Unveiling the multidimensional nature of policy acceptability: A cross‐national approach

Abstract Research on mass attitudes toward public policy often centers on preferences, yet the understudied facet of policy acceptability remains pivotal. This study develops and validates a nuanced measure of acceptability that identifies three dimensions: political, affective, and deliberative. Through focus groups and surveys conducted in South Korea and the United States, we demonstrate the robustness and cross‐cultural consistency of our proposed measure, proving its applicability across diverse policies and demographic landscapes. Our findings not only affirm the measure's invariance but also uncover intriguing patterns within public opinion, previously overlooked by conventional assessments. This study underscores the rich complexity of policy acceptability, highlighting its pivotal role in shaping public attitudes and presenting promising avenues for nuanced policy analysis.