Polls, coalition signals and strategic voting: an experimental investigation of perceptions and effects

Abstract: "Polls and coalition signals can help strategic voters in multiparty systems with proportional representation and coalition governments to optimise their vote decision. Using a laboratory experiment embedded in two real election campaigns, this study focuses on voters' attention to and perception of polls and coalition signals. The manipulation of polls and coalition signals allows a causal test of their influence on strategic voting in a realistic environment. The findings suggest that active information acquisition to form fairly accurate perceptions of election outcomes can compensate for the advantage of high political sophistication. The theory of strategic voting is supported by the evidence, but only for a small number of voters. Most insincere vote decisions are explained by other factors. Thus, the common practice to consider all insincere voters as strategic is misleading." (author's abstract)

Object Details

• Alternative title: Abstimmungen, Koalitionssignale und strategisches Wählen: eine experimentelle Untersuchung der Wahrnehmung und der Effekte
• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch
• Notes: Veröffentlichungsversion ; In: European Journal of Political Research ; 50 (2011) 5 ; 636-667

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Politik
• Keyword: Wahlverhalten ; Strategie ; Meinung ; Koalition ; Wahrnehmung ; Experiment

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Mannheim
• (when): 2011
• Creator: Meffert, Michael F. ; Gschwend, Thomas

Further information

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-6765.2010.01986.x
• URN: urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-257786
• Rights: Open Access unbekannt; Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:34 AM CEST