Economic Individualism, Humanitarianism, and Welfare Reform: A Value-Based Account of Framing Effects

Over the years, scholars have demonstrated that media framing of political issues may significantly affect the way in which individuals interpret and think about these issues. However, a growing body of recent research has indicated that the impact of framing may vary due to individual differences. This study extends framing research by examining how individuals' core values might interact with news frames in affecting their cognitions and opinions of welfare reform. We presented respondents with newspaper articles that framed the issue of welfare reform by emphasizing the need for public assistance or strict work requirements. Results indicated that both news frames and individual values (i.e., humanitarianism and individualism) had a significant impact on individuals' issue thoughts and attitudes. Further, individual values and news frames had some significant interaction effects on audience responses.