing of government requires 1) elevating the visibility of the mission and values of government (Common Good, Protector of Public Health, etc) and 2) providing the public with a vivid model of the public structures that influence American’s quality of life.