political

Theory of Change

A detailed explanation of how and why a particular change is expected to occur in a specific context, outlining steps, interventions, and strategies that lead to desired outcomes.

Inputs

Resources such as funding, time, and staff expertise required for a project or initiative.

Activities

Actions taken to implement a theory of change, like organizing events or lobbying.

Outputs

Direct results of activities, such as the number of petitions signed.

Outcomes

Intermediate changes resulting from outputs, like increased public awareness.

Impact

Long-term change achieved through a theory of change, such as a new law or policy enacted.

Lobbying

The act of hiring lobbyists to encourage Congress to pass or reject laws in favor of specific interests.

Powerful Effects Model

Theory suggesting that media has a strong influence on its audience.

Limited Effects Model

Theory indicating that the effects of media on audience perception and behavior are more limited than previously thought.

Framing

How an issue is communicated, influencing public perception and understanding.

Agenda Setting

The process of influencing how people consider the importance of certain issues through selective coverage.

Selective Exposure

Tendency to seek out media sources that confirm pre-existing beliefs.

Political Communication

The communication tools used in the governance of politics, governance, and public policy.

Advocacy Campaigns

Efforts aimed at changing public opinion in favor of a specific cause or candidate.

Elaboration Likelihood Model

A psychological model describing how persuasive messages are processed either through a central route (highly rational) or a peripheral route (using shortcuts).

Horizontal Media

Media consumed across audiences driven by algorithms, where producers and consumers are not strictly separated.

Disequilibration

A cognitive state where someone's beliefs are challenged, leading them to seek out media that reaffirms their views.

6 Principles of Persuasion

Reciprocity, Scarcity, Authority, Consistency, Liking, Consensus, used to influence attitudes and behaviors.

2-Step Flow Model

Theory that suggests information flows from opinion leaders to their followers, influencing public opinion.

Which of the following is a responsibility of a lobbyist? ○

Advocating for their clients’ interests to influence policymakers.

Writing and introducing legislation.

Raising money for political campaigns.

Managing the day-to-day operations of a political party.

Advocating for their clients’ interests to influence policymakers

What three groups of thought are targeted in persuasion buckets?

Mobilization, opposition, and persuasion

Which of these is an example of the consensus principle of persuasion?

Sharing testimonials from satisfied customers

What did the People's Choice Study of 1940 find?

People were more likely to seek out information that confirmed their existing beliefs.

Which principle of persuasion is at work when a salesperson offers a limited-time discount?

Scarcity

Which of these social problems were identified as current issues in both Honduras and the Philippines

poverty and violence

What is agenda cutting?

The process of intentionally excluding or minimizing attention to certain issues in public discourse.

What is priming?

When the media highlights an issue, voters are more likely to think it’s important and use it to decide how well a candidate is doing.

What are the inputs in a theory of change?

Resources such as funding, time, and staff expertise

Which of these is NOT one of the 6 principles of persuasion? Scarcity/ Consistency/ Popularity/ Liking

popularity

What is the main difference between a political spot and a political ad?

A political ad has a more developed message. A politcal spot only appears on tv.

What is functional theory in political communication?

It focuses on selected aspects of political campaign messages, such as functions and topics.

What are some common formats used in primary debates?

Audience questions, questions received via email, questions embedded in videos, and remote-site questioning of candidates

Why is political communication research considered cross-disciplinary?

Political communication research is cross-disciplinary because it draws on a variety of fields to understand how politics is communicated in different settings