Deck 10: The Motivational Underpinnings of Political Participation

Question 1

Which of the following do the four dominant theories of political participation all have in common?

A) An assumption that people will only vote if they think their vote will affect the outcome.
B) A prediction that contact from an interest group will increase participation.
C) An inherent tradeoff between costs and benefits.
D) Consideration of a citizen's motivations.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

How can threat promote activism or participation? Give a general answer and provide examples.

Answer 2

No Answer

Question 3

Apply the three motives for why people join organizations to Miller's personal story of volunteering-which best describes her motivation and why?

Answer 3

No Answer

Question 4

Describe the "expectancy x value" model.

Question 5

Describe the "costs" associated with political participation. How do these "costs" affect people differently?

Question 6

What is the glaring non-finding across Miller's Study 1 and Study 2?

A) People who vote are also more likely to volunteer for a candidate.
B) None of the motives examined in the research are related to voting.
C) Threat is not related to political participation.
D) Opportunity is positively related to political participation.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a conclusion that can be made from Study 1?

A) Value expression is positively related to volunteering for a candidate.
B) The evidence supports the "expectancy x value" motivational framework.
C) Motives are correlated with behaviors in sensible ways.
D) Motives cause people to want to participate.

Question 8

Which of these best describes the general hypothesis tested in Study 1?

A) The impact of various motives on participation will vary depending on the type of activity.
B) People who care about politics are more likely to vote.
C) The value expression motive is more important to women than to men.
D) People who have more time and money are more likely to participate in politics than people who have less time and money.

Question 9

What is the best way to test causal hypotheses about the impact of motives on participation?

A) Observe people's behavior outside the laboratory.
B) Conduct an experiment in which motives are manipulated.
C) Conduct a survey in which motives are measured.
D) Measure causes rather than effects.

Question 10

What is Prospect Theory?

A) Peoples' belief that hard work will yield benefits.
B) Participation based on an individual's life prospects.
C) A desire to avoid losses rather than acquire gains.
D) A desire to acquire gains rather than avoid losses.

Question 11

Across different disciplines and lines of research, three types of motives persist. Which of the following is NOT one of them?

A) Instrumental
B) Behavioral
C) Social/Identity
D) Expressive

Question 12

What is a "cognitive miser"?

A) Someone who engages in behaviors that are familiar.
B) Someone who never expends maximum effort.
C) Someone who is unhappy with the political system.
D) Someone who is stingy with how they focus their cognitive energies.

Question 13

Why has past research on motives been inadequate?

A) It does not explore whether some motives are better at predicting certain behaviors than other motives.
B) It does not examine participation.
C) It does not include personal examples.
D) It incorrectly measures motivation.

Question 14

What are solidary incentives?

A) Incentives derived from being alone.
B) Incentives derived from group activities.
C) Incentives derived from getting what you want.
D) Incentives derived from helping others.

Question 15

Miller argues that "…citizens are purposive political actors whose participation decisions are based first and foremost on beliefs about whether participation will get them the things they want the most." How effectively does she investigate this claim, and how do her findings add to the traditional models of political participation?