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The Science Behind MoveOn's "Nonvoter" campaignMoveOn's latest user-driven campaign borrows its activating theme from academic research of voter mobilization methods that has received less attention than it deserves. MoveOn's groundbreaking "Make Sure All Your Friends Vote" viral video tool uses social peer pressure to encourage friends to vote. A study of a controlled experiment, published in the February 2008 issue of American Political Science Review, found social pressure to be the single most effective way of increasing voter turnout by mass communication. If you haven't already had one of these customized MoveOn videos forwarded to you, you can see one here, created by Ben Smith. Basically, you submit a friend's name to a simple web-based tool - and MoveOn plugs that name into a fake news report about the effect your friend's failure to vote had on this November's election. The video is sent by email to your friendSince MoveOn supports Barack Obama, the effect of course is that Obama lost because your friend stayed home. Seems smart, right? This paper by Alan Gerber, Don Green and Christopher Larimer explains why this clever gimmick should work. Gerber et al. set up an experiment in an August 2006 primary in Michigan:
MoveOn is doing what these political scientists did - invoking the threat of public shame to expose an individual's non-voting. Of course, Eli & Co. are doing it in tongue-in-cheek style, doing it electronically (potentially lowering the cost), and -- importantly -- combining the message with the proven method of leveraging their members' own social networks. That last innovation is what takes the MoveOn gimmick a step beyond what the political scientists did in Michigan. The experimental mailings -- although couched in "civic duty" language -- were addressed from "Practical Political Consulting." MoveOn's email comes from someone within the recipient/subject's social network (like the "Dear Neighbors"/"Friends and Neighbors" mailings that are a staple of well-run grassroots campaigns). MoveOn's effort gets around some of the obvious concerns with applying the Gerber/Green/Larimer learning in a real-world environment. When I've considered with colleagues how one could use the social-pressure/shame themes to influence competitive elections, the worries have been that the "'shame" message (1) seems heavy-handed and (2) could damage the reputation of the sender by violating the quasi-privacy of the recipient's voting record. MoveOn is getting around these concerns by using humor and relying on individuals to lend their social capital to the effort. The limitations of the "Make Sure All Your Friends Vote" efforts are twofold:
Nonetheless, the MoveOn gang deserves significant kudos for their innovative work. And they have returned the favor of inspiration to Gerber/Green/Larimer by providing fruit for further research.  Alex, I am very familiar with the Gerber/Green/Larimer study and glad that MoveOn is using the findings creatively and effectively. This is a great post and you are right to throw roses their way. So kudos to you, too. The reason I know about the study is because I've been using it as a guide to create a model that works on local levels, but not just with internet users. I want to use it for local elections, in areas that that have low turnout, not as tech-savvy a population, and a fair amount of apathy towards the election process. What I've found interesting is that when I've run this idea by colleagues it's been like showing a wreath of garlic to a vampire. "Shame" is a harsh word to use, and most are concerned with the long term effects, sort of like beating someone with the same stick. A few weeks ago I came across the study and it was just what I needed and then some. I'd be more interested in seeing local campaigns use this strategy not so much to shame people but to make them connect to a broader community. It's smart for MoveOn to use this technique because it really connects people to the concept that voting is not just about the individual but also about the group doing something together. Anyway, I'm hoping that MoveOn will publish the results of this effort and a measurement of this strategy's effectiveness. Manny Burgos, My name is Kurt. I'm interested in similar subjects. I want to say thanks to the author. I'm owner of Kredyty & konta osobiste. Have a nice day
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I want to use it for local elections, in areas that that have low turnout, not as tech-savvy a population, and a fair amount of apathy towards the election process.
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Political science students run Get out the Vote campaign & the non-partisan campaign run by the PSUA executive and several volunteers Email marketing software & Top Travel Destinations As to hypothecary crisis here it is a lot of questions. How has occurred, what these credits could be given out in such volume? Why rating agencies appropriated to hypothecary papers the higher ratings of reliability? Why financiers could not estimate risks independently? Really it was not clear, that house purchase, even on credit, for poor citizens without state grants it is impossible. Perhaps, the authorities shut eyes to a problem, believing, that development subprime is capable not only to recover economy, but also to solve social problems, however miracles do not happen. The government can help the large banks having national value, and the others to make bankrupt or sell to foreign investors. Such way means active work from Federal corporation on insurance of deposits. Seems the viral means to get the vote out really worked for some, apparently, since the turnout was super high. Seems like people in Minnesota probably wish they'd gone to the polls to vote rather than stay home (on either side, I imagine neither wanted the Senate race as close as it was). The article was really and i was interested to be member in your community thanks for sharing
I believe the information covered in the discussion is top notch. I've been doing a research on the subject and your blog just cleared up a lot of questions. I am working on a essay writing and custom research papers for my English class and currently reading lots of blogs to study. college paper | custom essays
The strategy of peer pressure seems to be working out with encouraging results. With this, I hope the voter turnout would increase every elections. folding chairs | registry cleaners | closet organizers
When I saw that Palin op-ed, I knew then I was finished with the WaPo. I thought opinion writers were required to have at best minimal credentials, background knowledge, or extensive experiences on national topics. Insulting to readers that they would promote her as an expert on anything. I absolutely believe that op ed was written by Ramble Spice. It was incoherent. Neglected to mention the initial problem and attacked without offering a sensible solution. If fossil fuels are what got us to where we are right now and you don’t believe that global warming is man made, how in the world could more drilling and more coal possibly solve the problem that you refuse to acknowledge needs to be fixed? It’s like turning in an algebra test and not only getting the wrong answer but not even showing your work. The teacher can’t even begin to tell you where you went wrong because they have no clue how you arrived at your answer. That was a great campaign, a bit out of the box.
Very simply in words and in the business, much not so, not so all is simple and easy
While I wouldn't agree with using something like this to shame people into voting for one particular person, it seems it could be an effective way to get people out voting.
Wow I would have never thought about creating something like this. This could be used in so many different ways!
I must say I'm surprised that it isn't somehow illegal to expose someone's voting history to the masses. That kind of information is protected or private in any way? Men's Swimwear
I agree it was a very interesting campaign. Definitely a little out of the box, but it seems to have worked.
The campaign seems effective and lets hope it will be completed successfully. the answer of question Seems smart, right? is right from me. logiciel newsletter wholesale forums |
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Moveon's only agenda is to get Obama elected. Soros has certainly thrown enough money at taking a virtually unknown, inexperienced suit and positioning him to take Soros' own sick vision global.