Im sorry this message is going to be long. Its my assignment compared to the one supplied to me by my TA. I only tried using her research proposal as a blueprint for mine, but am worried I might have followed to carefully and plagiarized. I used different source material and a different topic, but I am still paranoid. My research proposal is the first one; here`s is the second.Keep in note they were both original Microsoft Word documents.
My Research Proposal
Introduction
The decline in voter turnout has brought up considerable discourse into the reasons why western democracies have seen a sharp decrease in the number of people voting. The question that must be posed is why voter turnout has declined in recent years in western democracies? To address this question, it is important to discover how voters review the political choices available to them (i.e. politicians, political parties, electoral system), and the degree to which individual voters feel that their vote truly matters.
Theoretical Discussion and Literature Review
The issue of voter turnout has been a key area of discourse in the political realm in the last few years. André Blais (2006) is one political scientist who has studied voter turnout in countries that have proportional representation or a unicameral legislative system. Blais noted that countries with proportional representation tend to experience higher voter turnout. In regards to countries with a unicameral legislature, that is a legislature where power is concentrated in one body, voter turnout is higher than in countries with two equal legislative bodies. Blais found that the incentive to vote where there is only one legislature with the power is higher due to the high stakes involved where one body holds all the power.
In addition, Benny Geys (2006) analyzed population patterns to determine voter turnout. Geys argued that if an election race was predicted to be too close, population size would determine the amount of voter turnout. In theory, if a population feels it can determine the results in a close election, voter turnout will be higher than if a population feels it cannot change the results. Furthermore, Geys examined population stability and determined that home owners are
more likely to vote than renters because homeowners have a much larger stake in the political process. Other studies paid close attention to the overall demographics. Achim Goerres (2007) argued that traditionally the older cohort has voted in higher amounts than their younger compatriots. Richard Jenkins (2006) examined this demographic difference more closely. He analyzed the concept of ‘post-materialism’ and its application to voter turnout. He surmised that the younger cohort was raised in an environment of financial prosperity; and thus younger voters are less interested in the political process. These potential voters are much more likely to carry this feeling of disenfranchisement throughout their whole lives.
Theoretical Hypothesis
In retrospect, it can be surmised that voter turnout is determined by the stakes one feels he or she has in the political process. If one feels that they cannot change the political process, or feel that their votes are irrelevant, they are much less likely to vote than those who feel they can make a difference.
Research Design
To test my theoretical hypothesis I will be using an aggregate analysis. To conduct this study voter turnout (the independent variable) will be measured by the research data available for voters’ feeling of disenfranchisement (the dependent variable).
An aggregate analysis is appropriate for this study because of the vast amount of research previously conducted to determine the causes behind low voter turnout. By analyzing the independent variable (voter turnout) against the academic material available for the dependant variable (disenfranchisement), it can be determined whether voter disenfranchisement is important to overall voter turnout. To do this, a number of different sources will need to be aggregated to determine whether or not the hypothesis is correct
TAs
Introduction
The role of gender has been a debatable topic in the political sphere, bringing up questions regarding a candidate’s competence and leadership ability. The question at hand is whether a candidate’s gender affects his or her assessment by others? Especially in a time when Canada is about to enter into another election, exposing the grounds by which the people analyze candidates will provide a clearer understanding of what they believe to be a “good” leader and whether that includes one’s gender.
Theoretical Discussion and Literature Review
Many social scientists view that gender does in fact play a role in how individuals assess candidates. The term “assess” is to be interpreted by the way one perceives and analyzes the candidate, basing the criteria on their own personal views and on what has been presented to them. Through media coverage alone, the assessment of candidates is influenced by the stereotypical gender identities. Elisabeth Gindengil and Joanne Everitt (2003) are two social scientists who have studied the disproportioned media coverage in comparing male and female candidates. As male candidates receive more time on air, they are shown to be more qualified and competent while female candidates are not given that opportunity (Gidengil & Everitt, 2003). Linda Trimble (2007) furthers the argument by saying that the media also portrays female candidates to be more soft-spoken while male candidates undertake a take-charge persona.
Furthermore, Jerome H. Black and Lynda Erickson (2003) show in their study that women candidates have a disadvantage in votes even though they may have been highly qualified. It is even argued that there is this “gender identity hypothesis” whereby biases still remain and women will vote for a woman candidate (Banducci & Karp, 2000). In a more systematic approach, Black and Erickson (2000) claim that male and female candidates differ in what they offer – whatever one lacked, the other would compensate for the missing characteristic. With less emphasis on gender based assessment, some social scientists claim that gender is not eliminated from analyzing candidates but is considered to be a secondary factor subsequent to qualifications and non-gendered traits (Tremblay & Pelletier, 2001).
Theoretical Hypothesis
In reviewing the contributions that have been presented by these social scientists, it is clear that the assessment and analysis of candidates is subject to their gender. Whether it is through a secondary source, such as media coverage, or from a primary source of personal views, gender in some form plays a part in how one perceives a candidate and their ability to take on political leadership.
Research Design
In order to test my hypothesis, I will be using a classic experimental design. Candidate gender (the independent variable) will be manipulated in showing its effect in relation to the type of assessment given by the people (the dependent variable).
Classic experimental design is appropriate for the purpose of this research because we are trying to find a causal relation between gender and its effect on a candidate’s assessment. By taking an independent variable (gender) and manipulating it, we can find its relevance to the analysis and perception of how people view them as political leaders (dependent variable). Manipulating the independent variable calls for creating an experimental group (applying gender to candidate assessment) and a control group (not applying gender to candidate assessment). By doing so, we can compare the results and determine if the hypothesis is valid.
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I have Asperger's Syndrome. I'm not an Aspie.
15 Oct 2009, 4:28 pm
