Voting behaviour general - (4.1) - Voting behaviour and the media - UK Politics

Question 1

Factors explaining outcome of election (x6)

Answer 1

Manifesto & party policies
Election campaigns
Wider context
State of economy
Public image of party leaders
Government's record

Question 2

Manifesto definition

Answer 2

the document in which a political party details what actions and programmes it intends to introduce if it is successful in the next election

Question 3

Up to about 1970 working class people tended to vote for & why

Answer 3

Labour & linked to trade unions who looked after their interests (industry)

Question 4

Up to about 1970 middle-class tended to vote for

Answer 4

Conservatives

Question 5

Class voting

Answer 5

Voting in line with the political party that supposedly best protects and serves the interest of a particular class

Question 6

Why did class begin to lose its importance as a determinant of voting behaviour & when

Answer 6

Due to class dealignment & end of 20th century

Question 7

Class dealignment

Answer 7

The process where individuals no longer identify themselves as belonging to a certain class and do not vote for the party they may be expected to given their background

Question 8

Exceptions to class voters Labour

Answer 8

Some of those who worked in the state sector (e.g. middle class teachers) & university intellectuals

Question 9

Exceptions to class voters Conservative

Answer 9

Patriotic working class voters who valued established institutions e.g. monarchy

Question 10

Causes of / reasons for class dealignment

Answer 10

More affluent society
Working class aspired to a middle-class life
Sale of council houses to tenants under Thatcher
Decline of old heavy industries reduced trade union power
Service sector expanded

Question 11

Class & turnout link

Answer 11

Those who have more at risk financially (i.e. richer) more likely to vote than the poor who may feel it doesn’t affect them

Question 12

2010 class turnout

Answer 12

76% of 2 highest social classes 57% of 2 lowest social classes

Question 13

2010 property ownership (linked to class) turnout

Answer 13

74% of those who owned homes vs 55% of those who didn’t

Question 14

Partisan dealignment

Answer 14

The process where individuals no longer identify themselves on a long-term basis as being associated with a certain political party

Question 15

Causes of partisan dealignment

Answer 15

As people became less likely to work in same industry all their lives their bonds to their party weakened

Question 16

Disillusion definition

Answer 16

Disappointment from discovering something is not as good as one believed to be. E.g. having no confidence in politicians as being able to solve issues and make a difference

Question 17

Apathy definition

Answer 17

Lack of interest, enthusiasm or concern. e.g. not caring about political activity, which manifests itself in low turnout at elections and poor awareness of contemporary events

Question 18

% of voters voting for either Conservatives or Labour 1979 vs 1997 vs 2010

Answer 18

81% vs 74% vs 65%

Question 19

Rational choice theory

Answer 19

Idea that voters behave like consumers, deciding how to vote by evaluating what is the most beneficial option to them as individuals

Question 20

Rational choice theory linked to

Answer 20

growth of a more educated electorate with more access to political information

Question 21

Rational choice theory influenced by questions such as

Answer 21

Who would make best PM?
Who will manage economy best?
Who will provide best quality public services

Question 22

Governing competency

Answer 22

The perceived ability of the governing party in office to manage the affairs of state effectively. It also applies to the way that voters regard the potential competency of an opposition party, if it were to win office

Question 23

Economic voting model (variant of rational choice theory)

Answer 23

Voters are more likely to support a party if it has managed the economy successfully

Question 24

Presidentialisation of PM

Answer 24

UK election campaigns are increasingly shaped by voter’s perceptions of the leading figures. Politics becoming increasingly personalised

Question 25

Feel good factor

Answer 25

Influences voters as they are likely to vote for who they think will give a feel good factor

Question 26

Gender voting trends (traditional) & why

Answer 26

women tended to favour Conservative - maybe because women favoured a stable society and appreciated Tory emphasis on family

Question 27

Gender voting trends under Blair & why

Answer 27

Differences between voting habits lessened. Younger women slightly more likely than men to vote Labour. Women likely to have jobs now and may have appreciated Labour policies such as provision of free nursery places

Question 28

2010 election women 18-24 voting pattern vs women over 55 (voted conservative)

Answer 28

30% vs 42% voted Conservative

Question 29

Gender differences in turnout

Answer 29

Not major differences.

2010 66% men 64% women voted

Question 30

Age as a voting factor

Answer 30

Older tend to vote Conservative - more likely to own property.

Question 31

Older people voting attitude

Answer 31

less likely to vote idealistically or with aspirations of fundamentally changing society instead likely to vote to protect their material interests.
Also oldies have voting experience and will remember old governments

Question 32

2010 over 65 vs 18-24 year olds vote for Conservative

Answer 32

44% vs 30%

Question 33

Age affecting turnout

Answer 33

Old people more likely to vote

Question 34

2010 age voting turnout

Answer 34

76% over 65 vs 44% 18-24 year olds

Question 35

Ethnicity voting trend

Answer 35

Ethnic minorities more likely to vote Labour

Asians more likely to vote Conservative

Question 36

Why are ethnic minorities more likely to vote Labour?

Answer 36

Because they have strongly focused on promoting a multi-cultural and anti-discrimination agenda

Question 37

Ethnic minority link to class

Answer 37

Ethnic minorities are disproportionatly employed in low wage jobs (working class)

Question 38

Why are Asians more likely to vote Conservatives?

Answer 38

Because they favour the party’s emphasis on small business values

Question 39

2010 ethnic minority voting pattern Labour vs Conservative

Answer 39

60% Labour 16 & Conservative

Question 40

Ethnic minority vs white people voter turnout 2010

Answer 40

51% ethnic minority vs 67% white people

Question 41

Education in Brexit referendum

Answer 41

75% of those without qualifications voted for Brexit.

75% of those with university degrees voted against Brexit

Question 42

Regional voting trends

Answer 42

South, rural & suburbs (prosperous areas with high levels of property ownership & employment) typically Conservative (NOT LONDON)
North, Wales, industrial areas, urban areas and a little bit the Midlands - Labour

Question 43

Link to region and class

Answer 43

South & other areas supporting Conservative tend to be more middle-class.
North & urban areas tend to be more working-class

Question 44

Turnout class & region trend

Answer 44

South-west 69.1% North-west 62.6%

Question 45

Link between voting and feeling included in society

Answer 45

Elderly, better-off & whites more likely to believe that can affect the outcomes of elections

Question 46

Levels of social class high to low

Answer 46

AB, C1, C2, DE