🚨Results are in for the Strengthening Democracy Challenge. Winners will be announced this week!🚨
ITT we announce the 25 submissions we selected to test. We think these submissions are awesome & hope you do too.
But first, how we got here…👇🧵
ITT we announce the 25 submissions we selected to test. We think these submissions are awesome & hope you do too.
But first, how we got here…👇🧵
BACKSTORY: last summer we invited people to submit ideas for how to reduce Americans’ anti-democratic attitudes, support for partisan violence, and/or partisan animosity.
https://twitter.com/robbwiller/status/1417548995434405890?lang=en
Our research team worked w/ a stellar advisory board to select the 25 interventions we found most promising & then tested them in a massive (N>31,000) online survey experiment
What was eligible?
Short interventions (< 8 minutes) that were deployable online.
What was eligible?
Short interventions (< 8 minutes) that were deployable online.
Who was eligible?
Anyone! Contributions from non-academics were especially encouraged and facilitated. We also helped pair several academic-practitioner hybrid teams.
Anyone! Contributions from non-academics were especially encouraged and facilitated. We also helped pair several academic-practitioner hybrid teams.
Concerned we wouldn’t get enough interventions, our team went all out in recruitment: organized workshops, presented in many labs, many 1-on-1 w/ submitters.
Thx to @CivicHealthProj for their support.
And kudos to @jgvoelkel, Nick Stagnaro, & @jchu1225 for so much hard work!
Thx to @CivicHealthProj for their support.
And kudos to @jgvoelkel, Nick Stagnaro, & @jchu1225 for so much hard work!
The response totally blew our minds.
We received 252 submissions from more than 400 submitters in 17 countries: psychologists, political scientists, sociologists, activists, practitioners, economists, & many others (184 submissions in the last 48 hours alone…huh, what?!)
We received 252 submissions from more than 400 submitters in 17 countries: psychologists, political scientists, sociologists, activists, practitioners, economists, & many others (184 submissions in the last 48 hours alone…huh, what?!)
Review process - which we expected to take a week - took more than a month and was itself a huge lift.
*Major* thanks to all the members of our core research team: @jgvoelkel, Downtown Nicky Stags, @jchu1225, Sophia Pink, Chrystal Redekopp, Joe Mernyk, Jamie Druckman, @DG_Rand
*Major* thanks to all the members of our core research team: @jgvoelkel, Downtown Nicky Stags, @jchu1225, Sophia Pink, Chrystal Redekopp, Joe Mernyk, Jamie Druckman, @DG_Rand
Also, *major* thanks to our advs board for their expert reviews of submissions. Was an honor to work w/ these scholars and practitioners of democracy and polarization:
Mannie Ajayi @chris_bail @lcbe @AdamBerinsky @BizzaroPolitix @LongDoan @CoreyDFields @EliDFinkel Matt Gentzkow
Mannie Ajayi @chris_bail @lcbe @AdamBerinsky @BizzaroPolitix @LongDoan @CoreyDFields @EliDFinkel Matt Gentzkow
@CherylGraeve @KristinJHansen @Eszter Vincent Hutchings @LucasLJohnson Cindy Kam @AdamSethLevine @namalhotra @LilyMasonPhD @LeslieMcCallgc @profmichelson @JenanMohajir Mohammed Naeem @Mara_PhD @Zeenat Jaime Settle Jesse Shapiro @BetsySinclair1 @michtorresp @julie_wronski
The submissions were so good! Creative, moving, serious, funny…we received way more than 25 ideas worth testing
Thanks to the >400 folks around the world who took the time to submit an idea to the challenge. Truly inspiring how many brilliant people are working on this space.
Thanks to the >400 folks around the world who took the time to submit an idea to the challenge. Truly inspiring how many brilliant people are working on this space.
Below are short descriptions of the 25 interventions we selected (with short names we made). We hope you're as interested in them as we were!
More detail on our website, including test links to try them out yourself.
(& results coming soon!)
strengtheningdemocracychallenge.org/winning-interv…
More detail on our website, including test links to try them out yourself.
(& results coming soon!)
strengtheningdemocracychallenge.org/winning-interv…
⚡️Misperception Democratic
@AliaBraley @GabeLenz @_dval_ @hosinux @alex_pentland
Participants learn that opposing partisans do not support actions that undermine democracy at hi levels by guessing what they believe, then receiving correct information about what they believe
@AliaBraley @GabeLenz @_dval_ @hosinux @alex_pentland
Participants learn that opposing partisans do not support actions that undermine democracy at hi levels by guessing what they believe, then receiving correct information about what they believe
⚡️Party Overlap
@ActiVoteUS, Victor Allis, Erez Yoeli, Sara Gifford
Participants learn that Republicans and Democrats share similar views on many issues by answering questions on policies and receiving information on the overlap.
@ActiVoteUS, Victor Allis, Erez Yoeli, Sara Gifford
Participants learn that Republicans and Democrats share similar views on many issues by answering questions on policies and receiving information on the overlap.
⚡️Civity Storytelling
@malkako, Palma Strand, Gina Baleria, Maya Fiorella
Participants watch a series of videos that prompt them to learn and think about how democracy promotes and can handle their differences.
@malkako, Palma Strand, Gina Baleria, Maya Fiorella
Participants watch a series of videos that prompt them to learn and think about how democracy promotes and can handle their differences.
⚡️Democratic System Justification
Aaron Kay, @JohnJost1, Daniela Goya-Tocchetto
Participants read that despite the media inflating party differences, the majority of Americans are committed to the American system, democracy, and mutual respect, even during difficult times.
Aaron Kay, @JohnJost1, Daniela Goya-Tocchetto
Participants read that despite the media inflating party differences, the majority of Americans are committed to the American system, democracy, and mutual respect, even during difficult times.
⚡️Learning Goals
@JuliaMinson, Hanne Collins, @CharlieDorison, Molly Moore, @HHBlunden, Kara Luo
Participants exchange messages with an open-minded opposing partisan explaining their political positions in a constructive manner.
@JuliaMinson, Hanne Collins, @CharlieDorison, Molly Moore, @HHBlunden, Kara Luo
Participants exchange messages with an open-minded opposing partisan explaining their political positions in a constructive manner.
⚡️Political Empathy
@luiza_a_santos; @zakijam
Participants read about the benefits of taking the perspective of people with different political beliefs and how it can be useful even in competitive contexts.
@luiza_a_santos; @zakijam
Participants read about the benefits of taking the perspective of people with different political beliefs and how it can be useful even in competitive contexts.
⚡️Outparty Friendship
@m_levendusky
Participants are asked to think about one person from the other party that they like and respect, and then write about why they feel that way about the person.
@m_levendusky
Participants are asked to think about one person from the other party that they like and respect, and then write about why they feel that way about the person.
⚡️Common Identity
@alijaveed_ @kim_doell @steverathje2 @jayvanbavel
Participants read about how American democracy is crucial to country’s success and at risk from extreme partisanship & then learn most Americans support democracy, dislike violence, & like members of both parties
@alijaveed_ @kim_doell @steverathje2 @jayvanbavel
Participants read about how American democracy is crucial to country’s success and at risk from extreme partisanship & then learn most Americans support democracy, dislike violence, & like members of both parties
⚡️Inparty Elites
@JamesMartherus
Participants read a fictional op-ed with real quotes and statistics where they learn that outpartisans are mostly against violence and support democracy & are asked to summarize the argument.
@JamesMartherus
Participants read a fictional op-ed with real quotes and statistics where they learn that outpartisans are mostly against violence and support democracy & are asked to summarize the argument.
⚡️Befriending Meditation
Otto Simonsson
Participants take part in an eight-minute befriending meditation where they listen to audio emphasizing treating oneself well and extending kindness to others, even those to whom it is difficult to extend kindness.
Otto Simonsson
Participants take part in an eight-minute befriending meditation where they listen to audio emphasizing treating oneself well and extending kindness to others, even those to whom it is difficult to extend kindness.
⚡️Counterfactual Selves
@nathanballan @JaredCelniker @MertcanGungor_ @jmkelly91 @shiri_spitz
To have participants recognize opinions of others reflect valid experiences, participants are prompted to reflect on what their views would be if they had different life experiences
@nathanballan @JaredCelniker @MertcanGungor_ @jmkelly91 @shiri_spitz
To have participants recognize opinions of others reflect valid experiences, participants are prompted to reflect on what their views would be if they had different life experiences
⚡️Violence Efficacy
Peter Felsman, Colleen Seifert
Participants read about the effectiveness of nonviolent protests compared to violent protests and are asked what type of tactics they would advise a political leader use.
Peter Felsman, Colleen Seifert
Participants read about the effectiveness of nonviolent protests compared to violent protests and are asked what type of tactics they would advise a political leader use.
⚡️Utah Cues
@ba_lyons
Participants watch a video with opposing partisan candidates (@GovCox & @PetersonUtah) emphasizing they respect democratic elections & will honor the outcome.
@ba_lyons
Participants watch a video with opposing partisan candidates (@GovCox & @PetersonUtah) emphasizing they respect democratic elections & will honor the outcome.
⚡️Contact Project
@d_f_stone, @introvertdev, @mmfranz, @JuliaMinson
Participants watch a @Heineken_UK commercial showing people with opposing political views connecting with one another despite political differences.
@d_f_stone, @introvertdev, @mmfranz, @JuliaMinson
Participants watch a @Heineken_UK commercial showing people with opposing political views connecting with one another despite political differences.
⚡️Misperception Competition
@Leesplez @profcikara
Participants learn opposing partisans on avg are less opposed to actions that their own party might take to gain electoral advantage than they may have thought.
@Leesplez @profcikara
Participants learn opposing partisans on avg are less opposed to actions that their own party might take to gain electoral advantage than they may have thought.
⚡️Moral Differences
Caroline Mehl, Mylien Duong, @mac_cw, @laurenralpert
P's learn people generally share same moral values but apply them differently & read a convo that shows how same moral foundations are present in both speakers but applied differently based on issue at hand
Caroline Mehl, Mylien Duong, @mac_cw, @laurenralpert
P's learn people generally share same moral values but apply them differently & read a convo that shows how same moral foundations are present in both speakers but applied differently based on issue at hand
⚡️Democratic Fear
@katie_clayton14, Michael Tomz
Participants watch a video showing chaotic events associated with democratic collapse in other countries and then view similar chaotic events that recently happened in US, then read about what they can do to protect democracy.
@katie_clayton14, Michael Tomz
Participants watch a video showing chaotic events associated with democratic collapse in other countries and then view similar chaotic events that recently happened in US, then read about what they can do to protect democracy.
⚡️Partisan Threat
@ProfMattHall, @wzcmarsh, Levi Allen, @jameskirk_14
To decrease perceptions of threat for the other party, participants are told facts that demonstrate their party’s political dominance and that the country will lean toward their party for foreseeable future.
@ProfMattHall, @wzcmarsh, Levi Allen, @jameskirk_14
To decrease perceptions of threat for the other party, participants are told facts that demonstrate their party’s political dominance and that the country will lean toward their party for foreseeable future.
⚡️Economic Interests
@Grienstien23, @nick_r_kay, @azimshariff
Participants watch a video showing that, with exception of the super rich, economic interests unite Americans regardless of partisanship.
@Grienstien23, @nick_r_kay, @azimshariff
Participants watch a video showing that, with exception of the super rich, economic interests unite Americans regardless of partisanship.
⚡️Epistemic Rescue
@DeFilippisEvan, Joshua Greene, @MoralityLab
To show an outpartisan can help them, participants are given the chance to get help from an outparty partner in answering trivia questions, and half of questions are easier to answer with help of an outpartisan.
@DeFilippisEvan, Joshua Greene, @MoralityLab
To show an outpartisan can help them, participants are given the chance to get help from an outparty partner in answering trivia questions, and half of questions are easier to answer with help of an outpartisan.
⚡️Chatbot Quiz
@brandynkeating, Aaron Lyles, Jay Rosato
In a chat, participants answer questions about where they think the avg Democrat and Republican falls on various issues, then are given correct answers and learn most Americans agree on many issues
@brandynkeating, Aaron Lyles, Jay Rosato
In a chat, participants answer questions about where they think the avg Democrat and Republican falls on various issues, then are given correct answers and learn most Americans agree on many issues
⚡️Harmful Experiences
@emily_kubin, @CurtisPuryear, @kurtjgray
Participants hear real experiences of suffering and vulnerability from opposing partisans, helping them to learn the views of many outpartisans are based on authentic experiences.
@emily_kubin, @CurtisPuryear, @kurtjgray
Participants hear real experiences of suffering and vulnerability from opposing partisans, helping them to learn the views of many outpartisans are based on authentic experiences.
⚡️Misperception Suffering
@CharlieDorison; @NourKteily
Participants’ misperceptions about how much outpartisans would prioritize partisan political gains at the expense of large-scale suffering are corrected.
@CharlieDorison; @NourKteily
Participants’ misperceptions about how much outpartisans would prioritize partisan political gains at the expense of large-scale suffering are corrected.
⚡️Misperception Film
@smooreberg, @MikeyPasek, @reblitt, @RomanGallardo_, @NourKteily
Participants watch a video that shows Democrats and Republicans learning that they actually agree on many issues, demonstrating they are not as different as they think.
@smooreberg, @MikeyPasek, @reblitt, @RomanGallardo_, @NourKteily
Participants watch a video that shows Democrats and Republicans learning that they actually agree on many issues, demonstrating they are not as different as they think.
⚡️Media Trust
@chrisjb1, C. Hecht, M. Saar-Tsechansky, D. Yeager, M. Clapper
P's read the media creates political division and inaccurate perceptions of other side for profit (h/t @MTaibbi), then are prompted to think about how they can combat the divisive effects of media
@chrisjb1, C. Hecht, M. Saar-Tsechansky, D. Yeager, M. Clapper
P's read the media creates political division and inaccurate perceptions of other side for profit (h/t @MTaibbi), then are prompted to think about how they can combat the divisive effects of media
These short summaries do not do these interventions justice. Pls check them out in detail at link 👆.
Special thanks to the Strengthening Democracy Challenge Funders: @civichealthproj, @FetzerInstitute, @stanfordimpact.
Special thanks to the Strengthening Democracy Challenge Funders: @civichealthproj, @FetzerInstitute, @stanfordimpact.
And thanks to @ForthrightPanel for fielding the study. These folks are a dream to work with.
Of possible interest to:
@AllSidesNow
@OpenMindTV
@commongroundcom
@BridgeUSA_
@ListenFirstProj
#ListenFirst
@BraverAngels
@LivingRoomConvo
@resettingtable
@amandaripley
Of possible interest to:
@AllSidesNow
@OpenMindTV
@commongroundcom
@BridgeUSA_
@ListenFirstProj
#ListenFirst
@BraverAngels
@LivingRoomConvo
@resettingtable
@amandaripley
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