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Googling Referendum Campaigns: Analyzing Online Search Patterns Regarding Swiss Direct-Democratic Votes

Author

Listed:
  • Sina Blassnig

    (Department of Communication and Media Research, University of Zurich, Switzerland)

  • Eliza Mitova

    (Department of Communication and Media Research, University of Zurich, Switzerland)

  • Nico Pfiffner

    (Department of Communication and Media Research, University of Zurich, Switzerland)

  • Michael V. Reiss

    (Department of Communication and Media Research, University of Zurich, Switzerland)

Abstract

In direct democracies, voters are faced with considerable information demands. Although search engines are an important gateway to political information, it is still unclear what role they play in citizens’ information behavior regarding referendum campaigns. Moreover, few studies have examined the search terms that citizens use when searching for political information and the potential “user-input biases” in this regard. Therefore, we investigate to what extent citizens search online for information about upcoming referendums and what differences emerge between proponents, opponents, and non-voters regarding the search terms they used and the results they visited, related to three national ballot proposals voted on in Switzerland on November 28, 2021. The study combines cross-sectional survey data with longitudinal digital trace data containing participants’ Google Search histories obtained through data donations. Our findings show that participants rarely used Google to search for information about upcoming referendums. Moreover, most ballot-related searches employed rather neutral search terms. Nevertheless, a qualitative analysis of the search terms points to differences between different voting groups, particularly for the most prominent proposal around a Covid-19 law. The study provides interesting insight into how citizens search for information online during national referendum campaigns.

Suggested Citation

  • Sina Blassnig & Eliza Mitova & Nico Pfiffner & Michael V. Reiss, 2023. "Googling Referendum Campaigns: Analyzing Online Search Patterns Regarding Swiss Direct-Democratic Votes," Media and Communication, Cogitatio Press, vol. 11(1), pages 19-30.
    • Handle: RePEc:cog:meanco:v:11:y:2023:i:1:p:19-30
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Linards Udris & Mark Eisenegger, 2023. "Referendum Campaigns in the Digital Age: Towards (More) Comparative Analyses in Hybrid Media Systems," Media and Communication, Cogitatio Press, vol. 11(1), pages 1-5.
    2. Theresa Reidy & Jane Suiter, 2023. "Does Social Media Use Matter? A Case Study of the 2018 Irish Abortion Referendum," Media and Communication, Cogitatio Press, vol. 11(1), pages 81-85.

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