Can reducing learning costs improve public support for means‐tested benefit programs?

This study investigates how efforts to reduce learning costs of means‐tested public benefit programs impact public support of these programs and perceived deservingness of program beneficiaries. Focusing on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the United States, a well‐known means...

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Publicado en:Policy Studies Journal Vol. 53; no. 1; pp. 135 - 158
Autores principales: Porumbescu, Gregory, Walsh, Stephanie, Hetling, Andrea
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Wiley-Blackwell Feb2025
Materias:
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Feb2025
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      pub: Wiley-Blackwell
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        atl: Can reducing learning costs improve public support for means‐tested benefit programs?
      aug:
        au:
          Porumbescu, Gregory
          Walsh, Stephanie
          Hetling, Andrea
        affil:
          Department of Public Administration and Policy, University of Georgia, Athens Georgia,, USA
          Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers University – New Brunswick, New Brunswick New Jersey,, USA
      su:
        Public opinion
        Public support
        Theory-practice relationship
        Education research
        Learning
      sug:
        subj:
          Public opinion
          Public support
          Theory-practice relationship
          Education research
          Learning
          Educational Support Services
          All Other Miscellaneous Schools and Instruction
          Administration of Education Programs
      keyword:
        program awareness
        safety net
        SNAP
        technology
        Concientización sobre el programa
        Red de seguridad
        Tecnología
        安全网
        技术
        补充营养援助计划
        计划意识
        program awareness
        safety net
        SNAP
        technology
        Concientización sobre el programa
        Red de seguridad
        Tecnología
        安全网
        技术
        补充营养援助计划
        计划意识
      ab: This study investigates how efforts to reduce learning costs of means‐tested public benefit programs impact public support of these programs and perceived deservingness of program beneficiaries. Focusing on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the United States, a well‐known means‐tested public benefit program, we integrate research from educational psychology with policy feedback theory, predicting that the structure of information about SNAP's application process and eligibility requirements affects learning costs and public attitudes toward this program and its beneficiaries. Testing these predictions through a preregistered dose–response survey experiment, participants are randomly assigned to control or one of three treatment groups, which incrementally alters the structure of SNAP information participants are exposed to. Our findings demonstrate that enhancing the SNAP information structure lowers learning costs and indirectly improves public support and perceived deservingness of beneficiaries. We discuss implications for theory and practice.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
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