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Responding to Policy Signals? An Experimental Study on Information about Policy Adoption and Data Retention Policy Support in Germany
- Source :
- Social Science Quarterly; 102; 2; 830-843
- Publication Year :
- 2022
-
Abstract
- Objective: We analyze whether and how individuals react to information about the adoption of a particular policy, with a focus on the role of conservatism. Methods: We conducted an online survey experiment on support for data retention in Germany. A recent law on this issue allowed us to test the effects of two policy signals, information about the adoption of a new law (law signal) and information that this followed a Constitutional Court decision (law and court signal), on separate groups of respondents. Results: Our results show a positive effect of each policy signal on support for data retention. The effect of the law signal was even slightly stronger for individuals with conservative beliefs. Conclusion: Illustrating how lock-in effects of policies can work, our study contributes to research on attitudinal policy feedback: creating new legislation also means legitimizing the policy position in question and stating that this norm should be accepted.
Details
- Database :
- OAIster
- Journal :
- Social Science Quarterly; 102; 2; 830-843
- Publication Type :
- Electronic Resource
- Accession number :
- edsoai.on1355169480
- Document Type :
- Electronic Resource