Dekkers, Hanne Jetske (2026) The Effects of Framing on Counterfactual Thinking. Master thesis, Psychology.
![[img]](https://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/style/images/fileicons/text.png) |
Text
The-Effects-of-Framing-on-Counterfactual-Thinking-Master-Thesis-Jetske-Dekkers-s4322843-1.pdf Restricted to Repository staff only Download (959kB) |
Abstract
Political framing, defined as selectively emphasizing or omitting information to shape interpretation, plays a central role in influencing public opinion. This can contribute to polarization in society, especially when used with sensitive topics such as migration. Although framing can change how individuals interpret facts, it remains unclear whether it also shapes their counterfactual thoughts; how they imagine alternative outcomes. The present study examined whether exposure to politically framed versus non-framed information influences upward, downward, and neutral counterfactual thinking, and whether political ideology moderates this effect. A between-subjects experiment (N = 216) exposed participants to framed or non-framed statements from left or right oriented Dutch politicians on the topic of migration. Assessing their agreement on counterfactual statements across three categories. While the framing manipulation seemed successful, no significant effects of framing were found on specific forms of counterfactual thinking. Notably though, participants reported significantly more downward than upward counterfactuals in general, and ideology emerged as a robust predictor of counterfactual direction: right-leaning participants generated more upward counterfactuals, whereas left-leaning participants generated more downward counterfactuals. A three-way interaction between framing, ideology, and counterfactual direction approached significance, suggesting a potential moderated-moderation pattern. These findings highlight the importance of political ideology in shaping imagined alternatives to societal issues and suggest that counterfactual reasoning in political contexts is highly context-sensitive and likely requires a more multidimensional approach than single framing attempts can capture. Keywords: counterfactual thinking, framing, ideology, migration, politics
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Epstude, K. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | Other [Master Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 26 Jan 2026 13:29 |
| Last Modified: | 26 Jan 2026 13:29 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/6085 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |