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International Journal of Public Opinion Research Advance Access published online on November 3, 2009
International Journal of Public Opinion Research, doi:10.1093/ijpor/edp042
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The World Association for Public Opinion Research. All rights reserved.

Changing Patterns in the Impact of Information on Party Choice in a Multiparty System

Kasper M. Hansen

Address correspondence to Kasper M. Hansen, Department of Political Science, University of Copenhagen. Øster Farimagsgade 5, DK-1353 Copenhagen K, Denmark, E-mail: kmh{at}ifs.ku.dk, www.kaspermhansen.eu

Simulations of changing levels of political knowledge among Danish voters in the 1971 and 2005 general elections reveal a strong impact on party choice. The analysis advances previous simulations from the American two-party system to a multiparty system by applying survey data from the Danish Election Studies. In both multiparty elections, the impact of information has significant consequences for party choice. In 1971, political knowledge seems to be the variable connecting class with party choice, whereas political knowledge seems to be the variable connecting issues with party choice in 2005. The information effects are greater than the effects observed in similar analyses of the American two-party system, thus suggesting a positive relationship between the number of parties and the impact of political knowledge. Finally, the analysis supports the notion that right-leaning parties tend to fare better if political knowledge increases.


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