Shining a Light on Partisanship: How Inducing Partisan and Accuracy Motivations Shifts Public Opinion

In this study, I utilize the theory of motivated reasoning to test hypotheses about how individuals respond to motivational inducements and elite partisan endorsements of tariffs on solar panels. Additionally, I look at how political knowledge moderates this process. I directly induced processing goals (none, directional, or accuracy); after which, respondents were given a message containing competing frames about the policy with varied partisan endorsements. <br>I found that individuals’ opinions are highly susceptible to elite partisan endorsements. The study yielded evidence that inducing directional goals increases the effect of partisan cues. Further, contrary to expectations, I found mixed support for the proposition that accuracy goals moderate the effect of the partisan endorsement as previous literature had demonstrated. I also found that effects of the endorsements were magnified among the most knowledgeable participants. Finally, though not predicted, I found that Democrats drove all results, while Republicans did not shift support. <br><br><br>