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Classifying public policies with Moral Foundations Theory

Author

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  • Dane G. Wendell

    (Illinois College)

  • Raymond Tatalovich

    (Loyola University Chicago)

Abstract

Morality policy researchers have long grappled with the difficulty of determining objective or empirical criteria for classifying policies with moral content. A newer, but related, critique has suggested that we cannot classify morality policies by their substantive content, because policy debates employ moral frames for strategic purposes. This paper joins this debate by using Moral Foundations Theory to conduct quantitative content analyses of the supporting and opposing arguments in Voter Guides that accompanied referenda on enacting (1) the death penalty, (2) same-sex marriage, (3) physician-assisted suicide, (4) Official English, (5) recreational marijuana, (6) medical marijuana, (7) abortion funding bans, (8) tribal gaming, (9) minimum wage increase, (10) Right to Work legislation, and (11) property tax limits. MFT quantitative content analysis shows that frames with ostensibly instrumental arguments hold moral content. Our findings endorse the argument that researchers should differentiate between pure and mixed morality policies and other non-morality policies with decidedly less moral content.

Suggested Citation

  • Dane G. Wendell & Raymond Tatalovich, 2021. "Classifying public policies with Moral Foundations Theory," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 54(1), pages 155-182, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:policy:v:54:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1007_s11077-020-09399-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s11077-020-09399-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Raymond Tatalovich & Dane G. Wendell, 2018. "Expanding the scope and content of morality policy research: lessons from Moral Foundations Theory," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 51(4), pages 565-579, December.
    2. Charles T. Clotfelter & Philip J. Cook, 1989. "Selling Hope: State Lotteries in America," NBER Books, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc, number clot89-1.
    3. Nathalie Burlone & Rebecca Grace Richmond, 2018. "Between morality and rationality: framing end-of-life care policy through narratives," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 51(3), pages 313-334, September.
    4. Gary Mucciaroni & Kathleen Ferraiolo & Meghan E. Rubado, 2019. "Framing morality policy issues: state legislative debates on abortion restrictions," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 52(2), pages 171-189, June.
    5. Christopher A. Simon & Richard E. Matland & Dane G. Wendell & Raymond Tatalovich, 2018. "Voting Turnout and Referendum Outcomes on Same‐Sex Marriage, 1998–2015," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 99(4), pages 1522-1534, December.
    6. Schonhardt-Bailey, Cheryl, 2008. "The Congressional Debate on Partial-Birth Abortion: Constitutional Gravitas and Moral Passion," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 38(3), pages 383-410, July.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Tuukka Ylä-Anttila, 2023. "Comparative moral principles: justifications, values, and foundations," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Anna M. Crawford & Christopher M. Weible, 2024. "The political polarization over abortion: An analysis of advocacy coalition belief systems," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 57(3), pages 599-620, September.
    4. Wei, Yunyi & Sit, Kokho (Jason) & Ekinci, Yuksel, 2024. "Customer definitions of moral value for retail brands: A qualitative understanding," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).

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