SAGE Journal Articles

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Article 1: Abbe, O. G., Goodliffe, J., Herrnson, P. S., and Patterson, K. D. (December 2003). Agenda Setting in Congressional Elections: The Impact of Issues and Campaigns on Voting Behavior. Political Research Quarterly56(4). 419-430.

This article extends recent research on issue voting and campaign agenda setting to voting decisions in congressional elections. Using a unique data set from 1998, the authors study  the impact of campaign-specific variables on citizens voting decisions, while controlling for relevant attitudinal and demographic factors. The findings show that when a candidate and voter agree on what is the most important issue in the election, the voter is more likely to vote for that candidate if that candidate’s party “owns” the issue.

Questions to Consider:
  1. What conditions are necessary for issue voting?
  2. What theories link voting behaviors and issues?
  3. What is the importance of an agenda in a campaign?

Learning objective: Identify four factors that influence voters decisions; Analyze the reasons why Americans vote or don’t vote

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Article 2: Schill, D., and Krik, R. (October 2013). Courting the Swing Voter: ''Real Time'' Insights Into the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Presidential Debates. American Behavioral Scientist 58(4), 536-555.

This article reports the findings of an analysis of undecided swing state voters during the presidential debates of the 2008 and 2012 elections. The authors found that presidential debates are in fact capable of influencing undecided voters impressions of the candidates.

Questions to Consider:
  1. What are the characteristics of an undecided voter?
  2. What is the traditional campaign model and how do swing voters fit into that model?
  3. What are the limitations to the authors’ study?

Learning objective: Analyze the reasons why Americans vote or don’t vote; Identify four factors that influence voters decisions; Describe the organizational and strategic tactics involved in presidential campaigns

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