Kelly, Denise (2007) Who Votes? An Exploration of the Factors Influencing Turnout Propensity in Fingal County. Masters thesis, National University of Ireland Maynooth.
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Abstract
Irish elections in recent decades have been marked by considerably low turnout
levels with voter turnout rates varying from place to place. This thesis addressed this
issue with respect to the county of Fingal in an attempt to identity the factors that
influence individual turnout propensity. Data was collated through a county-wide
questionnaire survey which was complemented with interview data from politicians,
local councilors, political candidates and party workers. The data was subsequently
analysed using SPSS along with qualitative analysis of the interview data,
supplemented by the use of ArcView 3.2 to create maps, and Census data to conduct
aggregate analyses.
This research confirmed the existence of an amalgamation of influential factors on
turnout propensity. There were found to be a number of demographic influences on
individual turnout propensity with age and martial status proving to be particularly
influential. There were also found to be a number of socio-structural influences on
turnout propensity in Fingal. However, these influences, which included social class,
housing tenure and educational attainment, were found to exist only at the aggregate
level. Length of residence was found to be particularly influential with findings on
residential stability suggesting the existence of this association at the aggregate level
also. The research findings suggested the existence of a “habit” of voting in Fingal.
It was also found that an individual sense of political efficacy, understanding of
political issues, interest in politics, newspaper readership and feelings of civic duty
all influence turnout propensity with many of these factors being interrelated.
In addition, there were found to be numerous place variations in relation to the
strength of each of the influential factors.
Item Type: | Thesis (Masters) |
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Keywords: | Votes; Propensity; Fingal County; |
Academic Unit: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Geography |
Item ID: | 5274 |
Depositing User: | IR eTheses |
Date Deposited: | 05 Aug 2014 16:12 |
URI: | https://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/id/eprint/5274 |
Use Licence: | This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here |
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