Framing Effects on Public Opinion about Nanotechnology

In this study, I examine whether Americans’ emotions and opinions about nanotechnology are influenced by how the issue is framed. Using data collected from an experiment embedded within a national survey, I find consistent framing effects even though the magnitudes of respondents’ opinion changes ar...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inScience communication Vol. 27; no. 2; pp. 221 - 239
Main Author Cobb, Michael D.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Thousand Oaks, CA SAGE Publications 01.12.2005
SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
Subjects
Nanotechnology
Perceptions
Public opinion surveys
United States
US
framing
nanotechnology
public opinion
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Summary:In this study, I examine whether Americans’ emotions and opinions about nanotechnology are influenced by how the issue is framed. Using data collected from an experiment embedded within a national survey, I find consistent framing effects even though the magnitudes of respondents’ opinion changes are not especially large. Frames about specific risks and benefits of nanotechnology are more influential than frames based on general beliefs about the merits of science, and framing nanotechnology as beneficial is only somewhat less powerful than framing it as risky. I conclude by discussing the implications of these framing effects for future mass opinions about nanotechnology.
ISSN:1075-5470
1552-8545
DOI:10.1177/1075547005281473