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Congressional budget hearings used four politeness strategies

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Research area:Social SciencesPolitical Science and International RelationsPublic Policy and Administration Research

What the study found

Congressional budget hearings in the Philippines involved four politeness strategies: bald-on-record, negative politeness, positive politeness, and off-record. The study found that power dynamics and institutional norms strongly influenced which strategy was used.

Why the authors say this matters

The authors conclude that politeness is a strategic tool for navigating budget deliberations. The findings indicate that these strategies help participants balance professional decorum with accountability in legislative proceedings.

What the researchers tested

The researchers used a qualitative content analysis of selected texts from 31 congressional hearing transcripts. They examined how appropriations committee members and government agency officials used politeness strategies in congressional budget hearings.

What worked and what didn't

Bald-on-record strategy reflected power dynamics by asserting authority and also aligned with procedural conventions. Negative politeness reduced imposition through formal addresses and titles, positive politeness built rapport through approval and compliments, and off-record strategies allowed indirect communication to avoid direct imposition.

What to keep in mind

The abstract does not describe limitations beyond the use of selected transcript texts from 31 hearings. The summary is limited to congressional budget hearings in the Philippines and to the text sample analyzed.

Key points

  • Four politeness strategies were identified: bald-on-record, negative politeness, positive politeness, and off-record.
  • Power dynamics and institutional norms strongly influenced the choice of strategy.
  • Bald-on-record behavior was linked to asserting authority and procedural conventions.
  • Negative politeness used formal addresses and titles to reduce imposition.
  • Positive politeness used approval and compliments to foster rapport.
  • Off-record strategies used indirect communication to avoid direct imposition.

Disclosure

Research title:
Congressional budget hearings used four politeness strategies
Authors:
Joy Barcemo, Maria Christa Montebon
Publication date:
2026-02-24
DOI:
10.70838/pemj.520604
OpenAlex record:
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AI provenance: This post was generated by OpenAI. The original authors did not write or review this post.

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