UW political scientist Mark Smith asks: How do we know what’s true?
In a timely new University of Washington political science class, professor Mark A. Smith asks: How do we separate fact from fiction these days? How do we know what is true? (more…)
Tag Archives: political polarization
Americans Overestimate Political Polarization, According To New CU-Boulder Research
Many Americans overestimate the degree of polarization between Democrats and Republicans, and this misconception is associated with citizens’ voting behavior and their involvement in political activities, according to new findings from the University of Colorado Boulder.
“It is clear that Americans see themselves as very sharply polarized,” said Professor Leaf Van Boven, who led the research efforts. “And that the extent of perceived polarization dramatically overstates the actual degree of polarization.” (more…)
People often Talk About Politics on Blogs Geared Toward Other Topics
ANN ARBOR, Mich.— A full 25 percent of blog posts about politics occur on sites that are primarily about something else, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Michigan School of Information. And when authors post about politics, their readers reply and engage with the political content of the posts.
The researchers say they have uncovered a significant repository of political discourse that is largely being ignored. They will present their findings July 19 at the International Conference on Weblogs and Social Media in Barcelona. (more…)