Policy Narratives and Public Opinion concerning Charter Schools

According to the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF) approach, anecdotes about policy can be used to clarify whether and how policy narratives impact individual public opinion, which in turn shapes aggregate public opinion. This study focuses on the effect of narratives in shaping opinions regarding charter schools, one of the most controversial policy alternatives in the school-choice debate. This policy lends itself well to being examined using an NPF approach, since both the supporters and skeptics use strong and distinct narratives to present their case and to advocate for their cause. To examine whether different policy narratives on charter schools influence individuals' opinions and attitudes and preferred policy outcome, a quasi-experimental design is used to compare baseline and follow-up opinion data for individuals who read policy narratives reflecting different positions. The results indicate that policy narratives influence public opinion, and that congruence and issue familiarity matter in the nature of the change. Related Articles Shanahan, Elizabeth A., Mark K. McBeth, and Paul L. Hathaway. 2011. “Narrative Policy Framework: The Influence of Policy Narratives on Public Opinion.” Politics & Policy 39 (3): 373-400. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2011.00295.x/abstract Delshad, Ashlie B. 2013. “Telling Stories: Exogenous Influences on Media, Presidential, and Congressional Framing of Biofuels.” Politics & Policy 41 (2): 213-240. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/polp.12009/abstract Post, Lori Ann, Amber N. W. Raile, and Eric D. Raile. 2010. “Defining Political Will.” Politics & Policy 38 (4): 653-676. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2010.00253.x/abstract Related Media Video Woodrow Wilson Center. 2013. Panel titled “Storytelling Is Serious Business: Narratives, Research, and Policy.” October 16. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5ubezaJwN8 Podcast Claudio Sanchez, Claudio. 2013. NPR News podcast. “The Charter School vs. Public School Debate Continues.” July 16. http://n.pr/12tzU6q Blog Post Cairney, Paul. 2014. “The Psychology of Evidence Based Policymaking: Who Will Speak For the Evidence if it Doesn't Speak for Itself?” Web blog post. April 7. Paul Cairney: Politics & Public Policy. https://paulcairney.wordpress.com/tag/narrative-policy-framework/ De acuerdo al enfoque del marco narrativo de politicas (NPF por sus siglas en ingles), las anecdotas sobre politicas pueden ser utilizadas para aclarar como las narrativas de politicas influyen sobre la opinion publica que a su vez moldean la opinion publica agregada. Este estudio se enfoca sobre el efecto de las narrativas cuando moldean opiniones en relacion a las escuelas charter, una de las mas controversiales en el debate sobre eleccion de escuelas. Esta politica se presta al examen del enfoque NPF, dado que tanto los proponentes como los escepticos utilizan narrativas fuertes y distintas para presentar su caso y para abogar por su causa. Para examinar si diferentes narrativas de politicas sobre las escuelas charter influyen sobre las opiniones y actitudes de los individuos asi como sobre el resultado preferido de las politicas, utilizaremos un dise˜no casi-experimental para comparar la opinion en el punto inicial y darle seguimiento para individuos que leen narrativas de politicas que reflejan diferentes posiciones. Los resultados indican que las narrativas de politicas influyen sobre la opinion publica y que la congruencia asi como la familiaridad con el asunto cuentan en la naturaleza del cambio.