3.1 Issue Framing and Problem Construction

Issue framing and problem construction shape how policy problems are understood and addressed. These processes involve defining issues, creating policy images, and developing causal stories that assign blame and suggest solutions.

The way problems are framed influences which issues reach the policy agenda and how they're tackled. Target populations are identified and socially constructed, affecting policy design and implementation for different groups.

Problem Definition and Framing

Defining and Framing Issues

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Top images from around the web for Defining and Framing Issues

• 

  The Symbolic-Interactionalist Perspective on Deviance | Boundless Sociology View original

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• 

  The Pragmatics behind Politics: Modelling Metaphor, Framing and Emotion in Political Discourse ... View original

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  Frontiers | Measuring the Psychological Security of Urban Residents: Construction and Validation ... View original

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  The Symbolic-Interactionalist Perspective on Deviance | Boundless Sociology View original

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• Problem definition involves identifying and characterizing a policy problem, which shapes how policymakers and the public perceive the issue
• Issue framing refers to the process of presenting a policy problem in a particular way to influence how it is understood and addressed
  • Framing can emphasize certain aspects of a problem while downplaying others (economic benefits vs. environmental costs)
  • Framing can assign responsibility for causing or solving a problem (individual responsibility vs. systemic factors)
• Social construction is the process by which a policy problem is defined and understood based on cultural values, beliefs, and norms
  • Social construction can shape which problems are seen as legitimate and deserving of policy attention (poverty as personal failure vs. structural inequality)

Policy Images and Problem Attributes

• Policy images are the symbolic representations of a policy problem that evoke certain values, emotions, or associations
  • Images can be visual (photographs of oil-soaked birds) or verbal (metaphors like "war on drugs")
  • Images can simplify complex problems and mobilize support for particular policy solutions
• Problem attributes are the inherent characteristics of a policy problem that affect how it is perceived and addressed
  • Attributes can include the severity of the problem (minor inconvenience vs. crisis), the affected populations (children vs. adults), and the perceived causes (natural disaster vs. human error)
  • Attributes can influence the perceived urgency, feasibility, and desirability of different policy solutions

Causal Stories and Narratives

Constructing Causal Stories

• Causal stories are explanations of the causes and consequences of a policy problem that assign blame and suggest solutions
  • Stories can focus on individual actions (reckless behavior causing accidents) or systemic factors (inadequate safety regulations)
  • Stories can imply different policy solutions (stricter penalties vs. better infrastructure)
• Narrative analysis examines how causal stories are constructed and communicated through language, rhetoric, and storytelling
  • Narratives often follow familiar plot lines (decline, stymied progress) and feature archetypal characters (villains, victims, heroes)
  • Narratives can be analyzed for their underlying assumptions, values, and ideologies

Symbolic Politics and Narrative Persuasion

• Symbolic politics involves the use of symbols, myths, and rituals to evoke emotions and shape political attitudes
  • Symbols can condense complex issues into simple, powerful images (American flag, Earth Day)
  • Myths can provide shared understandings of history, identity, and values (American Dream, manifest destiny)
• Causal stories and narratives can be used as tools of symbolic politics to persuade and mobilize audiences
  • Stories can appeal to shared values and identities (patriotism, environmentalism)
  • Stories can evoke strong emotions (fear, anger, hope) that motivate political action
  • Stories can frame issues in ways that favor particular policy solutions (market-based vs. regulatory approaches)

Problem Stream and Target Populations

Problem Stream and Agenda Setting

• The problem stream is the flow of information and events that brings attention to particular policy problems
  • Problems can emerge gradually (rising sea levels) or suddenly (natural disasters)
  • Problems can be highlighted by focusing events (oil spills), indicators (rising crime rates), or feedback (constituent complaints)
• The problem stream interacts with the political stream (public opinion, elections) and the policy stream (available solutions) to shape the policy agenda
  • Problems that align with prevailing political moods and feasible solutions are more likely to reach the agenda
  • Problems can fall off the agenda if they lose salience or become intractable

Constructing Target Populations

• Target populations are the groups that are identified as being affected by or responsible for a policy problem
  • Populations can be defined by demographic characteristics (age, race), behaviors (drug users, smokers), or roles (teachers, small business owners)
  • Populations can be framed positively (deserving, innocent) or negatively (undeserving, deviant)
• The social construction of target populations can shape the design and implementation of policies
  • Positively constructed populations may receive more generous benefits and less punitive sanctions (elderly, veterans)
  • Negatively constructed populations may face more restrictions, requirements, and penalties (welfare recipients, immigrants)
  • Policy designs can reinforce or challenge existing social constructions of target populations (empowering vs. stigmatizing)