Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Tkach, Benjamin

Committee Member

Shoup, Brian

Committee Member

Shaffer, Steve

Date of Degree

12-8-2023

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Political Science

Degree Name

Master of Arts (M.A.)

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Department of Political Science and Public Administration

Abstract

The primary purpose of this paper is to analyze the research field of cost of voting and review the relevant literature on voter participation. After reviewing the literature, a development of a theoretical framework to categorize multiple variables associated with the cost of voting will be completed. The goal is to create clear, concise, and simple categories that define the cost of voting. This should add conceptual clarity to the field by linking variables into a common foundation. The research also connects the sociological and psychological category of intrapersonal to concepts of social group needs, sense of achieving a greater good, and “us vs. Them" theory. This link to human psychology and sociology will set up future research in the field of election studies to be on a more individual level basis, to better understand voter perception and feelings towards the potential cost to voting.

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