Abstract
As a result of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19), U.S. federal, state, and local governmental officials have struggled to coordinate consistent, coherent messaging for citizens to social-distance. The pandemic presents an important context for examining alternative communication frames employed by governments. This study presents results from an artefactual survey experiment in which public-health information regarding COVID-19 was transmitted to a panel of U.S. adult respondents via alternative issue frames and messengers. The findings highlight the importance of delivering consistent messages to the public. Public-health frames positively influence citizen preferences for avoiding unnecessary travel. Conversely, economic frames appear to have the opposite effect, increasing the preference to make unnecessary trips to shop. However, federal messengers appear to strengthen the framing effect relative to expert messengers.
Highlights
As a result of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19), U.S federal, state, and local governmental officials have struggled to coordinate consistent, coherent messaging for citizens to social-distance
This study presents results from an artefactual survey experiment in which public-health information regarding COVID-19 was transmitted to a panel of U.S adult respondents via alternative issue frames and different government messengers
Citizens have been found highly susceptible to framing-effects in their health choices (Gallagher & Updegraff, 2012), and political preferences (Sniderman & Theriault, 2004); this extends to both equivalency framing, in which the wording of two essentially identical questions causes individuals to be more or less risk-averse (Olsen, 2015; Tversky & Kahneman, 1981) as well as issue emphasis framing, where highlighting separate considerations prompts a change in citizen preferences (Chong & Druckman, 2007a)
Summary
As a result of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19), U.S federal, state, and local governmental officials have struggled to coordinate consistent, coherent messaging for citizens to social-distance. This study presents results from an artefactual survey experiment in which public-health information regarding COVID-19 was transmitted to a panel of U.S adult respondents via alternative issue frames and different government messengers. Drawing from media coverage and official executive orders, the experiment uses four distinct aggregate or individual actor types: the CDC and a university-based public health professor, representing expert messengers; and President Trump and state and local governmental officials representing authoritative messengers.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
