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Showing papers in "Journal of Information Technology & Politics in 2014"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The authors provided a descriptive interpretation of the role of digital media in the campaigns of Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 with a focus on personalized political communication and the commodification of online media as tools.
Abstract: This essay provides a descriptive interpretation of the role of digital media in the campaigns of Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 with a focus on two themes: personalized political communication and the commodification of digital media as tools. The essay covers campaign finance strategy, voter mobilization on the ground, innovation in social media, and data analytics, and why the Obama organizations were more innovative than those of his opponents. The essay provides a point of contrast for the other articles in this special issue, which describe sometimes quite different campaign practices in recent elections across Europe.

232 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The authors examined the medium-specific and spill-over effects from various aspects of using social networking sites (SNS) to other forms of online and offline political participation and found a reciprocal relationship between the posting of Facebook messages and offline protest, confirming that Facebook political activity is both mobilizing and reinforcing.
Abstract: This article examines the medium-specific and spill-over effects from various aspects of using social networking sites (SNS) to other forms of online and offline political participation. The study relies on a two-wave panel survey of undergraduate students at a major Canadian university, which was designed to measure detailed aspects of political participation on social networking sites (SNS) and various other forms of political engagement. Our results show that prior political Facebook participation fosters other forms of online participation, but also reveals some spill-over effects to offline protests. Indeed, we find a reciprocal relationship between the posting of Facebook messages and offline protest, confirming that Facebook political activity is both mobilizing and reinforcing.

96 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This article examined political elites and citizens' use of the Web during the 2007 and 2012 French presidential campaigns particularly with the aim of testing the normalization and mobilization hypothesis at two levels of analysis: supply and demand.
Abstract: This article examines political elites and citizens’ use of the Web during the 2007 and 2012 French presidential campaigns particularly with the aim of testing the normalization and mobilization hypothesis at two levels of analysis: supply and demand. It is based on a quantitative content analysis of the candidates’ Web sites and two surveys of French Internet users. The results present a challenge to the normalization thesis at the elite level, in that despite a strong division in online performance between the major and other candidates in 2007, by 2012 the minor candidates outperformed their major counterparts. Among voters, the results also run somewhat contrary to normalization, with a weakening in the significance of socio-demographic factors in determining traditional types of online engagement. In addition, the new social media sphere appears to encourage younger and less politicized citizens to participate. The importance of prior political attitudes such as interest and trust, however, r...

68 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the application and effect of cyber-campaigning among candidates at the 2011 Danish general election campaign was analyzed to provide hard evidence on whether new technologies are electorally decisive, or whether traditional offline campaigning still makes sense.
Abstract: We set out to analyze the application and effect of cyber-campaigning among candidates at the 2011 Danish general election campaign in order to provide hard evidence on whether new technologies are electorally decisive, or whether traditional offline campaigning still makes sense. First, both Web sites and Facebook sites are popular among candidates, but other features such as blogs, feeds, newsletters, video uploads, SMS, and Twitter are used by less than half the candidates. Second, only age and possibly education seem to matter when explaining the uptake of cyber-campaigning. The prominent candidates are not significantly more likely to use cyber-campaigning tools and activities. Third, the analysis of the effect of cyber-campaigning shows that the online score has an effect on the interparty competition for personal votes, but it does not have a significant effect when controlling for other relevant variables. The online rank of candidates within party and constituency is more important for in...

52 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the attitudinal factors that lie at the heart of cultural-behavioral approaches to democratization are investigated in the context of Tunisian Internet users, using data obtained from a Web survey among 610 Tunisian internet users.
Abstract: Social media are reputed to have played a crucial role in mobilizing citizens against autocratic governments in the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region. In Tunisia, digital activists successfully used social media to organize the popular protests that ousted President Ben Ali in January 2011. However, the phase of mobilizing protest to overthrow an established authority is different from constructing a political order to replace that authority. Hence the question arises: In what ways can social media contribute to democratic transitions beyond popular rebellion? This article focuses on the attitudinal factors that lie at the heart of cultural-behavioral approaches to democratization. A key element in the democratic consolidation of post-autocratic societies is the development of a participatory political culture, which, among other factors, depends on citizens’ perceived political efficacy. Using data obtained from a Web survey among 610 Tunisian Internet users, we test the degree to which res...

52 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This paper used different text-processing algorithms to gain insight into the political rhetoric used in conservative and liberal weblogs and found significant differences in the use of various linguistic features related to sentiments of collective identity, moral concerns, and emotional dynamics between liberals and conservatives.
Abstract: We use different text-processing algorithms to gain insight into the political rhetoric used in conservative and liberal weblogs. We specifically focus on the online debate regarding the issue of the “Ground Zero Mosque,” which has been one of the most controversial political issues in U.S. politics in the last several years. Overall, our results show that there are significant differences in the use of various linguistic features related to sentiments of collective identity, moral concerns, and emotional dynamics between liberals and conservatives, thus highlighting the differences between the ideological and moral frameworks of these two groups.

48 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present new insight into the drivers, quality, and impact of web campaigning up to date by reflecting on the uptake, maturity, and influence of internet campaigning in elections around the world.
Abstract: In this series of articles we present new insight into the drivers, quality, and impact of web campaigning up to date by reflecting on the uptake, maturity, and impact of internet campaigning in elections around the world Specifically, we use the contributions to address four key topics that have been addressed by the web campaigns literature since its origins First, diffusion and how widespread web campaigning has become; second, the issue of normalization and how far web campaigns favour the already powerful and well resourced; third, we discuss whether campaign style is changing and becoming more interactive and participatory as a result of the new digital technology; finally, we provide new evidence on the question of voter mobilization and the extent to which the web appears to be a voter generator for political parties and candidates While answers vary according to context it is clear that web campaigning is common practice in democratic elections, although the US retains its leading ro

47 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the mediating role of attitude homophily in establishing political candidates' source credibility among Facebook users was examined using experimental data, and a multiple mediation model was proposed to mediate the relationship between political cues and evaluations of source credibility.
Abstract: The last two election cycles have seen an exponential rise in the number of political campaigns integrating some form of social media into their communication plans. As candidates and campaigns increase their social media communications, political communication scholars have become increasingly interested in the process through which voters assess political candidates’ credibility through social networking sites. Using experimental data, this study examines the mediating role of attitude homophily in establishing political candidates’ source credibility among Facebook users. A multiple mediation model outlines a process wherein attitude homophily mediates the relationship between political cues and evaluations of source credibility. Theoretical and practical implications of the results for political social media campaigns are discussed.

47 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a latent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify different user types according to their cognitive characteristics and motivations, which resulted in three distinct user types that vary in efficacy, vote certainty and interest: doubters, checkers and seekers.
Abstract: Voting Advice Applications (VAAs) are Web tools that are used to inform increasing numbers of voters during elections. This increasing usage indicates that VAAs fulfill voters’ needs, but what these needs are is unknown. Previous research has shown that such tools are primarily used by young males and highly educated citizens. This suggests that VAAs are generally used by citizens who are already well-informed about politics and may not need the assistance of a VAA to make voting decisions. To analyze the functions that VAAs have for their users, this study utilizes unique user data from a popular Dutch VAA to identify different user types according to their cognitive characteristics and motivations. A latent class analysis (LCA) resulted in three distinct user types that vary in efficacy, vote certainty, and interest: doubters, checkers, and seekers. Each group uses the VAA for different reasons at different points in time. Seekers’ use of VAAs increases as Election Day approaches; less efficacious and less certain voters are more likely to use the tool to become informed.

42 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors apply the Theory of Planned Behavior (Tobias et al. 2003) to study the influence of individual attitudes and subjective assessments of the value of the Internet as a campaign tool.
Abstract: Campaigners are increasingly citing the Web as an important election tool for candidates and parties to communicate with voters; however, to what extent is this rhetoric matched to reality? Evidence suggests there is something of a gap in the importance attributed to the medium and the extent to which it is actually adopted. Most studies of the drivers of Web campaigning to date have focused on the environmental factors and personal resources that determine individuals’ use of the medium. We argue here that such models miss a key layer of explanation in accounting for web uptake by politicians—that of individual attitudes and subjective assessments of the value of the Internet as a campaign tool. More specifically, by applying the Theory of Planned Behavior, we account for patterns of Web campaign activity among candidates in a German state level election. We test our model on survey data and an independent audit of Web use by candidates. Our findings confirm that there is a large discrepancy betw...

40 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyze the use of the online environment within the context of the Polish parliamentary election of 2011 and find that candidates tend to adhere to a professionalized model of campaigning, and adapt online tools to suit the objectives of the campaign.
Abstract: This article analyzes the use of the online environment within the context of the Polish parliamentary election of 2011. Using traditional methods of content analysis, we find that parties tend to adhere to a professionalized model of campaigning, and adapting online tools to suit the objectives of the campaign. There also appears to be a recognition that their most likely visitors to these online presences would be converts, and so they attempt to mobilize supporters rather than convert browsers. New parties and candidates are more likely to target browsers, with the latter offering a more personalized experience to online visitors. Importantly, when analyzing the outcome of the contest, we find that being online matters for candidates when controlling for all other variables. Equally, the reach the candidate has, which may well influence their vote share, is dependent on offering a more personalized, representational image and having a frequently updated online presence that should encourage rep...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The authors argued that more attention must be paid to how citizens experience their encounters with public officials, and pointed out the need to explain how legitimacy is maintained by paying attention to how they experience their interactions with public authorities.
Abstract: To explain how legitimacy is maintained, scholars increasingly argue that more attention must be paid to how citizens experience their encounters with public officials. At the same time, the introd ...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In Canada, Twitter still played a mostly peripheral role in political communication, mobilization, and organizing in 2010, and as mentioned in this paper provides a snapshot in time of how Twitter was redefining local political campaigns before social media become ubiquitous in electioneering.
Abstract: In Canada, Twitter still played a mostly peripheral role in political communication, mobilization, and organizing in 2010. This study provides a snapshot in time of how Twitter was redefining local political campaigns before social media become ubiquitous in electioneering. Focusing on the 2010 municipal elections in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (the nation’s capital), this study considers how and to what extent social networking platforms help shape the dynamics of local electioneering; it maps the ways in which Twitter was used by the Ottawa-Carleton district school board, the Ottawa catholic school board, the Eastern Ontario French-language public school board, and ward and mayoral candidates for voter outreach; it also identifies what were then novel ways in which voters creatively used Twitter to participate independently in the electoral process and to attempt to influence its outcome. Finally, it discusses how traditional news organizations experimented with social media in covering elections and engagi...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore the capacity for new information and communication technologies (ICTs) to facilitate crowdsourced elections monitoring and find that the number and nature of crowdmap reports generated by citizens is significantly correlated with increased voter turnout in the 2011 Nigerian presidential election as a result of providing officials with improved information about the functionality of local polling stations.
Abstract: We explore the capacity for new information and communication technologies (ICTs) to facilitate crowdsourced elections monitoring In broad terms, we are interested in digitally enabled collective action initiatives by nonstate actors, especially in places where the state is incapable of meeting the expectations of democratic governance In the case at hand, we test for effects of crowdsourcing elections monitoring in the form of citizen-generated reports of failures, abuses, and successes through the Ushahidi open-source geographical information systems (GIS) platform in regard to the 2011 Nigerian elections Controlling for a number of factors, we find that the number and nature of crowdmap reports generated by citizens is significantly correlated with increased voter turnout in the 2011 Nigerian presidential election as a result of providing officials with improved information about the functionality of local polling stations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Zhang et al. as mentioned in this paper examined the role of online networking in a grassroots movement in China and examined the ways in which messages were communicated and people were connected into a network.
Abstract: This study examines the role of online networking in a grassroots movement in China. Drawing on Manuel Castells’s theory of communication power in the network society, we argue that microblogs can facilitate China’s mass self-communication in a network environment, even under authoritarian control, and are able to challenge the power of agenda setting, which has been mainly dominated by the state and the state media. We study a grassroots movement in China and examine the ways in which messages were communicated and people were connected into a network. Thus we investigate the role of online communication in reconfiguring the balance of power between the authority and Chinese citizens. Using systematic data collection and social network analysis, we characterize the microbloggers who contributed to the process, the network configuration, and the interplays between different stakeholders.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A contemporary version of Mancur... as mentioned in this paper has been proposed for social movements of recent years, such as the anti-globalization campaign, the Arab Spring, and Occupy.
Abstract: Highly publicized social movements of recent years, notably the anti-globalization campaign, the Arab Spring, and Occupy, have left social scientists crying out for a contemporary version of Mancur...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors study the determinants of the perceived usefulness of voting advice applications for their users, with data from the EU Profiler, a voting advice application developed by the European Union Democracy Observatory (EUDO).
Abstract: The use of voting advice applications (VAAs) has increased steadily in recent years. VAAs have been developed for elections taking place in individual countries as well as for region-wide European Union elections. In this article, we study the determinants of the perceived usefulness of VAAs for their users, with data from the EU Profiler—a voting advice application developed by the European Union Democracy Observatory (EUDO) that was first applied to the 2009 European Parliamentary elections. We use a multilevel latent variable approach that allows us to study underlying evaluations based on ratings of multiple features of the EU Profiler, taking into account country-level heterogeneity in evaluations of the system. The results of this study improve our understanding of the benefits of VAAs for different segments of the population, and should be of interest to scholars and policy-makers who are interested in improving the experience of individuals who use VAAs to inform their voting decisions.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The authors examined the extent to which interest groups utilize Twitter to engage in interactive communication and the potential of such communication to serve organizational goals such as mobilization, fundraising, and expanding support for groups' causes.
Abstract: This study examines the extent to which interest groups utilize Twitter to engage in interactive communication and the potential of such communication to serve organizational goals such as mobilization, fundraising, and expanding support for groups’ causes. Based on a content analysis of 5,000 tweets by environmental organizations in the context of the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, I show that interactive communication was relatively uncommon and, further, that interactivity did not yield a significant payoff in terms of expanding groups’ reach and influence within the medium. These findings suggest that the benefits of interactivity may be overstated, and that other communicative strategies may better serve groups’ goals during times of crisis.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined who sees party and campaign information through social media, as well as which people share this information through online social media and found that younger party members and strong partisans are more likely to see party and political information on social media.
Abstract: This article examines who sees party and campaign information through social media, as well as which people share this information through social media. Using the 2009 German Longitudinal Election Study, we find that younger party members and strong partisans are more likely to see party and campaign information through social media, regardless of their income, education, or gender. In addition, party members are significantly more likely to share party and campaign information through social media. These results are promising because they suggest that parties can engage younger voters through social media sites. Moreover, they show that when parties post campaign information online, they make it easier for party members to mobilize people who might otherwise not be exposed to campaign information.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This paper explored political actors' responsiveness to e-mails coming from citizens through a large-scale, longitudinal study of 194 parties and candidates in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States between 2007 and 2013.
Abstract: Although e-mail is one of the most popular components of users’ experiences of the Internet, its use by political actors in campaigns has rarely been studied. In this article, I explore political actors’ responsiveness to e-mails coming from citizens through a large-scale, longitudinal study of 194 parties and candidates in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States between 2007 and 2013. In order to assess political actors’ e-mail responsiveness, two fictitious e-mails were sent to each of them: one requesting issue information, the other pledging to be willing to volunteer. Results show that most parties and candidates fail to respond to both types of e-mails, and that progressive parties tend to respond more than conservative ones.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results indicate a direct effect for search engine use and political knowledge in Texas, and the possibility that information acquisition tool use will continue to grow.
Abstract: The growing use of tablet and smartphone news applications, search engines, and online social media for political and news information deserves attention because of the political implications. Using data from a statewide Texas opt-in poll from February 2012, this study tests the direct versus the differential hypothesis for each of the information acquisition tools with respect to political knowledge and voting. Results indicate a direct effect for search engine use and political knowledge. Suggestions for future research are provided in light of limitations of the current study and the possibility that information acquisition tool use will continue to grow.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Reflext, an interactive visualization tool that leverages computational linguistic analysis to support reflection on the framing of political issues, was deployed in a field study, during which the tool was used by regular readers of political news coverage during the 2012 U.S. election campaign.
Abstract: Vast amounts of political coverage are generated daily online. Some tools have been developed to help keep track of what is being said, but fewer efforts focus on how things are being said, i.e., how issues are framed. This article presents a study of Reflext, an interactive visualization tool that leverages computational linguistic analysis to support reflection on the framing of political issues. This system was deployed in a field study, during which the tool was used by regular readers of political news coverage during the 2012 U.S. election campaign. The results describe the tool's support for a variety of activities related to frame reflection, how users integrated tool use with their existing reading practices, and broader issues in how participants interpreted the computational analysis and visualization. These findings contribute to our understanding of how algorithmically based interactive systems might mediate both the practical experiences of and situated interpretation of framing in ...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examine online participation and aspects of its mobilizing potential by studying both the extent and the ways citizens used the Internet for participatory activities, and find that a certain group of citizens uses the Internet in a broad and expressive way.
Abstract: This article analyzes Internet use in conjunction with the 2011 Finnish parliamentary election. The aim was to examine online participation and aspects of its mobilizing potential by studying both the extent and the ways citizens used the Internet for participatory activities. The analysis utilizes survey data from the Finnish National Election Study survey. The findings show that a certain group of citizens uses the Internet in a broad and expressive way. This use is also reflected in how they participate online and offline, as well as how they form the informational basis for their voting choices. Moreover, to some extent, use of the Internet also appears to indirectly mobilize citizens beyond the Internet.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors utilized a multimethod approach to tap into how technology affects citizens' political behaviors online in the context of the 2012 U.S. Presidential primary season.
Abstract: The way citizens use technology has changed dramatically in just the last decade; nearly one-third of American adults own tablets, and almost a half own smartphones. But it is not just ownership that is on the rise; citizens are increasingly using such technology to communicate about and participate in politics. The present study utilized a multimethod approach to tap into how technology affects citizens’ political behaviors online in the context of the 2012 U.S. Presidential primary season. Compiling survey data with tablet-tracking behavior in a field experiment, results showed that users spent more days with online aggregators (such as Google and Yahoo), recreational sites (like games), and social interaction sites than news and politics. But when they did spend time with news and politics, they spent an average of 10 minutes on each news page, and national/regional news was the most visited subtopic. User-specific descriptive analyses provide portraits of each user’s demographic makeup and online poli...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the role of student preceptors in promoting student interaction and elevating discussion quality was investigated in a large online course and the results showed that high-quality postings made by a student preceptor indeed trigger higher quality postings by other students.
Abstract: Studies evince that student–student interaction in discussion settings is beneficial. These positive outcomes can also be effectively recreated in the online environment. We offer a preliminary look at the efficacy of a conditioning intervention: the role of student preceptors in promoting student interaction and elevating discussion quality. Using data from 23 discussion groups in a large (279 students) online course, we measure qualitative indicators of discussion activity under two quasi-experimental conditions: preceptor-as-student and preceptor-as-graduate teaching assistant (GTA). In the control condition, no student preceptor was present. We find that high-quality postings made by a student preceptor indeed trigger higher-quality postings by other students.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyze a series of five Copyright Office rulemakings spanning the years 2000-2012 and find high levels of public participation and a lack of influence by businesses.
Abstract: Studies of rulemaking often conclude that members of the public participate infrequently, while businesses participate actively and are more likely to influence final rules. I analyze a series of five Copyright Office rulemakings spanning the years 2000–2012. In contrast to the existing literature, I find high levels of public participation and a lack of influence by businesses. Instead, legal representation is the key predictor of influence over final rules. I also argue that the existing literature has wrongly theorized about how to measure public participation in rulemaking, thereby mischaracterizing the rulemaking process as undemocratic.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that the core policy features in IPv4 distribution, which are considered responsible for creating the imbalance, have made their way into IPv6 distribution policies, and that an ITU-based IP address regime or at least the ITUbased proposals on the table thus far do not address the concerns raised by developing countries.
Abstract: There is discontentment among certain developing countries with regard to the geographical distribution of IPv4 addresses. They blame the IPv4 policies for creating an imbalanced distribution between developed and developing nations. With the introduction of IPv6, there are no signs of these concerns becoming things of the past, as evidenced in various initiatives that call for a UN-based address distribution regime. By reviewing the respective policies for IPv4 and IPv6 distribution, this article argues that at the heart of such concerns and initiatives lies the fact that the core policy features in IPv4 distribution, which are considered responsible for creating the imbalance, have made their way into IPv6 distribution policies. In addition, the assessment of other distribution alternatives reveals that an ITU-based IP address regime or at least the ITU-based proposals on the table thus far do not address the concerns raised by developing countries. Efforts to address such a concern should rath...