Education and Political Participation

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Willeck ◽  
Tali Mendelberg
Keyword(s):  
Political Participation ◽  
Political Science ◽  
Civic Education ◽  
Final Section ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Annual Review ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
Causal Pathways ◽  
Causal Impact ◽  
Clear Support

Whether education affects political participation is a long-standing and central question in political philosophy and political science. In this review, we provide an overview of the three main theoretical models that explain different causal pathways. We then synthesize the surge in research using causal inference strategies and show that this literature has generated mixed results about the causal impact of education, even when using similar methods and data. These findings do not provide clear support for any of the three theories. Our next section covers research on civic education and political participation. The quantity of civic education matters little for political participation, but how civic education is taught does matter. Namely, strategies falling under the rubric of active learning show promise. These strategies seem especially effective for historically marginalized students. Our final section calls for more research on how civic education is taught. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Political Science, Volume 25 is May 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Testing Causal Theories with Learned Proxies

2022 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dean Knox ◽  
Christopher Lucas ◽  
Wendy K. Tam Cho
Keyword(s):  
Political Science ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Computational Models ◽  
Annual Review ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Theoretical Concepts ◽  
Point Estimates ◽  
Causal Diagrams ◽  
Causal Theories

Social scientists commonly use computational models to estimate proxies of unobserved concepts, then incorporate these proxies into subsequent tests of their theories. The consequences of this practice, which occurs in over two-thirds of recent computational work in political science, are underappreciated. Imperfect proxies can reflect noise and contamination from other concepts, producing biased point estimates and standard errors. We demonstrate how analysts can use causal diagrams to articulate theoretical concepts and their relationships to estimated proxies, then apply straightforward rules to assess which conclusions are rigorously supportable. We formalize and extend common heuristics for “signing the bias”—a technique for reasoning about unobserved confounding—to scenarios with imperfect proxies. Using these tools, we demonstrate how, in often-encountered research settings, proxy-based analyses allow for valid tests for the existence and direction of theorized effects. We conclude with best-practice recommendations for the rapidly growing literature using learned proxies to test causal theories. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Political Science, Volume 25 is May 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Sleep and Diet: Mounting Evidence of a Cyclical Relationship

2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Faris M. Zuraikat ◽  
Rebecca A. Wood ◽  
Rocío Barragán ◽  
Marie-Pierre St-Onge
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
The Other ◽  
Annual Review ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
Dietary Intakes ◽  
Dietary Practices ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Causal Impact ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Improve Sleep Quality

Two factors intrinsic to health are diet and sleep. These two behaviors may well influence one another. Indeed, that insufficient sleep adversely impacts dietary intakes is well documented. On the other hand, diet may influence sleep via melatonin and its biosynthesis from tryptophan. Experimental data exist indicating that provision of specific foods rich in tryptophan or melatonin can improve sleep quality. Whole diets rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, and other sources of dietary tryptophan and melatonin have been shown to predict favorable sleep outcomes. Although clinical trials are needed to confirm a causal impact of dietary patterns on sleep and elucidate underlying mechanisms, available data illustrate a cyclical relation between these lifestyle factors. We recommend adopting a healthful diet to improve sleep, which may further promote sustained favorable dietary practices. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Nutrition, Volume 41 is September 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

scholarly journals Party and Ideology in American Local Government: An Appraisal

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah F. Anzia
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Political Science ◽  
Online Publication ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Politics ◽  
Science Volume ◽  
Annual Review ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
National Politics ◽  
National Governments

For decades, research on US local politics emphasized the distinctiveness of local government, but that has begun to change. In recent years, new data on partisanship and ideology have transformed the study of local politics. Much of the ensuing scholarship has concluded that local politics resembles politics in state and national governments: partisan and ideological. I argue that such a conclusion is premature. So far, this newer literature has been insufficiently attentive to the policies US local governments make—and to the fact that they are mostly different from the issues that dominate national politics. Going forward, scholars should prioritize measurement of preferences on these local government issues, develop theories of when and why local political divisions will mirror national partisanship and ideology, and investigate why there are links between some local policies and national partisanship and ideology—and whether those links also exist for core local government issues. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Political Science, Volume 24 is May 11, 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

scholarly journals Who Enters Politics and Why?

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saad Gulzar
Keyword(s):  
Political Science ◽  
Online Publication ◽  
Empirical Work ◽  
Science Volume ◽  
Annual Review ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Institutional Determinants ◽  
Future Work

Despite the importance of politicians, empirical work rarely examines who decides to enter politics and why. This survey presents conceptual issues in measuring political entry; reviews work on individual, organizational, and institutional determinants of political entry; and summarizes the main findings and puzzles related to the representation/competence trade-off in recent microcensus studies on who runs for office. Fruitful directions for future work are highlighted throughout the article. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Political Science, Volume 24 is May 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Dynamics of Ecological Communities Following Current Retreat of Glaciers

2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gentile Francesco Ficetola ◽  
Silvio Marta ◽  
Alessia Guerrieri ◽  
Mauro Gobbi ◽  
Roberto Ambrosini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Dynamics ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Experimental System ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Glacier Retreat ◽  
Community Formation ◽  
Annual Review ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
Ecological Communities

Glaciers are retreating globally, and the resulting ice-free areas provide an experimental system for understanding species colonization patterns, community formation, and dynamics. The last several years have seen crucial advances in our understanding of biotic colonization after glacier retreats, resulting from the integration of methodological innovations and ecological theories. Recent empirical studies have demonstrated how multiple factors can speed up or slow down the velocity of colonization and have helped scientists develop theoretical models that describe spatiotemporal changes in community structure. There is a growing awareness of how different processes (e.g., time since glacier retreat, onset or interruption of surface processes, abiotic factors, dispersal, biotic interactions) interact to shape community formation and, ultimately, their functional structure through succession. Here, we examine how these studies address key theoretical questions about community dynamics and show how classical approaches are increasingly being combined with environmental DNA metabarcoding and functional trait analysis to document the formation of multitrophic communities, revolutionizing our understanding of the biotic processes that occur following glacier retreat. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, Volume 52 is November 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

A Framework for the Study of Persuasion

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
James N. Druckman
Keyword(s):  
Political Science ◽  
Online Publication ◽  
Space Time ◽  
Science Volume ◽  
Annual Review ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
Time Process ◽  
Vital Part ◽  
Enormous Number ◽  
Normative Implications

Persuasion is a vital part of politics—who wins elections and policy disputes often depends on which side can persuade more people. Given this centrality, the study of persuasion has a long history with an enormous number of theories and empirical inquiries. However, the literature is fragmented, with few generalizable findings. I unify previously disparate dimensions of this topic by presenting a framework focusing on actors (speakers and receivers), treatments (topics, content, media), outcomes (attitudes, behaviors, emotions, identities), and settings (competition, space, time, process, culture). This Generalizing Persuasion (GP) Framework organizes distinct findings and offers researchers a structure in which to situate their work. I conclude with a discussion of the normative implications of persuasion. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Political Science, Volume 25 is May 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Historical Persistence

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Cirone ◽  
Thomas B. Pepinsky
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Political Science ◽  
Contemporary Literature ◽  
Annual Review ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
New Approach ◽  
The Social ◽  
Research Designs ◽  
Art Research ◽  
Political Economic

This article reviews the literature on historical persistence in political science and the related social sciences. Historical persistence refers to causal effects that ( a) operate over time scales of a decade or more and ( b) explain spatial variation in political, economic, or social outcomes. Although political scientists have always drawn from history, the historical persistence literature represents a new approach to historical research in the social sciences that places a premium on credible research designs for causal inference. We discuss regional and national coverage, state-of-the-art research designs, analytical and inferential challenges, and mechanisms and theories of persistence, drawing broadly from the contemporary literature in political science and economics. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Political Science, Volume 25 is May 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Evolution of Thermal Sensitivity in Changing and Variable Climates

2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren B. Buckley ◽  
Joel G. Kingsolver
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Sensitivity ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Thermal Adaptation ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Environmental Variation ◽  
Behavioral Thermoregulation ◽  
Annual Review ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
Evolutionary Adaptation ◽  
Variable Environments

Evolutionary adaptation to temperature and climate depends on both the extent to which organisms experience spatial and temporal environmental variation (exposure) and how responsive they are to the environmental variation (sensitivity). Theoretical models and experiments suggesting substantial potential for thermal adaptation have largely omitted realistic environmental variation. Environmental variation can drive fluctuations in selection that slow adaptive evolution. We review how carefully filtering environmental conditions based on how organisms experience their environment and further considering organismal sensitivity can improve predictions of thermal adaptation. We contrast taxa differing in exposure and sensitivity. Plasticity can increase the rate of evolutionary adaptation in taxa exposed to pronounced environmental variation. However, forms of plasticity that severely limit exposure, such as behavioral thermoregulation and phenological shifts, can hinder thermal adaptation. Despite examples of rapid thermal adaptation, experimental studies often reveal evolutionary constraints. Further investigating these constraints and issues of timescale and thermal history are needed to predict evolutionary adaptation and, consequently, population persistence in changing and variable environments. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, Volume 52 is November 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

scholarly journals Ethics of Field Experiments

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Trisha Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Political Science ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Theoretical Research ◽  
Annual Review ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
Science Field ◽  
Political Processes ◽  
Present Complex ◽  
Current Guidance

Political scientists are increasingly conducting field experiments that raise ethical issues that standard review criteria and processes are ill equipped to address. Field experiments can answer important questions, but they can also present various harms to individuals, communities, and political processes; undermine autonomy; introduce partnerships that present complex questions of responsibility; and damage the public's trust in the discipline. This article reviews published empirical and theoretical research, professional guidelines, and media accounts, blog posts, and other sources when appropriate. It characterizes the state of the field regarding the identification of ethical problems, relevant normative guidance, proposed strategies for managing ethical concerns, and issues on the horizon. It concludes that the discipline is making good progress, with robust guidelines and strategies for conducting field experiments ethically. However, there is still much work to be done in refining and expanding current guidance, addressing remaining issues, and promoting norms. This review concludes with some general recommendations for researchers conducting political science field experiments. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Political Science, Volume 24 is May 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Between the Social and the Political

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-98
Author(s):  
Pia Rowe ◽  
David Marsh
Keyword(s):  
Political Participation ◽  
Political Science ◽  
Political Action ◽  
The Political ◽  
Conventional Theory ◽  
Important Relationship ◽  
The Social ◽  
Action Language

While Wood and Flinders’ work to broaden the scope of what counts as “politics” in political science is a needed adjustment to conventional theory, it skirts an important relationship between society, the protopolitical sphere, and arena politics. We contend, in particular, that the language of everyday people articulates tensions in society, that such tensions are particularly observable online, and that this language can constitute the beginning of political action. Language can be protopolitical and should, therefore, be included in the authors’ revised theory of what counts as political participation.

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