A New Look at Campaign Advertising and Political Engagement: Exploring the Effects of Opinion-Congruent and -Incongruent Political Advertisements. (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Matthes, Jörg; Marquart, Franziska
• Is Part Of: Communication research. Volume 42:Number 1(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 134
• Page End: 155
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: cross-cutting advertising -- participation -- timing of voting decisions -- campaigns; Communication -- Research -- Periodicals; 302.2
• DOI: 10.1177/0093650213514600
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0093-6502

Abstract

Exposure to cross-cutting versus like-minded political advertising is highly relevant in terms of deliberative democratic theory. However, few efforts have been made to shed light on the effects of such opinion-incongruent and -congruent political advertisements. By analyzing data from a representative panel survey, and hence identifying effects over time, we found that exposure to opinion-congruent advertising enhanced political participation. Opinion-congruent advertising also accelerated the timing of voting decisions when citizens were low in ideological strength. However, contrary to our expectations, exposure to opinion-incongruent political advertising had no effects on political participation and the timing of voting decisions. These findings suggest that opinion-congruent advertising is a strong mobilizer, whereas opinion-hostile advertising is a weak cross-pressure. Implications of these findings for the study of political advertising effects are discussed.