The rapid rise of digital media use for political participation has coincided with increased concerns about democratic representation and political efficacy. In this seminar I address these topics by presenting findings from the first meta-analysis of repeated-wave panel data studies on the relationship between digital media use and political participation (co-authored with Shelley Boulianne, forthcoming in Public Opinion Quarterly; accepted manuscript version link). The findings, based on 38 survey-based, repeated-wave panel studies (279 coefficients) bring new evidence to bear on two questions central to this literature. First, the findings provide new insight into the classic mobilization versus reinforcementdebate: contrary to common assumption, the findings support a reinforcement effect, whereby those who are already politically active are motivated to use digital media. Second, the results indicate that the relationship between digital media use and political participation is durable, as studies with a longer time lag were more likely to yield positive and significant effects. Taken together, this evidence in support of a durable reinforcement effect implies the potential for digital media use to contribute to increased inequality in political participation over time.

I will conclude the seminar by noting two related working papers: a new meta-analysis on political efficacy in relation to online and offline political participation (with Shelley Boulianne and Amit Levinson); and a cross-national analysis of expanded repertoires of political participation and citizen-government congruence on multiple policy issues (with Ruth Dassonneville and Marc Hooghe).

Contactez semra.sevi@umontreal.ca pour rejoindre la conférence sur Zoom.

Organisé par la Chaire de recherche en études électorales et la Chaire de recherche du Canada en démocratie électorale.

DATE : mardi 21 avril, 12h-13h