Ideology, Attitude Change, and Deliberation in Small Face-to-Face Groups

Political Communication: Vol. 25, Iss. 1

Posted: 17 Feb 2016

See all articles by John Gastil

John Gastil

Pennsylvania State University

Laura Black

Ohio University

Kara Moscovitz

Independent

Date Written: February 04, 2008

Abstract

Previous research has found that face-to-face deliberation can result in aggregate shifts in participants' political views. What is less well known is how such attitude changes vary depending on individual attributes and the nature of a group's deliberation. The present study extends prior research by exploring the relationship between participant ideology and attitude change in small, face-to-face groups. To test a set of hypotheses and research questions, 57 zero-history groups discussed three different public problems for 30–60 minutes, and each participant completed pre- and postdiscussion questionnaires. Participant ideology had a clear association with changes on specific discussion-related issues, but participants from every ideological group experienced increased differentiation between ideologically distinct attitudes. Within-group variance in attitude change was positively correlated with average group scores on self-reported measures of deliberation, extraversion, and conscientiousness. The conclusion discusses these and other findings in relation to future research and public deliberation programs.

Keywords: attitude change, Big Five personality factors, decision making, deliberation, democracy, ideology, polarization, public opinion, small group communication

Suggested Citation

Gastil, John and Black, Laura and Moscovitz, Kara, Ideology, Attitude Change, and Deliberation in Small Face-to-Face Groups (February 04, 2008). Political Communication: Vol. 25, Iss. 1, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2732753

John Gastil (Contact Author)

Pennsylvania State University ( email )

University Park, PA 16802
United States

Laura Black

Ohio University ( email )

Athens, OH 45701-2979
United States

Kara Moscovitz

Independent ( email )

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