2025 June Maryland Fellows Virtual Event

Please join the Maryland State Co-Chairs, Hon. Lynne Battaglia and Herman Rosenthal, for a virtual presentation by ABF Research Professor, Janice Nadler.

Public Opinion, Private Governance, and the Influence of Source Credibility

Does McDonald’s public embrace of selling only cage-free eggs affect their customers’ support for legislation banning the caging of chickens for egg production? Does ExxonMobil’s commitment to reducing methane emissions from oil and gas operations impact the views of their customers/shareholders on climate change legislation? In this project, ABF Research Professor Janice Nadler will explore whether these kinds of corporate initiatives influence public support for subsequent legal regulation or whether people infer that the private sector is adequately managing the problem, thus obviating the need for a legal response.

This presentation will also explore the influence of political partisanship and the possibility that groups with differing ideological values respond with increased concern for problems framed consistently with their foundational moral frameworks. In addition, Professor Nadler will report on findings suggesting further questions about the role of various messengers besides corporations — such as local governments and trusted professionals – in impacting public support for increased legal regulation.

Complimentary Zoom Event, register to receive Zoom link.

12:00 PM-1:00 PM EST.