2006 Conference Program - Midwest Political Science Association

PaperPaperPaperPaperDisc.Preference Approval VotingSteven J. Brams, New York UniversityRemzi Sanver, Bilgi Istanbul UniversityOverview: Information on preferences and information onapproval of candidates in an election, though related, arefundamentally different-one cannot be derived from the other.We propose a way of combining them in a hybrid votingsystem.Voting Systems and Strategic ManipulationAnna Bassi, New York UniversityOverview: Sincere behavior in Approval voting is compared toBorda count, Hare systems, and Plurality voting in anexperimental setting. The treatments vary in the extent thatvoters know other voters' preference orderings and the use ofpre-election polls.A Model of Electoral Incentives and Voter CoordinationNeal G. Jesse, Bowling Green State UniversityOverview: A model of electoral systems, their strategicincentives, and voter coordination to change the "naive" result.Open and Closed: Party Attachment and Sincere Voting inElectoral ContextAndrew J. Drummond, University of California, IrvineOverview: Comparing small party supporters across 17advanced democracies, I find that sincere voting increases withpartisan attachment, and that this relationship strengthens as theelectoral system becomes more open to party competition.Richard Sinnott, University College, Dublin22-301 POSTER SESSION: PUBLIC OPINIONPresenter The Opinion Hard Core: Refining The Spiral of SilenceTheoreticallyRoom TBA, Board 1, Sat 1:45 pmScott H. Clarke, Michigan State UniversityOverview: This paper develops the opinion Spiral of Silenceconceptually, characterizing opinion "hard cores" along threedimensions: dogmatic thinking, a strict conformity to one'sreference group and the use of alternative communicationchannels.Presenter Garnering the Support of Losers: How to Build Support forLocal GovernmentRoom TBA, Board 2, Sat 1:45 pmJennifer R. Wilking, University of California, DavisOverview: This paper asks how, given continual conflicts, issupport for local government built? I hypothesize outcomes ofconflicts lead to short-term support, while perceptions of fairprocesses lead to long-term, legitimating support.Presenter What is Your Overall Impression of this Poll?Room TBA, Board 3, Sat 1:45 pmMary G. Currin-Percival, University of California, RiversideOverview: I find that individual characteristics such asknowledge of polling methodology and party identification areassociated with different impressions of polls conducted bydifferent polling outlets such as Gallup, the media and politicalparties.Presenter Survey Questions, Issue Framing, and Public Support forSchool VouchersRoom TBA, Board 4, Sat 1:45 pmMisook Gwon, University of CincinnatiOverview: This study tests several hypotheses about the effectsof variation in question wording on public support for schoolvouchers from 1993 to the present, using the multivariate,analytical technique developed by Lockerbie and Borrelli(1990).Presenter Meritocracy and Americans' Views on Distributive JusticeRoomTBA, Board 5, Sat 1:45 pmRichard T. Longoria, University of MarylandOverview: Americans are ambivalent in their views towardsmeritocracy. They believe that intelligence and hard workshould be rewarded, but they also support inherited wealth,seniority pay, and the distribution of educational opportunitiesthrough the market.23-4 SOCIAL CAPITAL AND THE SOCIALASPECTS OF POLITICAL PARTICIPATIONRoomChairPaperPaperPaperPaperDisc.TBA, Sat 1:45 pmKim Q. Hill, Texas A&M UniversityManufacturing Trust: Japanese Community Currencies andSocial CapitalSean E. Richey, Pace UniversityOverview: Japan is the global innovator in communitycurrencies, a policy designed to create social capital. I collectnew survey data to test whether government can increase trust. Ifind that community currency involvement increasesgeneralized trust.Communication Network and Cognitive Political EfficacySun-Young Kwak, University of Southern CaliforniaOverview: The paper investigates whether different types ofcommunication networks of the elected board members of LANeighborhood Councils change the board member’s attitudestowards the organization’s political efficacy and their politicalactivities.Who Bonds? Who Bridges? Implications for RepresentativeGovernmentKim Q. Hill, Texas A&M UniversityGarrett Hatch, Texas A&M UniversityOverview: We seek to unravel the puzzle that bonding-groupcivic engagement has negative effects on democratic outcomesbut bridging-group engagement has none.The Unvarying Influence of Peers on Civic ParticipationCasey A. Klofstad, University of MiamiOverview: There is a correlation between how much we talkwith our peers about politics and how much we participate inpolitics.This paper looks at how this relationship varies bysocioeconomic status and prior experience with politics andcivic activity.Patricia Funk, Stockholm School of Economics24-13 MEDIA EFFECTS AND THE 2004PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONRoomChairPaperPaperPaperDisc.TBA, Sat 1:45 pmRobert W. Van Sickel, Indiana State UniversityThe Impact of 527 Organizations on the CampaignEnvironmentMary C. Deason, University of North Carolina, Chapel HillCaitlin N. Sause, George Washington UniversityOverview: This paper shows that 527 issue advertisementsplayed a significant role in the increased negativity in campaignadvertisements in the 2004 election campaign and explains thedifferences among ads run by candidates, parties, and organizedinterests.Campaign Conclusions: A Study of Newspaper EditorialDiversity During the 2004 Presidential RaceSteven M. Hallock, Southern Illinois University, CarbondaleOverview: Analysis of newspaper editorials in competingnewspaper markets during the 2004 presidential race foundvarying degrees of opinion diversity, supporting the existence ofa bonafide marketplace of ideas.Local News and Perceptions of CampaignsDaniel P. Stevens, Hartwick CollegeBarbara Allen, Carleton CollegeGregory Marfleet, Carleton CollegeJohn L. Sullivan, University of MinnesotaOverview: This paper presents survey data, content analysis,and focus group evidence on perceptions and effects of localnews. We find the more individuals watch local news the lesstolerant they are of standard political debate. We endeavor toexplain why.Travis N. Ridout, Washington State University224