What question did this study set out to answer?

To determine how and why citizens process political information in a biased manner when evaluating controversial policy issues.

June 21, 2006American Journal of Political Science

Motivated Skepticism in the Evaluation of Political Beliefs

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Authors

CTCharles S. TaberStony Brook University MLMilton LodgeStony Brook University

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Implication

Experimental studies demonstrate confirmation and disconfirmation biases during political argument evaluation, indicating that motivated skepticism drives attitude polarization in citizens.

Key Points

To determine how and why citizens process political information in a biased manner when evaluating controversial policy issues.
Conducted two experimental studies evaluating participant responses to pro and con arguments concerning affirmative action and gun control.
Assessed argument evaluation, source selection behaviors, and pre- to post-exposure attitude changes (t1 vs. t2) across different levels of political sophistication.
Participants showed a strong prior attitude effect, rating attitudinally congruent arguments as stronger and actively counterarguing contrary positions (disconfirmation bias).
Participants exhibited confirmation bias by selectively seeking out supportive sources when granted choice over their reading material.
Both confirmation and disconfirmation biases produced significant attitude polarization (strengthening t2 attitudes over t1), with the largest effects occurring among participants with the strongest priors and highest political sophistication.

Cite This Study

Taber et al. (2006) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69d77dc6db9d5e1bf4b8b1ae https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5907.2006.00214.x

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Implication

Experimental studies demonstrate confirmation and disconfirmation biases during political argument evaluation, indicating that motivated skepticism drives attitude polarization in citizens.

Motivated Skepticism in the Evaluation of Political Beliefs

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Motivated Skepticism in the Evaluation of Political Beliefs

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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