Smith, Graham, John, Peter and Sturgis, Patrick 
ORCID: 0000-0003-1180-3493
(2013)
Taking political engagement online: an experimental analysis of asynchronous discussion forums.
Political Studies, 61 (4).
709 - 730.
ISSN 0032-3217
Abstract
n this study we analyse the effect of participation in an online asynchronous discussion forum on the direction and magnitude of opinion change and policy preferences relating to youth antisocial behaviour among a large sample of online panel members. Panel members were randomly assigned to conditions that manipulated: (1) the amount of information about youth antisocial behaviour provided; and (2) the extent to which panel members were able to communicate with one another. We find that engagement in online discussion forums can lead to modest shifts in preferences among those who choose to contribute to the discussion. However, because those who choose to engage in this way are a small and self-selecting minority who make little use of background information, questions remain about the utility of online discussion forums as effective means of engaging citizens to generate informed inputs into the policy process.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | © 2012 The Authors. Political Studies © 2012 Political Studies Association |
| Divisions: | Methodology |
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) |
| Date Deposited: | 08 Oct 2019 14:21 |
| Last Modified: | 01 Jun 2024 03:35 |
| URI: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/101949 |
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