Faculty in the College of Arts & Sciences pursue collaborative research agendas linked to political communication. They focus undergraduate students’ attention on the symbiosis between politics and communication, with special emphasis on digital technology’s growing role in campaigns and public policy debates. Faculty affiliated with the Center for Political Communication regularly conduct cutting-edge research through national and statewide public opinion polls. Studies sponsored by the CPC have received coverage in a wide range of news outlets, including the Atlantic, the New York Times, the Washington Post, USA Today, US News & World Report, the Wall Street Journal, Slate, and Wired.
Nationwide Study: Racial Images Shape Opinion on Voter ID Laws
A National Agenda Opinion Poll, conducted May 30 to June 5, 2012, by the University of Delawares Center for Political Communication revealed that support for voter identification laws is strongest among Americans who harbor negative sentiments toward African Americans.
Race and Social Problems, a Springer publication, published the findings of research faculty David C. Wilson and Paul R. Brewer in an October 2014 article. The study used data from the 2012 national survey to test whether exposure to racial imagery affects support for voter ID laws. The study revealed that seeing a photograph of African Americans using voting machines affected how white respondents answered a survey question about voter ID laws. White survey respondents who saw this image expressed stronger support for voter ID laws than those who saw no image. Seeing an image of white Americans using voting machines did not affect white respondents’ support. News outlets such as The Washington Post and The Huffington Post reported study’s findings.
Researcher(s):
Brewer, Dr. Paul R.
Americans favor media self-censorship of beheading photos, UD survey finds
A national survey conducted in October 2014 by the University of Delawares Center for Political Communication shows a large majority of Americans say the news media should not show images of beheadings by the organization ISIS. Fully 70% of respondents said news media companies should not show such images. Only 26% said news media companies should show the images. The telephone survey was conducted from October 21 to 26, 2014, shortly after ISIS released videos of several Western hostages being beheaded by members of the organization. In January 2015, ISIS claimed to have beheaded a Japanese hostage. University of Delaware’s Communication and Public Affairs published the results of the study in a January 2015 article, “ISIS Images Opposed.”
Researcher(s):
Brewer, Dr. Paul R.
Poll: Delaware Incumbents Heavy Favorites
Relevant Links
A September 2014 poll by the University of Delawares Center for Political Communication shows both incumbent Delaware members of Congress with wide leads over their opponents in the upcoming election. Results give U.S. Senator Chris Coons a 27-point lead over Republican nominee Kevin Wade. Half of Delawareans polled said they would vote for Coons, the Democratic nominee, while 23% said they would vote for Wade and 6% said they would vote for Green Party nominee Andrew Groff.
Researcher(s):
Brewer, Dr. Paul R.