Research team
Expertise
Research on political communication: - the impact of media coverage on perceptions of political parties; - the strategic communication of political parties; - disinformation. Research on elections and political participation: - The role of policy themes in voting behavior; - the role of polarization in political participation; - political knowledge.
Bringing the Real World Back In: Rethinking Citizens' Issue Salience Through Personal Experiences
Abstract
Political science has extensively studied citizens' issue salience, a core concept in public opinion. But one fundamental determinant of such salience remains overlooked: citizens' personal experiences. This project addresses a critical gap: despite a growing scholarly emphasis on issue salience, no systematic framework exists on the role of personal experiences. This omission is striking, given that salience determines not only voter behaviour but also political agendas. This project redefines how we understand issue salience, proposing that personal experiences—direct and tangible encounters with political issues—are an essential determinant. The project empirically tests this claim through a comparative analysis of three issues—climate change, immigration, and unemployment—in two contrasting regions: Sicily and Flanders. This allows for a unique examination of a context with many personal experiences (Sicily) versus a context with few personal experiences (Flanders). Using a mixed-methods approach—focus groups and surveys—this project: (1) Develops a typology of personal experiences, distinguishing between first-hand versus second-hand experiences, positive versus negative experiences, visible and directly relevant experiences. (2) Examines whether and how personal experiences influence the salience of climate change, immigration, and unemployment. (3) Investigates how personal experiences moderate the effects of media agenda-setting and party cues on issue salience.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Walgrave Stefaan
- Co-promoter: Lefevere Jonas
- Fellow: Qasem Omar
Research team(s)
Project type(s)
- Research Project
Learning, adapting and primed voters. Effects of the Antwerp 2012 local campaign on voters.
Abstract
Do voters learn something during the final sprint towards Election Day? This topic is central to public opinion research because political knowledge is crucial for the functioning of democracy (Delli Carpini & Keeter, 1996). The elections for the Antwerp city council of 2012 are a good case to study such campaign effects. It is a local campaign, which means the issues are closer to the citizens and there is a larger chance of learning effects. Also, the expected battle between two politicians with national popularity (Patrick Janssens and Bart De Wever) will generate substantial media attention. This increases the odds that citizens actually notice the campaign and are influenced by it. This project studies change in Antwerp voters' political knowledge during the campaign through panel surveying. It investigates the voters' opinion on a number of issues, but is especially interested in voters' knowledge of the parties' positions on these issues and changes therein (learning). Additionally, it tracks how voters respond once they do learn something: do they switch party, or adapt their own position to 'fit' their currently preferred party (adapt)? Finally, the project studies whether these issues become more important determinants of vote choice (priming).Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Lefevere Jonas
Research team(s)
Project type(s)
- Research Project