Narratives and Expert Information in Agenda-Setting: Experimental Evidence on State Legislator Engagement with Artificial Intelligence Policy

Abstract

This study investigates the relative effectiveness of narratives and expert information in influencing policymakers in the complex domain of AI policy. Through a pre-registered email-based field experiment involving 7,355 U.S. state legislators, the study evaluates engagement levels in response to narratives and expert information. Findings indicate that both narratives and expert information increase engagement by approximately 30%, challenging traditional assumptions that technical expertise dominates in complex policy domains. The research provides insights into the role of narratives and expert information in shaping AI policy discourse, emphasizing the relevance of both emotional and rational appeals in agenda-setting for emerging technologies.