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Favorability Levels Virtually Unchanged Among all Parties after Viewing AARP Pro Health Care Reform Ad


AARP Pro Health Care Reform Ad
Majority reported feeling skeptical, angry and disturbed while viewing AARP ad

Flemington, NJ, August 31, 2009 – A new national media study among 306 self-declared Democrats, Republicans and Independents who viewed a recent pro health care reform ad by AARP revealed that the ad failed to increase favorability levels across all political parties.   

The study was conducted by HCD Research using its MediaCurves.com® website on August 28, to obtain viewers’ perceptions of a recent ad by AARP, which was intended to increase favorability for health care reform.

“Agreement curves among all groups were low, especially compared with the 60 Plus Association ad that we tested last week,” commented Glenn Kessler, president and CEO, HCD Research. “Independents were neutral, Republicans were significantly negative and Democrats exhibited modest agreement levels.  The AARP ad fared about the same as the 60 Plus ad regarding the perceived effectiveness among Democrats, however, it was perceived significantly less effective among Independents.”

The AARP pro health care reform ad earned an Impact Score of -1 among Democrats, -2 among Republicans and 0 among Independents.  The study is part of a series of studies that will be conducted on anti and pro health care reform ads to determine which ads are the most effective in shifting favorability “for” or “against” the current U.S. health care reform plan.  The Impact Score is a metric system based on a scale ranging from -100 points to +100 points, and is designed to gauge the effectiveness of health care reform ads. 

Democrats, Republicans and Independents all reported feeling skeptical, angry and disturbed while watching the AARP pro reform ad. While favorability levels did not improve among any political parties, 82% of Democrats and 66% of Independents reported that the AARP ad was effective, compared to 42% of Republicans who indicated that it was effective.

Among the findings:

“Which of the following emotions did you feel the most while viewing the video? Please select one emotion you felt most.”

 

Democrats

Republicans

Independents

Anger

16%

17%

14%

Inspiration

14%

10%

8%

Sadness

5%

4%

3%

Skepticism

20%

38%

39%

Confusion

15%

12%

7%

Disturbing

20%

16%

14%

Embarrassment

2%

2%

1%

Pride

5%

0%

6%

Happiness

4%

0%

7%

“Please indicate how effective you thought this advertisement was.”

 

Democrat

Republican

Independent

Extremely effective

26%

9%

25%

Somewhat effective

56%

33%

41%

Not at all effective

18%

58%

34%

While viewing the video, participants indicated their levels of agreeability by moving their mouse from left to right on a continuum. The responses were recorded in quarter-second intervals and reported in the form of curves. The participants were also asked to respond to post-viewing questions.

Editors/Reporters: For more information on the study, or to speak with Glenn Kessler, president and CEO, HCD Research, please contact Vince McGourty, HCD Research, at (908) 483-9121 or (vince.mcgourty@hcdi.net).  You can also receive updates from MediaCurves.com by following us on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/mediacurves and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Flemington-NJ/MediaCurves/86691908820

HCD Research, a marketing and communications research company headquartered in Flemington, NJ.  The company's services include traditional and web-based research.  For additional information on HCD Research, access the company’s web site at www.hcdi.net or call HCD Research at 908-788-9393.  MediaCurves.com® (www.mediacurves.com) is a media measurement website that provides the media and general public with a venue to view Americans’ perceptions of popular and controversial media events and advertisements.

COMMENTS
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RE: AARP Pro Health Care Reform Ad
by annewithany2 (User #214201) on Monday, August 31, 2009 @ 1:26:24 PM (#2288)
My anger isn't over what so called special interest groups are doing but that this commercial is making people sharing facts about the healthcare reform seem like vilians.
Reply
RE: AARP Pro Health Care Reform Ad
by packerdude (User #67415) on Monday, August 31, 2009 @ 1:26:24 PM (#2289)
thanks for invite. guess may be just to biased on this issue. not anxious about this reform even though that ad acted like aarp approves
Reply
RE: AARP Pro Health Care Reform Ad
by lynteach (User #214044) on Monday, August 31, 2009 @ 1:26:24 PM (#2290)
Did this ad try to say AARP supports the govt. health reform plan? That disturbes me greatly. I thought AARP was supposed to represent the people's opinions and work for our good. It has changed my opinion of AARP and their political agenda.
Reply
RE: AARP Pro Health Care Reform Ad
by howard (User #217448) on Monday, August 31, 2009 @ 1:26:24 PM (#2291)
its been on TV scarry to watch when lives are @ stake
Reply
RE: AARP Pro Health Care Reform Ad
by cblue71 (User #50465) on Monday, August 31, 2009 @ 1:26:24 PM (#2292)
I have seen this ad on tv and each time it makes me angry because something needs to be done to our health care but the President is being stopped by the usual Republican scare tactics, just like the Republicans use for everything to get their way.
Reply
RE: AARP Pro Health Care Reform Ad
by aerwin (User #216178) on Monday, August 31, 2009 @ 1:26:24 PM (#2293)
I agree with the ad. I am stunned at how gullible people are and believe all the bs put out by special interests.
Reply
JRZnTUJnRClqon
by Jayvee (Anonymous User) on Wednesday, October 5, 2011 @ 10:08:14 AM (#6975)
I like to party, not look artilces up online. You made it happen.
Reply
RE: AARP Pro Health Care Reform Ad
by karl.j.baldwin (User #64618) on Monday, August 31, 2009 @ 1:26:24 PM (#2294)
I am disappointed with the scare tactics used by the Left to try to scare senior citizens into joining a socialist "health care reform" effort that is a blank check to more govenment failure
Reply
RE: AARP Pro Health Care Reform Ad
by tnhusker (User #52048) on Monday, August 31, 2009 @ 1:26:24 PM (#2295)
The video was lies from the insane people pushing socialized medicine.
Reply
RE: AARP Pro Health Care Reform Ad
by mhaas2 (User #213639) on Monday, August 31, 2009 @ 1:26:24 PM (#2296)
that comercial is a lie itself
Reply
RE: AARP Pro Health Care Reform Ad
by wotfpatty (User #200298) on Monday, August 31, 2009 @ 1:26:24 PM (#2297)
I don't think the health care program will help me, the middle class person. It's always about the poor who get money for school clothes and free health care while I struggle! I deserve good health care too!
Reply
RE: AARP Pro Health Care Reform Ad
by jstearns5 (User #200053) on Monday, August 31, 2009 @ 1:26:24 PM (#2298)
Extremely bad government. It is the worse I've seen in my 63 years!!!!!
Reply
RE: AARP Pro Health Care Reform Ad
by jody0517 (User #213141) on Monday, August 31, 2009 @ 1:26:24 PM (#2299)
. I just got back from Italy and my daughter had to be treated in a hospital there from a nut allergy. Needless to say it was a socialized hospital, they were going to make her wait even if her breathing was not good, and would not see her for at least three hours. I saw first hand what a socialized hospital would look like and how patients would be treated and it is not something I would call myself proud to have in my country!
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RE: AARP Pro Health Care Reform Ad
by LatteLaura (User #224772) on Monday, August 31, 2009 @ 1:26:24 PM (#2300)
just because I am currently registered as a Republican doesn't mean I agree with the Republican party
Reply
RE: AARP Pro Health Care Reform Ad
by Redhorse (User #227910) on Monday, August 31, 2009 @ 1:26:24 PM (#2301)
We need the health care system that the President is pushing...yes I am a registered Republican...but I voted for President Obama because we need a change, a change for the better and I think he is doing a wonderful job..the Republicans and being pushed by the big lobby groups to down play the new Healthcare system that the president is pushing..and that is just wrong..letting greed and special intrest lobbiest monies fill your pockets and not what is good for the country..How sad is that America...
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RE: AARP Pro Health Care Reform Ad
by rayblackwell (User #210362) on Monday, August 31, 2009 @ 1:26:24 PM (#2302)
It's not very precise about it's message.
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RE: AARP Pro Health Care Reform Ad
by lala14 (User #211878) on Monday, August 31, 2009 @ 1:26:24 PM (#2303)
who to trust
Reply
RE: AARP Pro Health Care Reform Ad
by ibjerry (User #221132) on Monday, August 31, 2009 @ 1:26:24 PM (#2304)
Obama is steering our country in the wrong direction
Reply
RE: AARP Pro Health Care Reform Ad
by Spang45 (User #57217) on Monday, August 31, 2009 @ 1:26:25 PM (#2305)
The government can't run the government.. Trying to run health care would be a total nightmare.
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RE: AARP Pro Health Care Reform Ad
by truedevout (User #61723) on Monday, August 31, 2009 @ 1:26:25 PM (#2306)
The ad lacks specificity; adding clarity to the "generality" would enhance the ad's persuasive ability.
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RE: AARP Pro Health Care Reform Ad
by kay2578 (User #224958) on Monday, August 31, 2009 @ 1:26:25 PM (#2307)
It was a very eye-opening ad
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RE: AARP Pro Health Care Reform Ad
by gh1243 (User #227807) on Monday, August 31, 2009 @ 1:26:25 PM (#2308)
It was a good commercila.
Reply