Un Reexamen de la loi de Converse sur le lien entre le degre d'information politique et la mobilite de court terme de l'opinion

In: Canadian journal of political science: CJPS = Revue canadienne de science politique : RCSP, Band 23, Heft 4, S. 727-749

Abstract

An empirical test of the classical hypothesis formulated by Philip Converse about the relation between degree of information & opinion mobility (see SA 11:7/63A7513). Three novel methods are used in the test: (1) focusing on the electoral stake, rather than on voting intention; (2) direct measuring of individual political information, which also serves as the key variable for the analysis; & (3) utilizing a quasiexperimental design. The results of a Canadian student survey (N = 343 respondents [Rs]) regarding the Canada-US free trade agreement demonstrate the expected nonlinear relation between Rs' levels of political information & their inclination to modify their opinions. The findings generally support the Converse hypothesis. I. Shagrir