David Jiménez Social Science
Framing Proposition 71: Understanding The Debate Over Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research
This past November, California passed Proposition 71, the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative, which allocates 3 billion dollars over the next ten years to human embryonic stem (hES) cell research. How did the majority of Californians decide to vote for this initiative? Before the election, groups for and against the measure tried to sway Californians opinions through advertising and influencing media coverage of this initiative. In his research David will investigate why and how these groups framed their positions in the way they did to present this initiative to the public. David will examine these groups websites as well as newspaper articles from August to November 2004, and interview some of the activists involved in this debate. The outcome of this research will be an extension of his senior honors thesis in sociology.
