Immigration Attitudes and Positive Messaging: Evidence From the United States. Issue 2 (March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bearce, David H.; Stallman, Ken
• Is Part Of: American politics research. Volume 51:Issue 2(2023)
• Page Start: 127
• Page End: 138
• Publication Date: 2023-03
• Subjects: immigration attitudes -- labor migration -- messaging -- national security; Public opinion -- United States -- Periodicals; United States -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; 320.973
• DOI: 10.1177/1532673X221078276
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1532-673X

Abstract

This paper considers a messaging strategy to shift immigration preferences, arguing that if citizen attitudes in this issue-area build from several dimensions, then a positive message related to each dimension should move attitudes in a more favorable direction. It tests the first part using original survey data with directly comparable questions about whether immigration hurts/helps American culture/the economy/national security, providing evidence that all three dimensions currently support the preferences of voting-age citizens. It tests the second part by randomly presenting another sample with different messages about how labor immigration strengthens national security, creates new jobs, or enhances culture, finding that all three reduce anti-immigration attitudes with significant effects even within groups that are more opposed to immigration (namely, white Americans, those with less education, and partisan Republicans).