Learning about the Candidates: The 1976 Presidential Debates

In: Public opinion quarterly: journal of the American Association for Public Opinion Research, Band 43, Heft 3, S. 326-346

Abstract

A study of the 1976 televised Carter-Ford debates found that the debates produced a heightened political awareness in viewers in the critical days just prior to the election. Data came from the Center for Political Studies, University of Michigan 1976 presidential election survey of 2,875 adults. Questions were designed to measure response to the debates, newspaper & television usage habits & political attitudes. Results indicated that information obtained by viewers from the debates focused largely on candidate competence, performance & personality attributes rather than on issues, but that some increase in information on issues & policies can be linked to the debates. The major impact of the debates may have been to reinforce partisan predispositions. 6 Tables, 3 Figures. Modified AA.