Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

Trust is an important component of information-seeking, particularly as related to the policy-making process. For policy-relevant information to be utilized by decision-makers and, in turn, impact policy, the source of the information must be viewed as trustworthy. Thus, understanding the origins of trust in sources of information regarding a particular policy issue is necessary in understanding the policy process associated with that issue. In this paper, I examine the origins of trust in information regarding hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) – a highly controversial method of oil and gas extraction. Specifically, this paper examines the role of cultural value predispositions in shaping trust in information from various sources (e.g. the energy industry, environmental groups, scientists, and the government) regarding fracking. Further, the moderating role of perceived value congruence is examined. This study utilizes a survey of local policy elites in Arkansas (a state with fracking operations) and Oregon (a state without fracking operations). Findings indicate that, for local policy elites 1) trust in sources of information is largely derived from culturally held values, 2) the perceived compatibility of values between local policy elites’ and those within their community impacts these relationships, and 3) the triadic relationships between cultural values, perceived value congruence, and trust in information sources are distinct between contexts (i.e. Arkansas and Oregon). Implications for the policy process, both practical and theoretical, are discussed.