This study examines how descriptive and injunctive norms influence voter turnout using political discussion network data from the British Election Study.
Data & Methods: Data comes from networks of political discussions during elections. Researchers analyzed who people vote with (descriptive norm) compared to whom they seek approval for voting (injunctive norm).
Key Findings: Close personal ties, especially partners, matter more than just talking about politics.‎ People follow cues from those closest them regardless of whether it's descriptive or injunctive. Approval from political discussants also matters but less so if the relationship isn't close.
Why It Matters: These findings show social influence works differently based on closeness, offering new insights into voter mobilization strategies.
| Do As I Say or Do As I Do? How Social Relationships Shape the Impact of Descriptive and Injunctive Norms of Voting was authored by Edward Fieldhouse and David Cutts. It was published by Cambridge in BJPS in 2021. |
