2006 Conference Program - Midwest Political Science Association

PaperDisc.Negative-Sum Games, Anonymity and InteractionDaniel Rubenson, University of MontrealRichard Walker, London School of EconomicsOverview: Social capital theory holds that the topology ofinterpersonal relationships---as distinct from anonymous,market-based transactions---can affect societal productivity,broadly defined.Skyler J. Cranmer, University of California, DavisKrishna Ladha, University of Mississippi31-6 THE STATE OF SURVEY METHODOLOGYRoomChairPaperPaperPaperPaperDisc.TBA, Sat 8:30 amJon A. Krosnick, Stanford UniversityThe Distinguishing Characteristics Of Frequenct SurveyParticipantsJon A. Krosnick, Stanford UniversityOverview: Using data from a national survey of 9,000respondents, we find that many personality and lifestyle factorspredict frequent participation in surveys, but each one onlyweakly. This is reassuring about political survey samplecomposition.vb: Analyze Vote BehaviorJoan Serra, University of ChicagoOverview: This paper introduces vb, a package to analyze votebehavior. This package, designed for the R computingenvironment, computes the impact of the different factors thataffect the choice of voters from among two or more parties andabstention.Alternatives to Conventional Practices for Ordinal,Categorical Response VariablesBradford Jones, University of ArizonaChad Westerland, University of ArizonaOverview: This paper notes that conventional modelingstrategies for ordinal categorical response variables in socialsciences frequently belie properties and assumptions of standardcumulative link models like the proportional odds model.Dynamic Conditional Correlations in Political ScienceMatthew J. Lebo, Stony Brook UniversityJanet M. Box-Steffensmeier, The Ohio State UniversityOverview: DCC models estimate dynamic relationships overtime. We explain the method and show that the impact of ICScomponents vary considerably over time as predictors ofpresidential approval. An example using IR data is alsopresented.John W. Patty, Harvard University32-8 INTEREST GROUPS, MONEY, ANDELECTIONSRoomChairPaperPaperPaperTBA, Sat 8:30 amAmy M. McKay, Duke University/Loyola UniversityNon-Connected vs Ideological PACs: Candidate Choice andContribution TimingDorie Apollonio, University of California, San FranciscoRaymond J. La Raja, University of Massachusetts, AmherstOverview: Using a new method to distinguish business interestsfrom ideological groups, we find that although ideologicalgroups prefer outside candidates, they make late contributions.These findings have important implications for electoralcompetitiveness.Broadcast Industry PACs' Influence on CongressionalBehavior: A Quantitative Study of the Relationship BetweenCampaign Contributions and Roll Call VotesJason Barlow, Randolph Macon CollegeOverview: This study examines the relationship betweenmembers of Congress' voting behaviors on legislationconcerning broadcasting and broadcast industry political actioncommittees' (PAC) contributions to congressional campaigns.An Examination of Ethnic Political Action CommitteeStrategies, 1998-2004.David M. Paul, The Ohio State University, NewarkOverview: Using FEC data from 1998 to 2004, this projectanalyzes the contribution strategies used by ethnic politicalaction committees (PACs).PaperPaperDisc.Wither the Soft Money? The Effect of BCRA onContribution PatternsStacy B. Gordon, University of Nevada, RenoChristopher McGill, University of Nevada, RenoOverview: We compare soft money contributions to politicalparties prior to the passage of the BRCA to contributions givento 527s, post-BRCA.Voter's Information, Electoral Competition and the Powerof Interest Groups in the USTim C. Wegenast, University Pompeu FabraOverview: The paper analyzes the effect of electoralcompetition and voters' level of information on the influence ofinterest groups within the political arena of the United States.Allan J. Cigler, University of Kansas33-6 PRESIDENTIAL RESPONSIVENESS TONATURAL DISASTERSRoomChairPaperPaperDisc.TBA, Sat 8:30 amDaniel M. Cook, University of California, San FranciscoVulnerability and Responsiveness in U.S. Disaster PolicyR. Steven Daniels, California State University, BakersfieldOverview: Executive decision-making on disaster policyreflects comprehensive vulnerability management, politicalresponsiveness, political negotiation, and intergovernmentalconflict. This paper examines 2,400 presidential decisionsbetween 1953 and 2005.Hurricane Katrina as a Focusing Event: Public PolicyObservationsFrank T. Manheim, George Mason UniversityOverview: The results from Hurricane Katrina offer a windowinto an array of issues. These range from Executive Branchappointments, to social questions such as the linkage betweenNew Orleans' special character and poverty.Anna Marie Schuh, Roosevelt University34-10 POLICY MAKING IN CONGRESSRoomChairPaperPaperPaperDisc.TBA, Sat 8:30 amGeorge Serra, Bridgewater State CollegeThe Timing and Structuring of Abortion-Related Proposalsin the U.S. HouseScott Ainsworth, University of GeorgiaThad Hall, University of UtahOverview: We examine how abortion politics has evolved overtime within the U.S. Congress, evaluating sponsorship,entrepreneurial efforts, and committee turf concerns.Welfare Politics in CongressLawrence M. Mead, New York UniversityOverview: We code witnesses in Congressional hearings duringsix episodes of welfare reform between 1962 and 1996. Wefind that over time positions shift to become more conservative,but also that disputes become less ideological and morepractical.Deceived by Emotion?: House Members' Votes on the USAPatriot ActDaniel R. Bowles, Randolph Macon CollegeOverview: This paper reveals some of the key relationships thataffected member voting on the USA Patriot Act in the House ofRepresentatives in 2001 by examining general influences onmembers' voting behaviors.Joseph N. Patten, Monmouth University34-19 THE EFFECTS OF PARTY POLARIZATIONRoomChairPaperTBA, Sat 8:30 amJon R. Bond, Texas A&M UniversityThe Sources of Bipartisan Politics in ParliamentaryDemocraciesThomas Braeuninger, University of KonstanzMarc Debus, University of KonstanzOverview: We develop a saliency-based spatial model thatrelates electoral, institutional and policy sources to thelikelihood that a bill is sponsored by government and oppositionactors in parliamentary democracies.197