2006 Conference Program - Midwest Political Science Association

18-1 ADVANCES IN THE STUDY OFAMBIVALENCE (Co-sponsored with PublicOpinion, see 22-18)RoomChairPaperPaperPaperPaperDisc.TBA, Thur 8:30 amJason Barabas, Harvard UniversityA Theory of Partisan AmbivalenceMarco R. Steenbergen, University of North Carolina, ChapelHillHoward Lavine, Stony Brook UniversityDelia N. Goolsby, University of North Carolina, Chapel HillOverview: We propose a theory whereby partisanship has bothstable identity and dynamic evaluative components. We thenassess the implications for partisan ambivalence, using NESpanel data as the primary source.An Information Processing Theory of AmbivalenceThomas J. Rudolph, University of Illinois, Urbana-ChampaignElizabeth Popp, University of Illinois, Urbana-ChampaignOverview: This paper develops and tests an informationprocessing theory of ambivalence. We argue that ambivalence isa function of the cognitive effort with which individuals processinformation relevant to political judgments.Contextual Sources of AmbivalenceJennifer Wolak, University of Colorado, BoulderLuke Keele, The Ohio State UniversityOverview: We explore the causes of ambivalence inpartisanship and candidate evaluations, considering individuallevel explanations such as attitude strength and knowledge andcontextual factors in the way political choices are presented inthe environment.Moderating Framing Effects: The Role of Ambivalence andAffectTodd K. Hartman, Stony Brook UniversityOverview: This study examines the role of ambivalence andaffect as moderators of framing effects. These measures aretested against existing constructs like the "need for cognition,""need to evaluate," political sophistication, etc.Paul R. Brewer, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee19-8 GETTING OUT THE VOTERoomChairPaperPaperPaperTBA, Thur 8:30 amRyan L. Claassen, Kent State UniversityCampaigns and Turnout: Inferences from ObservationalDataCarol A. Cassel, University of AlabamaOverview: How do campaigns mobilize voters? Experimentalstudies find personal contacts effective but aggregate studiespoint to more expensive, impersonal campaigns. This study teststhe influence of personal contacts and mass communications onturnout.Does Publicity of Voting Records Increase Voter Turnout?A Field ExperimentAlan S. Gerber, Yale UniversityMark Grebner, Practical Political Consulting Inc.Donald P. Green, Yale UniversityChristopher W. Larimer, University of Nebraska, LincolnOverview: We use a field experiment to test whetherneighborhood mailings containing the names and voting recordsof registered voters increase voter turnout. We test thehypothesis that pressure to conform to civic norms increasesvoter turnout.The Ground War in the 2004 Presidential ElectionCampaignDavid B. Magleby, Brigham Young UniversityQuin Monson, Brigham Young UniversityKelly D. Patterson, Brigham Young UniversityOverview: Using data collected from a 2004 national surveyvoters who kept a log of all of their campaign communicationsduring the last three weeks of the presidential campaign, weexamine what predicts the type of political contacts that votersreceive.PaperPaperDisc.Unpacking the Black Box of Door-to-Door CanvassingDavid Nickerson, University of Notre DameOverview: This paper uses a survey conducted after arandomized voter mobilization experiment to uncover thepsychological mechanisms that cause door-to-door canvassingto increase voter turnout.Is Voting an Unaffordable Luxury? Information Cost andVoter BehaviorMary L. Schumann, University of Illinois, ChicagoOverview: An examination of the impact on politicalparticipation during local, off-year elections when the cost ofcollecting candidate and issue information is removed.Ryan L. Claassen, Kent State UniversityDavid Darmofal, University of South Carolina21-1 ELECTORAL REFORMRoomChairPaperPaperPaperPaperPaperDisc.TBA, Thur 8:30 amRichard D. Chesteen, University of Tennessee, MatinReapportionment in Taiwan-Strategies for DemarcatingElectoral DistrictsHsing-ti Cheng, Fo Guang UniversityOverview: This paper attempts to map out electoral-districtingstrategies for 2007 congressional election in Taiwan. Forresearch purposes, literature review, case studies and "Delphitechnique" will be conducted.Carter-Baker Election Reform: Too Much, Too Little, TooEarly, Too LateRichard D. Chesteen, University of Tennessee, MatinOverview: This paper looks at the American University JamesBaker-Jimmy Carter Election Reform Report (2005) in thecontext of the requirements of the Help America Vote Act'srequirements and the current stage of the states' readiness forcompliance to them.Apportionment and Presidential Election OutcomesJason Reifler, Loyola University, ChicagoOverview: Small changes in how we apportion the ElectoralCollege would have reversed the outcome of the 2000 election.I examine which choices would have led to a Gore victory, andcomment about how such choices might affect future electionoutcomes.Liven Up! How Electoral Reform Can Rejuvinate AmericanDemocracyMary Ryan, Fair Vote-Center for Voting and DemocracyOverview: Electing women and racial minorities is a vitalcomponent to a strong American democracy. Now is the timeto discuss how to adopt electoral reform that provides fairrepresentation, builds community, and solves problemscooperatively and directly.U.S. Federal Voter Assistance Policy: Civic Engagement andGlobal DemocracyVictoria A. Doyon, Overseas Vote FoundationSusan Dziedusyzcka-Suinat, Overseas Vote FoundationOverview: U.S. civilian and military citizens living abroad havea right to a practical voter registration system. Current policiesand programs, however, are not conducive to enfranchisement.An overseas voter survey sheds light on specific areas forchange.Gregg R. Murray, SUNY, Brockport22-4 AFRICAN AMERICAN POLITICALATTITUDES (Co-sponsored with Race, Classand Ethnicity, see 26-21)RoomChairPaperTBA, Thur 8:30 amNicholas J. G. Winter, Cornell UniversityAbortion Attitudes of Hispanic and Black WomenR. Michael Alvarez, California Institute of TechnologyDelia Grigg Bailey, California Institute of TechnologyJonathan Nagler, New York UniversityOverview: We study the abortion attitudes of Hispanic andBlack women, and examine their impact on presidential votepreference.73