Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: There is growing evidence that use of advance letters and answering machine messages in list sample telephone studies can improve cooperation rates and reduce initial refusals. However, there is less known about their effect in random-digit dial (RDD) surveys. The research presented here examines the results of two experiments to assess the effect on response rates and initial refusal rates of sending advance letters to and leaving scripted messages on the answering machines of BRFSS sample members. The data come from an experimental study conducted with 1,600 respondents (800 in each experiment – 400 treatment and 400 controls in each) in several states, following standard BRFSS protocol. Additionally, respondents were asked several questions about the advance letters and answering machine messages, such as did the selected respondent actually see the letter (or hear the message)? Did the letter (or message) influence their determination to participate in the survey? The analysis examines the impact of each of these approaches on response rates and initial refusal rates.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Two leading arguments explaining the success of threat inflation and the failure of the U.S. Marketplace of Ideas in the fall of 2002 are the psychology of the public post-9/11 making it open to threat inflation, and clever issue manipulation and control of information by the executive branch that made threat inflation successful. This paper argues both of these views are incorrect. Instead this paper argues the Marketplace of Ideas failed to operate properly because the press was not "objective" or truth-seeking, nor even simply "fair and balanced." Without a balanced press, the opposition could not hope to prevail in the debate, so the Democrats caved immediately, hoping to change the issue; the valiant independent experts who attempted to debate administration claims were not heard, and the establishment press was cowed by the right-wing press to uncritically present administration claims about Iraq WMD and ties to al Qaeda. [This is a draft theory/ work in progress--comments welcome.]

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This paper examines the effect of a regime change on a party's ability to recruit and retain campaign workers. Using the partisan turnover in Illinois' Governor's office in 2002, this paper analyzes the impact on local party organizations recruitment

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Biopolitics is a structure of apprehending life and yet can give way to an indifference to or exchangeability of particular—not singular—lives. Gilles Deleuze describes this as a modulation between disciplinary and control societies. I argue that this is

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Machine learning deals with the development of algorithms for classification and prediction. However, machine learning has rarely been used in political science. This paper demonstrates the application of state-of-the-art machine learning techniques to th