Communication Quarterly Rockin’ the Gubernatorial Vote?: Young People’s Normative Democratic Attitudes and Behaviors in a Low-Involvement Election

Abstract

Research on young voters has identified normative concerns about young citizens’ attitudes toward the political process and their low levels of participation. This study examined the effects of political debates, advertisements, and fact-checking articles on three of these normative attitudes and on intentions to vote in the context of a state gubernatorial election. Participants’ political knowledge, political information efficacy, and intention to vote increased after they watched a political debate or a series of candidate ads. Political knowledge also increased after participants read fact-checking articles. Cynicism was not influenced by any of the stimuli.

Keywords::

• Political Cynicism
• Political Information Efficacy
• Political Knowledge
• Turnout
• Young Voters

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Scott W. Dunn

Scott W. Dunn (Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2011) is an associate professor in the School of Communication at Radford University.

Sheena L. Butler

Sheena L. Butler (M.S., Radford University, 2014) is a staffing consultant for Express Employment Professionals.

Katelyn Meeks

Katelyn Meeks (M.S., Radford University, 2014) is a business development manager for Modis.

James Collier

James Collier (M.F.A., Virginia Commonwealth University, 2001) is an associate professor in the School of Communication at Radford University.