How have social media affected voter turnout in statewide elections?

Research Paper – Due Mar 31, 2024 11:55 PM
POLS311 I001 Winter 2024
Select Select any topic covered over the course, your research proposal (research question, paper outline and reference list) must be submitted for approval no later than Sunday of Week 4 at 11:55 pm (ET). You can submit your proposal prior to Week 4. This should be a one-to-two page document. You must have a specific research question and address both sides of the question or issue. Four scholarly or academically appropriate references are required. It must also include a recent news article from that was published during this course to illustrate the topic.

A good research question asks how one factor affects another factor. It should not be a yes or no question. It also must be answerable with existing data and evidence.

Examples:

Good – “How have social media affected voter turnout in statewide elections?” This relates factor one, social media, to factor two, voter turnout. Historical evidence can be used to answer it.

Not as good – “Have social media affected voter turnout in statewide elections?” It’s a closed ended question, and often the answer is “it depends” instead of “yes” or “no.”

Not acceptable – “How will voter turnout change if parties use more social media?” The question can’t be answered because the events in question are in the future. They haven’t happened yet, so there’s no way to examine the evidence.