Televised Presidential Debates and Learning in the 2012 Korean Presidential Election: Does Political Knowledge Condition Information Acquisition?

Authors

  • Han Soo Lee Baird college, Soongsil University
  • Jae Mook Lee Institute of East and West Studies, Yonsei University

Keywords:

TV debate, political knowledge, learning, differential effects, Korean politics

Abstract

This study examines the effects of watching TV debates on voters’ learning. Analyzing panel survey data conducted in the 2012 South Korean presidential election, we test whether voters learn about candidates through viewing presidential debates. In particular, this study finds that the information effects of watching TV debates are differential across individuals depending on their levels of political knowledge. The findings of this study show that viewing TV debates positively affects learning in general. Individuals are more likely to assimilate information through viewing televised debates if they watch TV debates more often and pay more attention to televised debates. Furthermore, this study reveals that the learning effects are heterogeneous across individuals according to their political knowledge. Citizens who are politically less knowledgeable, for instance, tend to learn more about candidates’ campaign proposals through viewing televised debates.

Author Biographies

Han Soo Lee, Baird college, Soongsil University

Ph.D., Lecturer

Jae Mook Lee, Institute of East and West Studies, Yonsei University

Ph.D., Post-Doc Fellow

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Published

2015-08-13

Issue

Vol. 9 (2015)

Section

Articles

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