Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Media, Issue Information and Vote Choice in a Referendum Campaign

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Publizistik und gesellschaftliche Verantwortung

  • 1911 Accesses

Abstract

Early theorists framed public opinion as an emergent product of broad discussion – emanating ideally from a debate open to wide popular participation, free-flowing and uncensored, and well-informed (Lasswell 1941; Price 1992; Price/Neijens 1997). However, early scientific analysts (e.g. Allport 1937) found the concept of public opinion as an “emergent product” of discussion difficult to grasp empirically and problematic in a number of respects. Over time, they came to accept mass survey data as the only workable empirical expression of public opinion (Key 1961; Converse 1987). The extent to which general population surveys provide valid measures of what has traditionally been defined as public opinion – grounded in public discussion and well-informed by debate – has been questioned by scholars of many stripes (Price & Neijens 1998; Crespi 1989; Saris/Sniderman 2004). Empirical evidence suggests that opinions given to pollsters and survey researchers are often unorganized, disconnected, individual responses that have not been influenced by public debate (Bishop/Oldendick/Tuchfarber/Bennet 1980).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Allport, F. H. (1937): Toward a science of public opinion. Public Opinion Quarterly, 1. 7–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bishop, G. F., Oldendick, R. W., Tuchfarber, A. J., Bennett, S. E. (1980): Pseudo-opinions on public affairs. Public Opinion Quarterly, 44. 198–209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bogdanor, V. (1994): Western Europe. In: D. Butler, A. Ranney (eds). Referendums around the world. The growing use of direct democracy (pp 24–97). London: MacMillan Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brants, K., Neijens, P. (1998): The infotainment of politics. Political Communication, 15 (2). 149–164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brants, K., van Praag, P., eds. (1994): Verkoop van de politiek. De verkiezingscampagne van 1994. [Marketing of Politics. The election campaign of 1994]. Amsterdam: Het Spinhuis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Butler, D., Ranney, A. (1994): Theory. In: D. Butler, A. Ranney, eds. (1994a). Referendums around the world. The growing use of direct democracy. London: MacMillan Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Converse, P. E. (1987): Changing conceptions of public opinion in the political process. Public Opinion Quarterly, 51. 12–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crespi, I. (1989): Public opinion, polls, and democracy. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duyvendak, J. W., et al. (1992): Tussen verbeelding en macht. 25 jaar nieuwe sociale bewegingen in Nederland. [Between imagination and power. 25 years of new social movements in the Netherlands]. Amsterdam: SUA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, W., (1977): Use of multiattribute utility measurement for social decision making. In: D.E. Bell, R.L. Keeney and H. Raiffa (eds.). Conflicting objectives in decisions. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elenbaas, M. (2013): Dynamics of political information transmission: How media coverage informs public judgments about politics. Doctoral dissertation, University of Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Just, M.R., Crigler, A. N., Alger, D. E., Cook, T. E., Kern, M., West, D. M. (1996): Crosstalk. Citizens, candidates, and the Media in a Presidential campaign. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keeney, R. L., Raiffa, H. (1976): Decisions with multiple objectives: preferences and value tradeoffs. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Key, V. O., Jr. (1961): Public opinion and American democracy. New York: Knopf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kleinnijenhuis, J., D. Oegema, de Ridder, J., Bos, H. eds. (1994): De democratie op drift. Een evaluatie van de verkiezingscampagne van 1994. [Democracy adrift. An evaluation of the election campaign of 1994]. Amsterdam: VU Uitgeverij.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knippenberg, D. van, Daamen, D. (1996): Providing information on public opinion surveys: Motivation and ability effects in the information-and-choice questionnaire. International Journal of Public Opinion Research, 8. 70–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lasswell, H. D. (1941): Democracy through public opinion. Menasha, WI: George Banta.

    Google Scholar 

  • Magleby, D. B. (1989): Opinion formation and opinion change in ballot proposition campaigns. In: M. Margolis, G. A. Mauser (ed.), Manipulating public opinion, 95-115. Belmont: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Magleby, D. B. (1994): Direct legislation in the American States. In: D. Butler, A. Ranney (eds). (1994a). Referendums around the world. The growing use of direct democracy (pp 218–257). London: Macmillan Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neijens, P. C. (1987): The Choice Questionnaire. Design and evaluation of an instrument for collecting informed opinions. Amsterdam: Free University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neijens, P. C. (2008): The deliberating public and deliberative polls. In: W. Donsbach & M.W. Traugott (eds.), Handbook of Public Opinion Research, pp 25–33. London: Sage.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Neijens, P. C., de Vreese, C. (2009): Helping citizens decide in referendums: The moderating effect of political sophistication on the use of the Information and Choice Questionnaire as a decision aid. Public Opinion Quarterly, 73 (3). 521–536.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neijens, P. C., de Ridder, J. A., Saris, W. E. (1992): An instrument for collecting informed opini-ons. Quality & Quantity, 26. 245–258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neijens, P. C., Minkman, M., Slot, J. (1998): Opinion formation in referendum campaigns. A study of the Amsterdam referendums. Acta Politica, 33 (3). 300–316.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neijens, P. C., van Praag, jr., Ph. (eds.) (1999): De slag om IJburg. Campagne, media en publiek. [The IJburg battle: Campaign, Media and Public]. Amsterdam: Het Spinhuis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neijens, P. C., van Praag, Ph., Bosveld, W., Slot, J. (2007): Turnout in Dutch referendums. An analysis of voter and referendum characteristics that influence turnout in referendums. In: C. de Vreese (ed.), The Dynamics of Referendum Campaigns. Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pennings, P. (1995): De boodschap van de partijen. [The message of the parties]. In: J. Kleinnijenhuis, D. Oegema, J. de Ridder, H. Bos (eds.). De democratie op drift. Een evaluatie van de verkiezingscampagne van 1994. [Democracy adrift. An evaluation of the election campaign of 1994]. Amsterdam: VU Uitgeverij, pp. 15–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Price, V. (1992): Public Opinion. Communication Concepts, vol. 4. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Price, V. E., Neijens, P. C. (1997): Opinion quality in public opinion research. International Journal of Public Opinion Research, 9 (4). 336–360.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Price, V. E., Neijens, P. C. (1998). Deliberative polls: toward improved measures of “informed” public opinion. International Journal of Public Opinion Research, 10 (2), 145–176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saris, W. E., & Sniderman, P. M. (Eds.). (2004): Studies in public opinion. Attitudes, nonattitudes, measurement error and change. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scholten, O. (1996): Politiek, marketing en elektronische snelweg [Politics, marketing and the electronical highway]. In: N. Kramer, E. Nijpels, B. Pauw & L. Tiddens, Politiek en Marketing: winst of verlies? [Politics and Marketing: gain or loss]. Den Haag: SDU, pp. 11–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Semetko, H. A., Blumler, J. G., Gurevitch, M., Weaver, D. (1991): The Formation of Campaign Agendas: A Comparative Analysis of Party and Media Roles in Recent American and British Elections. Hillsdale: Lawrence Erlbaum Ass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slot, J. (1997): Onderzoek rondom IJburg. [Survey Research on IJburg]. Amsterdam: O+S, Het Amsterdamse Bureau voor Onderzoek en Statistiek.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Hulten, S. (1999): Het mediadebat over IJburg. [The media debate about IJburg]. In P. C. Neijens, & Ph. Van Praag, jr. (eds.), De slag om IJburg. Campagne, Media en Publiek [The IJburg battle: Campaign, Media and Public], pp. 93–107. Amsterdam: Het Spinhuis.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Communication, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 15791, Amsterdam, 1001 NG, Netherlands

    Prof. Dr. Peter Neijens & Prof. Dr. Jeroen Slot

Authors
  1. Prof. Dr. Peter Neijens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Prof. Dr. Jeroen Slot
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter Neijens .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Sozialwissenschaften, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany

    Olaf Jandura

  2. IfD Allensbach, Allensbach, Germany

    Thomas Petersen

  3. Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA

    Cornelia Mothes

  4. Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany

    Anna-Maria Schielicke

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Neijens, P., Slot, J. (2015). Media, Issue Information and Vote Choice in a Referendum Campaign. In: Jandura, O., Petersen, T., Mothes, C., Schielicke, AM. (eds) Publizistik und gesellschaftliche Verantwortung. Springer VS, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-04704-7_13

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-04704-7_13

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer VS, Wiesbaden

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-658-04703-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-658-04704-7

  • eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Science (German Language)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation