Professor Karpowitz’s research interests include political psychology, political behavior, political communication, gender and politics, and political participation. Much of his research explores how citizens participate in and experience democratic institutions and processes, with special attention to democratic and deliberative theory. His research employs a variety of research methods, and he has developed special expertise in lab, survey, and field experiments.
ORCID: 0000-0002-9782-9856
Publications
2024
Karpowitz, Christopher F.; O'Connell, Stephen D.; Preece, Jessica; Stoddard, Olga
Strength in Numbers? Gender Composition, Leadership, and Women’s Influence in Teams Journal Article
In: Journal of Political Economy, vol. 132, iss. 9, pp. 3077-3114, 2024.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: deliberation, descriptive representation, equality, experiments, gender, small groups
@article{KarpowitzOConnellPreeceStoddard2024,
title = {Strength in Numbers? Gender Composition, Leadership, and Women’s Influence in Teams},
author = {Christopher F. Karpowitz and Stephen D. O'Connell and Jessica Preece and Olga Stoddard},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1086/729578},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-09-01},
urldate = {2024-09-01},
journal = {Journal of Political Economy},
volume = {132},
issue = {9},
pages = {3077-3114},
abstract = {This article studies the effect of team gender composition and leadership on women’s influence in two field experiments. Study 1 finds that male-majority teams accord disproportionately less influence to women and are less likely to choose women to represent the team externally. We replicate this finding in a new context, where we also vary the gender of an assigned team leader. We find that a female leader substantially increases women’s influence, even in male-majority teams. With a model of discriminatory voting, we show that either increasing women's share or assigning a female leader decreases the penalty women face by more than 50%.},
keywords = {deliberation, descriptive representation, equality, experiments, gender, small groups},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This article studies the effect of team gender composition and leadership on women’s influence in two field experiments. Study 1 finds that male-majority teams accord disproportionately less influence to women and are less likely to choose women to represent the team externally. We replicate this finding in a new context, where we also vary the gender of an assigned team leader. We find that a female leader substantially increases women’s influence, even in male-majority teams. With a model of discriminatory voting, we show that either increasing women's share or assigning a female leader decreases the penalty women face by more than 50%.
Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Mendelberg, Tali; Elder, Elizabeth Mitchell; Ribar, David
The Effects of Racial Diversity in Citizen Decision-Making Bodies Journal Article
In: The Journal of Politics, vol. 86, iss. 1, pp. 199-215, 2024.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: deliberation, descriptive representation, experiments, race, small groups
@article{KarpowitzMendelbergElderRibar2024,
title = {The Effects of Racial Diversity in Citizen Decision-Making Bodies},
author = {Christopher F. Karpowitz and Tali Mendelberg and Elizabeth Mitchell Elder and David Ribar},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1086/726946},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-01-01},
urldate = {2024-01-01},
journal = {The Journal of Politics},
volume = {86},
issue = {1},
pages = {199-215},
abstract = {Many citizen decision-making bodies, from juries to boards, have the potential to represent racial minority views because they must deliberate and decide unanimously. However, little is known about the effects of racial diversity on group decisions. Existing studies use observational data, include too few people of color (POCs), or cannot disentangle race and preferences. We study one such body, the civil jury, which can check economic actors whose actions disproportionately affect minoritized populations. We analyze 2,694 citizens randomly assigned to 449 mock juries tasked with deciding punitive damages against corporations. The number of POCs on a jury affects private opinions, even accounting for other group and individual characteristics. However, group decisions are less affected, because POC dissenters carry less influence than White dissenters: POCs can change minds more easily than votes. Deliberation and veto power do not eliminate racial barriers to substantive representation.},
keywords = {deliberation, descriptive representation, experiments, race, small groups},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Many citizen decision-making bodies, from juries to boards, have the potential to represent racial minority views because they must deliberate and decide unanimously. However, little is known about the effects of racial diversity on group decisions. Existing studies use observational data, include too few people of color (POCs), or cannot disentangle race and preferences. We study one such body, the civil jury, which can check economic actors whose actions disproportionately affect minoritized populations. We analyze 2,694 citizens randomly assigned to 449 mock juries tasked with deciding punitive damages against corporations. The number of POCs on a jury affects private opinions, even accounting for other group and individual characteristics. However, group decisions are less affected, because POC dissenters carry less influence than White dissenters: POCs can change minds more easily than votes. Deliberation and veto power do not eliminate racial barriers to substantive representation.
2023
Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Patterson, Kelly D.
Moral Individualism in Modern Politics: A New Measure Inspired by Political Theory Journal Article
In: Perspectives on Politics, vol. 21, iss. 4, pp. 1376-1398, 2023.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: individualism, measurement, pandemic, political psychology
@article{KarpowitzPatterson2023,
title = {Moral Individualism in Modern Politics: A New Measure Inspired by Political Theory},
author = {Christopher F. Karpowitz and Kelly D. Patterson},
url = {https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/perspectives-on-politics/article/moral-individualism-in-modern-politics-a-new-measure-inspired-by-political-theory/29C773C94B5466E0F9DE2042395BD9C8/share/6e60e1c353c86efcd7cb5bdd7f855a5613140d8c},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1017/S1537592723001019},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-12-01},
urldate = {2023-12-01},
journal = {Perspectives on Politics},
volume = {21},
issue = {4},
pages = {1376-1398},
abstract = {We reexamine the concept of individualism and its political implications. While both political scientists and social psychologists agree that individualism is a core value for many Americans, political science has primarily associated the concept with views about economic mobility. Building upon insights from political theory, we argue that a narrow focus on economics overlooks key elements of individualism and its relation to political life. With the help of five distinct datasets collected between 2018 and 2022 (combined N = 12,169), we develop a new index that emphasizes autonomy from authority, which we label moral individualism. We show how it and other dimensions of individualism explain interactions with the political world, including responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Across multiple indicators, moral individualists were far less likely to engage in collective action or pursue other behaviors meant to assist the community. For example, even after controlling for the effects of ideology and partisanship, moral individualism reduced the probability of wearing a mask during the first year of the pandemic by approximately 30 percentage points.},
keywords = {individualism, measurement, pandemic, political psychology},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
We reexamine the concept of individualism and its political implications. While both political scientists and social psychologists agree that individualism is a core value for many Americans, political science has primarily associated the concept with views about economic mobility. Building upon insights from political theory, we argue that a narrow focus on economics overlooks key elements of individualism and its relation to political life. With the help of five distinct datasets collected between 2018 and 2022 (combined N = 12,169), we develop a new index that emphasizes autonomy from authority, which we label moral individualism. We show how it and other dimensions of individualism explain interactions with the political world, including responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Across multiple indicators, moral individualists were far less likely to engage in collective action or pursue other behaviors meant to assist the community. For example, even after controlling for the effects of ideology and partisanship, moral individualism reduced the probability of wearing a mask during the first year of the pandemic by approximately 30 percentage points.
Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Austin, Sarah; Crandall, Jacob; Macias, Raquel
Experimenting with List Experiments: How Interviewer Ethnicity Shapes List Experiment Estimates Journal Article
In: Public Opinion Quarterly, vol. 87, iss. 1, pp. 69-91, 2023.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: ethnicity, experiments, immigration, list experiments, race
@article{Karpowitz2023(3),
title = {Experimenting with List Experiments: How Interviewer Ethnicity Shapes List Experiment Estimates},
author = {Christopher F. Karpowitz and Sarah Austin and Jacob Crandall and Raquel Macias},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1093/poq/nfad001},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-05-24},
urldate = {2023-05-24},
journal = { Public Opinion Quarterly},
volume = {87},
issue = {1},
pages = {69-91},
abstract = {List experimentation is a common survey methodology that purports to reduce or eliminate social desirability bias. While some studies have assessed list experimentation’s effectiveness in achieving that goal, to our knowledge, this is the first ever experimental evaluation of interviewer effects on list experiment performance. We embedded a list experiment about immigration attitudes in an in-person survey administered to 718 white respondents. Randomly assigning Caucasian and Latinx interviewers, we find strong evidence that responses to the list experiment differed by interviewer ethnicity, thus failing to fully eliminate social desirability bias. A follow-up survey of 1,460 online respondents revealed similar difference-in-differences when merely priming the ethnic identities of survey researchers through pictures. The results of this study shed light on patterns of interpersonal communication about sensitive issues and how social context shapes the reporting of political attitudes, even when methodology specifically meant to mute sensitivity biases is employed.},
keywords = {ethnicity, experiments, immigration, list experiments, race},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
List experimentation is a common survey methodology that purports to reduce or eliminate social desirability bias. While some studies have assessed list experimentation’s effectiveness in achieving that goal, to our knowledge, this is the first ever experimental evaluation of interviewer effects on list experiment performance. We embedded a list experiment about immigration attitudes in an in-person survey administered to 718 white respondents. Randomly assigning Caucasian and Latinx interviewers, we find strong evidence that responses to the list experiment differed by interviewer ethnicity, thus failing to fully eliminate social desirability bias. A follow-up survey of 1,460 online respondents revealed similar difference-in-differences when merely priming the ethnic identities of survey researchers through pictures. The results of this study shed light on patterns of interpersonal communication about sensitive issues and how social context shapes the reporting of political attitudes, even when methodology specifically meant to mute sensitivity biases is employed.
Berinsky, Adam; Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Peng, Zeyu Chris; Rodden, Jonathan A.; Wong, Cara J.
How Social Context Affects Immigration Attitudes Journal Article
In: The Journal of Politics, vol. 85, no. 2, 2023.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: contact theory, immigration, missionaries, social context
@article{Karpowitz2023,
title = {How Social Context Affects Immigration Attitudes},
author = {Adam Berinsky and Christopher F. Karpowitz and Zeyu Chris Peng and Jonathan A. Rodden and Cara J. Wong},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1086/722339},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-04-01},
urldate = {2023-04-01},
journal = {The Journal of Politics},
volume = {85},
number = {2},
abstract = {Selection bias represents a persistent challenge to understanding the effects of social context on political attitudes. We attempt to overcome this challenge by focusing on a unique sample of individuals who were assigned to a new social context for an extended period, without control over the location they were sent: missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We interviewed a sample of 1,804 young people before and after their mission service in a diverse set of locations around the world and find strong evidence that the policy views of respondents became more tolerant toward undocumented immigrants when respondents were assigned to places where contact with immigrants was more likely. Within the United States, missionaries who served in communities with larger Hispanic populations, and those assigned to speak a language other than English, experienced the largest increases in pro-immigrant attitudes.},
keywords = {contact theory, immigration, missionaries, social context},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Selection bias represents a persistent challenge to understanding the effects of social context on political attitudes. We attempt to overcome this challenge by focusing on a unique sample of individuals who were assigned to a new social context for an extended period, without control over the location they were sent: missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We interviewed a sample of 1,804 young people before and after their mission service in a diverse set of locations around the world and find strong evidence that the policy views of respondents became more tolerant toward undocumented immigrants when respondents were assigned to places where contact with immigrants was more likely. Within the United States, missionaries who served in communities with larger Hispanic populations, and those assigned to speak a language other than English, experienced the largest increases in pro-immigrant attitudes.
2022
Gubler, Joshua R.; Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Monson, J. Quin; Romney, David A.; South, Mike
Changing Hearts and Minds? Why Media Messages Designed to Foster Empathy Often Fail Journal Article
In: The Journal of Politics, vol. 84, no. 4, pp. 1884-2311, 2022.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: empathy, experiments, immigration, political psychology
@article{Karpowitz2022,
title = {Changing Hearts and Minds? Why Media Messages Designed to Foster Empathy Often Fail},
author = {Joshua R. Gubler and Christopher F. Karpowitz and J. Quin Monson and David A. Romney and Mike South},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1086/719416},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-10-01},
urldate = {2022-10-01},
journal = {The Journal of Politics},
volume = {84},
number = {4},
pages = {1884-2311},
abstract = {Politicians and social activists frequently employ media designed to “change hearts and minds” by humanizing out-groups. These messages, it is assumed, lead to empathic concern, which motivates individuals to reconsider punitive policy attitudes. How effective is this approach? Using two experiments, we find that while media messages humanized Latinos for all respondents, the treatment messages produced the largest empathy response among those with the most positive prior attitudes. A key intended target of the media messages—those with the highest pretreatment antipathy toward the out-group—reported a dramatically lower increase in empathy. In a second study, we show that unpleasant affect from dissonance is one important mechanism driving these differential results. In both studies, treatments designed to provoke increased empathic concern produced little change in policy attitudes. Thus, changing hearts using empathy-inducing media is a complex task, making the ability to change minds elusive.},
keywords = {empathy, experiments, immigration, political psychology},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Politicians and social activists frequently employ media designed to “change hearts and minds” by humanizing out-groups. These messages, it is assumed, lead to empathic concern, which motivates individuals to reconsider punitive policy attitudes. How effective is this approach? Using two experiments, we find that while media messages humanized Latinos for all respondents, the treatment messages produced the largest empathy response among those with the most positive prior attitudes. A key intended target of the media messages—those with the highest pretreatment antipathy toward the out-group—reported a dramatically lower increase in empathy. In a second study, we show that unpleasant affect from dissonance is one important mechanism driving these differential results. In both studies, treatments designed to provoke increased empathic concern produced little change in policy attitudes. Thus, changing hearts using empathy-inducing media is a complex task, making the ability to change minds elusive.
2021
Karpowitz, Christopher F.; King-Meadows, Tyson; Monson, J. Quin; Pope, Jeremy C.
What Leads Racially Resentful Voters to Choose Black Candidates? Journal Article
In: The Journal of Politics, vol. 83, no. 1, pp. 103-121, 2021.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: American politics, elections, individualism, political parties, racial resentment
@article{Karpowitz2021,
title = {What Leads Racially Resentful Voters to Choose Black Candidates?},
author = {Christopher F. Karpowitz and Tyson King-Meadows and J. Quin Monson and Jeremy C. Pope},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1086/708952},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
urldate = {2021-01-01},
journal = {The Journal of Politics},
volume = {83},
number = {1},
pages = {103-121},
abstract = {In studies of voting behavior, racial resentment has consistently been associated with decreased support for black candidates. In this article we bring together a unique collection of observational data and survey experiments to show how, in the certain contexts, exactly the opposite occurs: racially resentful voters prefer to vote for a black candidate over a white competitor. Higher levels of racial resentment do not imply an unyielding opposition to black candidates because such voters respond to partisan and ideological cues about the preferences of black candidates. Because the traditional measure of racial resentment captures more than just racial animus, some black candidates—most notably, Republicans with an individualist message—benefit electorally from higher levels of racial resentment in the electorate. These results highlight the importance of campaign context in shaping how voters respond to racial, partisan, and ideological cues.},
keywords = {American politics, elections, individualism, political parties, racial resentment},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
In studies of voting behavior, racial resentment has consistently been associated with decreased support for black candidates. In this article we bring together a unique collection of observational data and survey experiments to show how, in the certain contexts, exactly the opposite occurs: racially resentful voters prefer to vote for a black candidate over a white competitor. Higher levels of racial resentment do not imply an unyielding opposition to black candidates because such voters respond to partisan and ideological cues about the preferences of black candidates. Because the traditional measure of racial resentment captures more than just racial animus, some black candidates—most notably, Republicans with an individualist message—benefit electorally from higher levels of racial resentment in the electorate. These results highlight the importance of campaign context in shaping how voters respond to racial, partisan, and ideological cues.
2020
Gimenez, Alejandra; Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Monson, J. Quin; Preece, Jessica
How Political Parties Can Diversify Their Leadership Book Chapter
In: Shames, Shauna L.; Bernhard, Rachel I.; Holman, Mirya R.; Teele, Dawn Langan (Ed.): Good Reasons to Run: Women and Political Candidacy, Temple University Press, Philadelphia, PA, 2020.
Links | BibTeX | Tags: American politics, descriptive representation, gender, political parties
@inbook{Karpowitz2023(5),
title = {How Political Parties Can Diversify Their Leadership},
author = { Alejandra Gimenez and Christopher F. Karpowitz and J. Quin Monson and Jessica Preece},
editor = {Shauna L. Shames and Rachel I. Bernhard and Mirya R. Holman and Dawn Langan Teele},
url = {https://tupress.temple.edu/books/good-reasons-to-run},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
urldate = {2020-01-01},
booktitle = {Good Reasons to Run: Women and Political Candidacy},
publisher = {Temple University Press},
address = {Philadelphia, PA},
keywords = {American politics, descriptive representation, gender, political parties},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inbook}
}
2019
Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Raphael, Chad
Democratic Innovations in North America Book Chapter
In: Elstub, Stephen; Escobar, Oliver (Ed.): The Handbook of Democratic Innovations and Governance, Edward Elgar Publishing, Northampton, MA, 2019, ISBN: 978 1 78643 385 5.
Links | BibTeX | Tags: democracy, political participation
@inbook{Karpowitz2019,
title = {Democratic Innovations in North America},
author = {Christopher F. Karpowitz and Chad Raphael},
editor = {Stephen Elstub and Oliver Escobar},
url = {https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/handbook-of-democratic-innovation-and-governance-9781786433855.html},
isbn = {978 1 78643 385 5},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-12-01},
urldate = {2019-12-01},
booktitle = {The Handbook of Democratic Innovations and Governance},
publisher = {Edward Elgar Publishing},
address = {Northampton, MA},
keywords = {democracy, political participation},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inbook}
}
2018
Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Mendelberg, Tali
Do Enclaves Remediate Social Inequality? Journal Article
In: The Journal of Politics, vol. 80, no. 4, pp. 1134-1149, 2018.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: American politics, deliberation, enclaves, experiments, gender, small groups
@article{Karpowitz2018b,
title = {Do Enclaves Remediate Social Inequality?},
author = {Christopher F. Karpowitz and Tali Mendelberg},
url = {http://ckarpowitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Karpowitz-and-Mendelberg_Enclaves_JOP.pdf},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1086/698756},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-12-01},
urldate = {2018-12-01},
journal = {The Journal of Politics},
volume = {80},
number = {4},
pages = {1134-1149},
abstract = {Do women benefit from participating in women-only, “enclave” groups? Specifically, do such groups benefit their individual members? This question underlies a number of influential normative theories of inequality but remains underexplored despite the ubiquity of these groups in the organizational life of legislative, party, civic, education, and interest-group settings. This article develops multiple objective and subjective dimensions of individual empowerment that such groups may produce, specifies the institutional conditions that facilitate these benefits, and conducts a comparison with men’s groups. To address selection effects, we use a controlled experiment randomizing gender composition and other group characteristics. We find that female enclaves benefit their members, but only under unanimous rule and for most, but not all, forms of empowerment. Men-only groups do not help men, suggesting that enclaves work because they empower the powerless.},
keywords = {American politics, deliberation, enclaves, experiments, gender, small groups},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Do women benefit from participating in women-only, “enclave” groups? Specifically, do such groups benefit their individual members? This question underlies a number of influential normative theories of inequality but remains underexplored despite the ubiquity of these groups in the organizational life of legislative, party, civic, education, and interest-group settings. This article develops multiple objective and subjective dimensions of individual empowerment that such groups may produce, specifies the institutional conditions that facilitate these benefits, and conducts a comparison with men’s groups. To address selection effects, we use a controlled experiment randomizing gender composition and other group characteristics. We find that female enclaves benefit their members, but only under unanimous rule and for most, but not all, forms of empowerment. Men-only groups do not help men, suggesting that enclaves work because they empower the powerless.
Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Mendelberg, Tali
The Political Psychology of Deliberation Book Chapter
In: Baechtiger, Andrew; Dryzek, John S.; Mansbridge, Jane; Warren, Mark E. (Ed.): The Oxford Handbook of Deliberative Democracy, pp. 535-555, Oxford University Press, New York, 2018.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: deliberation, democracy, political participation, political psychology
@inbook{Karpowitz2018,
title = {The Political Psychology of Deliberation},
author = {Christopher F. Karpowitz and Tali Mendelberg},
editor = {Andrew Baechtiger and John S. Dryzek and Jane Mansbridge and Mark E. Warren},
url = {http://ckarpowitz.com/karpowitz-and-mendelberg_political-psychology-of-deliberation_oxford/},
doi = {10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198747369.013.36},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-10-01},
booktitle = {The Oxford Handbook of Deliberative Democracy},
pages = {535-555},
publisher = {Oxford University Press},
address = {New York},
abstract = {How does research from political and social psychology inform expectations for deliberation? In this chapter, we review two aspects of such research: the structure of individual belief systems and the role of group-based forces. Considerable evidence has shown that low levels of political knowledge, ideological inconsistency, and a vulnerability to framing effects are common elements of citizen belief systems. These represent both a challenge and an opportunity for deliberative forums. Evidence shows that deliberation can, under the right circumstances, interrupt typical cognitive patterns and produce more thoughtful and informed political judgments. But the extent to which deliberation has such salutary effects also depends on group-level dynamics and norms. We review three important types of group effects: group polarization, the effects of preference diversity on group interactions, and how unequal social identities can shape deliberative exchanges. The social and psychological forces present in deliberating groups require considerable additional study.},
keywords = {deliberation, democracy, political participation, political psychology},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inbook}
}
How does research from political and social psychology inform expectations for deliberation? In this chapter, we review two aspects of such research: the structure of individual belief systems and the role of group-based forces. Considerable evidence has shown that low levels of political knowledge, ideological inconsistency, and a vulnerability to framing effects are common elements of citizen belief systems. These represent both a challenge and an opportunity for deliberative forums. Evidence shows that deliberation can, under the right circumstances, interrupt typical cognitive patterns and produce more thoughtful and informed political judgments. But the extent to which deliberation has such salutary effects also depends on group-level dynamics and norms. We review three important types of group effects: group polarization, the effects of preference diversity on group interactions, and how unequal social identities can shape deliberative exchanges. The social and psychological forces present in deliberating groups require considerable additional study.
2017
Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Monson, J. Quin; Preece, Jessica R.
How to Elect More Women: Gender and Candidate Success in a Field Experiment Journal Article
In: The American Journal of Political Science, vol. 61, no. 4, pp. 927-943, 2017.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: American politics, descriptive representation, gender, political parties
@article{Karpowitz2017,
title = {How to Elect More Women: Gender and Candidate Success in a Field Experiment},
author = {Christopher F. Karpowitz and J. Quin Monson and Jessica R. Preece},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1111/ajps.12300},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-10-01},
urldate = {2017-10-01},
journal = {The American Journal of Political Science},
volume = {61},
number = {4},
pages = {927-943},
abstract = {Women are dramatically underrepresented in legislative bodies, and most scholars agree that the greatest limiting factor is the lack of female candidates (supply). However, voters’ subconscious biases (demand) may also play a role, particularly among conservatives. We designed an original field experiment to test whether messages from party leaders can affect women's electoral success. The experimental treatments involved messages from a state Republican Party chair to the leaders of 1,842 precinct‐level caucus meetings. We find that party leaders’ efforts to stoke both supply and demand (and especially both together) increase the number of women elected as delegates to the statewide nominating convention. We replicate this finding in a survey experiment with a national sample of validated Republican primary election voters (N = 2,897). Our results suggest that simple interventions from party leaders can affect the behavior of candidates and voters and ultimately lead to a substantial increase in women's descriptive representation.},
keywords = {American politics, descriptive representation, gender, political parties},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Women are dramatically underrepresented in legislative bodies, and most scholars agree that the greatest limiting factor is the lack of female candidates (supply). However, voters’ subconscious biases (demand) may also play a role, particularly among conservatives. We designed an original field experiment to test whether messages from party leaders can affect women's electoral success. The experimental treatments involved messages from a state Republican Party chair to the leaders of 1,842 precinct‐level caucus meetings. We find that party leaders’ efforts to stoke both supply and demand (and especially both together) increase the number of women elected as delegates to the statewide nominating convention. We replicate this finding in a survey experiment with a national sample of validated Republican primary election voters (N = 2,897). Our results suggest that simple interventions from party leaders can affect the behavior of candidates and voters and ultimately lead to a substantial increase in women's descriptive representation.
Butler, Daniel M.; Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Pope, Jeremy C.
Who Gets the Credit? Legislative Responsiveness and Evaluations of Members, Parties, and the U.S. Congress Journal Article
In: Political Science Research and Methods, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 351-366, 2017.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: American politics, Congress, institutions, partisanship, representation
@article{Butler2017,
title = {Who Gets the Credit? Legislative Responsiveness and Evaluations of Members, Parties, and the U.S. Congress},
author = {Daniel M. Butler and Christopher F. Karpowitz and Jeremy C. Pope},
url = {http://ckarpowitz.com/butler-karpowitz-pope_psrm-2/},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1017/psrm.2015.83},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-04-01},
urldate = {2017-04-01},
journal = {Political Science Research and Methods},
volume = {5},
number = {2},
pages = {351-366},
abstract = {This article considers the hypothesis that the positive actions taken by members of Congress (MCs) influence citizens’ evaluations of them, their party, and Congress as an institution. We begin with a look at the available cross-sectional survey data on contact with legislators and legislator and institutional approval. Their legislative responsiveness appears to have a small spillover effect on institutions. However, when we employ a unique panel design that controls for prior levels of opinion and avoids recall bias, we find no evidence of spillover effects. Overall, we find that constituents who received a response from their own MC evaluate that representative more positively than those who did not receive a response, but legislator responsiveness does not predict evaluations of the MC’s political party or the Congress.
},
keywords = {American politics, Congress, institutions, partisanship, representation},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This article considers the hypothesis that the positive actions taken by members of Congress (MCs) influence citizens’ evaluations of them, their party, and Congress as an institution. We begin with a look at the available cross-sectional survey data on contact with legislators and legislator and institutional approval. Their legislative responsiveness appears to have a small spillover effect on institutions. However, when we employ a unique panel design that controls for prior levels of opinion and avoids recall bias, we find no evidence of spillover effects. Overall, we find that constituents who received a response from their own MC evaluate that representative more positively than those who did not receive a response, but legislator responsiveness does not predict evaluations of the MC’s political party or the Congress.
2016
Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Raphael, Chad
Ideals of Inclusion in Deliberation Journal Article
In: Journal of Public Deliberation, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. Article 3, 2016.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: deliberation, democratic theory, inclusion
@article{Karpowitz2016b,
title = {Ideals of Inclusion in Deliberation},
author = {Christopher F. Karpowitz and Chad Raphael},
url = {http://www.publicdeliberation.net/jpd/vol12/iss2/art3/
http://ckarpowitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Karpowitz-Raphael_JPD_Ideals-of-Inclusion-in-Deliberation.pdf},
year = {2016},
date = {2016-10-13},
journal = {Journal of Public Deliberation},
volume = {12},
number = {2},
pages = {Article 3},
abstract = {Building on prior thinking about political representation in democratic deliberation, we argue for four ideals of inclusion, each of which is most appropriate to a different situation. These principles of inclusion depend not only on the goals of a deliberation, but also on its level of empowerment in the political system, and its openness to all who want to participate. Holistic and open deliberations can most legitimately incorporate and decide for the people as a whole if they are open to all who want to participate and affirmatively recruit perspectives that would be underrepresented otherwise. Chicago Community Policing beat meetings offer an example. Holistic and restricted forums (such as the latter stages of some participatory budgeting processes) should recruit stratified random samples of the demos, but must also ensure that problems of tokenism are overcome by including a critical mass of the least powerful perspectives, so that their views can be aired and heard more fully and effectively. Forums that aim to improve relations between social sectors and peoples should provide open access for all who are affected by the issues (relational and open), if possible, or recruit a stratified random sample of all affected, when necessary (relational and restricted). In either case, proportional representation of the least advantaged perspectives is necessary. However, when deliberation focuses on relations between a disempowered group and the rest of society, or between unequal peoples, it is often most legitimate to over-sample the least powerful and even to create opportunities for the disempowered to deliberate among themselves so that their perspectives can be adequately represented in small and large group discussions. We illustrate this discussion with examples of atypical Deliberative Polls on Australia’s reconciliation with its indigenous community and the Roma ethnic minority in Europe.},
keywords = {deliberation, democratic theory, inclusion},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Building on prior thinking about political representation in democratic deliberation, we argue for four ideals of inclusion, each of which is most appropriate to a different situation. These principles of inclusion depend not only on the goals of a deliberation, but also on its level of empowerment in the political system, and its openness to all who want to participate. Holistic and open deliberations can most legitimately incorporate and decide for the people as a whole if they are open to all who want to participate and affirmatively recruit perspectives that would be underrepresented otherwise. Chicago Community Policing beat meetings offer an example. Holistic and restricted forums (such as the latter stages of some participatory budgeting processes) should recruit stratified random samples of the demos, but must also ensure that problems of tokenism are overcome by including a critical mass of the least powerful perspectives, so that their views can be aired and heard more fully and effectively. Forums that aim to improve relations between social sectors and peoples should provide open access for all who are affected by the issues (relational and open), if possible, or recruit a stratified random sample of all affected, when necessary (relational and restricted). In either case, proportional representation of the least advantaged perspectives is necessary. However, when deliberation focuses on relations between a disempowered group and the rest of society, or between unequal peoples, it is often most legitimate to over-sample the least powerful and even to create opportunities for the disempowered to deliberate among themselves so that their perspectives can be adequately represented in small and large group discussions. We illustrate this discussion with examples of atypical Deliberative Polls on Australia’s reconciliation with its indigenous community and the Roma ethnic minority in Europe.
Abdullah, Carolyne; Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Raphael, Chad
Affinity Groups, Enclave Deliberation, and Equity Journal Article
In: Journal of Public Deliberation, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. Article 6, 2016.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: deliberation, enclaves, equality
@article{Abdullah2016,
title = {Affinity Groups, Enclave Deliberation, and Equity},
author = {Carolyne Abdullah and Christopher F. Karpowitz and Chad Raphael},
url = {http://www.publicdeliberation.net/jpd/vol12/iss2/art6
http://ckarpowitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Abdullah-Karpowitz-Raphael_JPD_Affinity-Groups-Enclave-Deliberation-and-Equity.pdf},
year = {2016},
date = {2016-10-13},
journal = {Journal of Public Deliberation},
volume = {12},
number = {2},
pages = {Article 6},
abstract = {There is growing appreciation for the value of holding enclave dialogue and deliberation among marginalized peoples in their own affinity groups, as one stage in a larger conversation with the broader public or with public officials. These enclaves may be disempowered by enduring political inequalities, or in relation to a particular issue under discussion, or by the act of deliberation itself. Recent research and practice has demonstrated that well-structured dialogue and deliberation in enclaves can increase the inclusion, participation, and influence of members of society who have been excluded from public discourse, while avoiding the dangers of coercion, sectarianism, conformism, error, and illegitimacy. We review normative arguments and empirical evidence for the judicious use of affinity group enclaves to advance equity. We show multiple ways in which enclaves can be incorporated into democratic projects and processes that also include discussion among more representative samples of the public and with government. We offer design principles for affinity group discussion, which are illustrated by a recent series of dialogues on Facing Racism in a Diverse Nation, organized in the U.S. by Everyday Democracy. Finally, we discuss conditions in which enclave deliberation is most likely to be needed to create equity and suggest an agenda for future research.},
keywords = {deliberation, enclaves, equality},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
There is growing appreciation for the value of holding enclave dialogue and deliberation among marginalized peoples in their own affinity groups, as one stage in a larger conversation with the broader public or with public officials. These enclaves may be disempowered by enduring political inequalities, or in relation to a particular issue under discussion, or by the act of deliberation itself. Recent research and practice has demonstrated that well-structured dialogue and deliberation in enclaves can increase the inclusion, participation, and influence of members of society who have been excluded from public discourse, while avoiding the dangers of coercion, sectarianism, conformism, error, and illegitimacy. We review normative arguments and empirical evidence for the judicious use of affinity group enclaves to advance equity. We show multiple ways in which enclaves can be incorporated into democratic projects and processes that also include discussion among more representative samples of the public and with government. We offer design principles for affinity group discussion, which are illustrated by a recent series of dialogues on Facing Racism in a Diverse Nation, organized in the U.S. by Everyday Democracy. Finally, we discuss conditions in which enclave deliberation is most likely to be needed to create equity and suggest an agenda for future research.
Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Monson, J. Quin; Patterson, Kelly D.
Who's In and Who's Out? The Politics of Religious Norms Journal Article
In: Politics & Religion, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 508-536, 2016.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: experiments, Mormonism, norms, religion
@article{Karpowitz2016,
title = {Who's In and Who's Out? The Politics of Religious Norms},
author = {Christopher F. Karpowitz and J. Quin Monson and Kelly D. Patterson},
url = {http://ckarpowitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Karpowitz-Monson-Patterson_Politics-and-Religion.pdf
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/politics-and-religion/article/whos-in-and-whos-out-the-politics-of-religious-norms/21706BF189D87FEB8467572533965159#fndtn-supplementary-materials},
doi = {10.1017/S1755048316000456},
year = {2016},
date = {2016-09-01},
journal = {Politics & Religion},
volume = {9},
number = {3},
pages = {508-536},
abstract = {What are the boundaries for discussing a candidate's religion? In the 2008 and the 2012 presidential campaigns, the religious beliefs and practices of at least one of the candidates became a subject of intense scrutiny from the media and the public. To ascertain the limits of social discourse for religious out-group, we conducted a survey experiment on the 2012 CCES survey. We find strong evidence that norms of social discourse do not apply to all religions equally. Furthermore, the application of norms differs by political party because Democrats and Republicans express concerns about different religious groups. Overall, there is a large difference for Muslims when it comes to social discourse. Finally, individuals have internalized the norms because most of them are willing to sanction those who violate them, even if the norms on social discourse are not applied equally among American voters.},
keywords = {experiments, Mormonism, norms, religion},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
What are the boundaries for discussing a candidate's religion? In the 2008 and the 2012 presidential campaigns, the religious beliefs and practices of at least one of the candidates became a subject of intense scrutiny from the media and the public. To ascertain the limits of social discourse for religious out-group, we conducted a survey experiment on the 2012 CCES survey. We find strong evidence that norms of social discourse do not apply to all religions equally. Furthermore, the application of norms differs by political party because Democrats and Republicans express concerns about different religious groups. Overall, there is a large difference for Muslims when it comes to social discourse. Finally, individuals have internalized the norms because most of them are willing to sanction those who violate them, even if the norms on social discourse are not applied equally among American voters.
Mendelberg, Tali; Karpowitz, Christopher F.
Women's Authority in Political Decision-Making Groups Journal Article
In: The Leadership Quarterly, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 487-503, 2016.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: critical mass, decision rule, deliberation, gender, small groups
@article{Mendelberg2016b,
title = {Women's Authority in Political Decision-Making Groups},
author = {Tali Mendelberg and Christopher F. Karpowitz},
url = {http://ckarpowitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Mendelberg-Karpowitz_Leadership-Quarterly.pdf},
doi = {10.1016/j.leaqua.2015.11.005},
year = {2016},
date = {2016-06-15},
journal = {The Leadership Quarterly},
volume = {27},
number = {3},
pages = {487-503},
abstract = {Formal decision-making groups are ubiquitous, and they make decisions that govern every aspect of life, yet women are vastly underrepresented in them. How effective are women in these groups, where their numbers still lag far behind men's? We address this longstanding question, focusing on detailed measures of women's influence in natural and controlled settings. The answers shed light on related questions as well: How high do the numbers have to rise before women exercise equal influence? Do women need a different critical mass in different types of settings? We also address a newer question: how do other features of the group help or hinder women's equal leadership? Can they ameliorate the negative impact of low numbers? Women's relative number matters to women's ability to exercise leadership in small groups, but the procedures that groups use also matter, and condition the effects of numbers.},
keywords = {critical mass, decision rule, deliberation, gender, small groups},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Formal decision-making groups are ubiquitous, and they make decisions that govern every aspect of life, yet women are vastly underrepresented in them. How effective are women in these groups, where their numbers still lag far behind men's? We address this longstanding question, focusing on detailed measures of women's influence in natural and controlled settings. The answers shed light on related questions as well: How high do the numbers have to rise before women exercise equal influence? Do women need a different critical mass in different types of settings? We also address a newer question: how do other features of the group help or hinder women's equal leadership? Can they ameliorate the negative impact of low numbers? Women's relative number matters to women's ability to exercise leadership in small groups, but the procedures that groups use also matter, and condition the effects of numbers.
Mendelberg, Tali; Karpowitz, Christopher F.
Power, Gender, and Group Discussion Journal Article
In: Advances in Political Psychology, vol. 37, no. 1, pp. 1-38, 2016.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: deliberation, experiments, gender, small groups
@article{Mendelberg2016,
title = {Power, Gender, and Group Discussion},
author = {Tali Mendelberg and Christopher F. Karpowitz},
url = {http://ckarpowitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Mendelberg-Karpowitz_Advances-in-Political-Psychology.pdf},
doi = {10.1111/pops.12320},
year = {2016},
date = {2016-01-22},
journal = {Advances in Political Psychology},
volume = {37},
number = {1},
pages = {1-38},
abstract = {This article reviews the growing literature on the ways in which gender informs our understanding of political psychology and how studies of political psychology shed light on the meaning of gender in society and politics. It focuses on gender gaps in contemporary American politics, where men tend to be more conservative and to engage in more influence-seeking action than women. The article develops explanations for these gaps and tests them with experimental data. The gender gaps in political attitudes and behaviors are not immutable but rather strongly responsive to the context. Two important features of the context are the gender composition of those present and the rules that govern how decisions are made and consequently how individuals communicate.},
keywords = {deliberation, experiments, gender, small groups},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This article reviews the growing literature on the ways in which gender informs our understanding of political psychology and how studies of political psychology shed light on the meaning of gender in society and politics. It focuses on gender gaps in contemporary American politics, where men tend to be more conservative and to engage in more influence-seeking action than women. The article develops explanations for these gaps and tests them with experimental data. The gender gaps in political attitudes and behaviors are not immutable but rather strongly responsive to the context. Two important features of the context are the gender composition of those present and the rules that govern how decisions are made and consequently how individuals communicate.
2015
Campbell, David E.; Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Monson, J. Quin
A Peculiar People? Mormons and American Politics Book Chapter
In: Balmer, Randall; Riess, Jana (Ed.): Mormonism and American Politics, Columbia University Press, New York, 2015, ISBN: 9780231165990.
Links | BibTeX | Tags: American politics, Mormonism
@inbook{Campbell2015,
title = {A Peculiar People? Mormons and American Politics},
author = {David E. Campbell and Christopher F. Karpowitz and J. Quin Monson},
editor = {Randall Balmer and Jana Riess},
url = {https://cup.columbia.edu/book/mormonism-and-american-politics/9780231165990},
isbn = {9780231165990},
year = {2015},
date = {2015-12-15},
booktitle = {Mormonism and American Politics},
publisher = {Columbia University Press},
address = {New York},
keywords = {American politics, Mormonism},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inbook}
}
Mendelberg, Tali; Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Mattioli, Lauren
Gender and Women's Influence in Public Settings Book Chapter
In: Scott, Robert A.; Kosslyn, Stephen M. (Ed.): Emerging Trends in the Behavioral and Social Sciences, John Wiley & Sons Inc, Hoboken, NJ, 2015, ISBN: 9781118900772.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: critical mass, experiments, gender, representation, small groups
@inbook{Karpowitz2015b,
title = {Gender and Women's Influence in Public Settings},
author = {Tali Mendelberg and Christopher F. Karpowitz and Lauren Mattioli},
editor = {Robert A. Scott and Stephen M. Kosslyn},
url = {http://ckarpowitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Mendelberg-Karpowitz-Mattioli_EmergingTrends.pdf
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9781118900772.etrds0139/abstract},
doi = {10.1002/9781118900772},
isbn = {9781118900772},
year = {2015},
date = {2015-05-15},
booktitle = {Emerging Trends in the Behavioral and Social Sciences},
publisher = {John Wiley & Sons Inc},
address = {Hoboken, NJ},
abstract = {Does gender equality in public meetings improve as women's numbers grow? Research applying critical mass theory to the exercise of influence in public discussion and decision making reveals a complicated story. Women have made significant progress in education, employment, and the attainment of elected office; yet, they continue to lag behind their male counterparts in substantive, symbolic, and authoritative representation. Across political, nonpolitical, and experimental settings, women's participation and influence does not follow necessarily from their numerical proportion. We review previous studies of how women's lower status is manifested in group interaction, and we argue that research can better identify when and how numbers matter by attending to the group's context, institutional features, and informal norms. We describe cutting-edge research designed to explore the effects of institutional rules and norms on women's authority. Women's increasing numbers in positions of potential influence constitutes a timely, promising, and challenging agenda for further scholarship.},
keywords = {critical mass, experiments, gender, representation, small groups},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inbook}
}
Does gender equality in public meetings improve as women's numbers grow? Research applying critical mass theory to the exercise of influence in public discussion and decision making reveals a complicated story. Women have made significant progress in education, employment, and the attainment of elected office; yet, they continue to lag behind their male counterparts in substantive, symbolic, and authoritative representation. Across political, nonpolitical, and experimental settings, women's participation and influence does not follow necessarily from their numerical proportion. We review previous studies of how women's lower status is manifested in group interaction, and we argue that research can better identify when and how numbers matter by attending to the group's context, institutional features, and informal norms. We describe cutting-edge research designed to explore the effects of institutional rules and norms on women's authority. Women's increasing numbers in positions of potential influence constitutes a timely, promising, and challenging agenda for further scholarship.
Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Pope, Jeremy C.
Who Caucuses? An Experimental Approach to Institutional Design and Electoral Participation Journal Article
In: The British Journal of Political Science, vol. 45, no. 2, pp. 329-351, 2015.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: caucus, experiments, institutions, political participation, primary
@article{Karpowitz2015b,
title = {Who Caucuses? An Experimental Approach to Institutional Design and Electoral Participation},
author = {Christopher F. Karpowitz and Jeremy C. Pope},
url = {http://ckarpowitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Karpowitz-and-Pope_BJPS.pdf
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-political-science/article/who-caucuses-an-experimental-approach-to-institutional-design-and-electoral-participation/6C85BF6D4BE5A89F1FAFEA9876D10D83#fndtn-supplementary-materials},
doi = {10.1017/S0007123413000288},
year = {2015},
date = {2015-04-15},
journal = {The British Journal of Political Science},
volume = {45},
number = {2},
pages = {329-351},
abstract = {During the 2008 presidential campaign, the question of mass participation in primaries and caucuses became unusually salient, with a close Democratic race calling special attention to these often overlooked procedural elements of America's democratic system. This study adds a new element to scholarship on institutional design and citizen participation by way of a survey-based experiment conducted in the midst of the 2008 campaign. The results show that institutional choices are not neutral. Nominating candidates through caucuses rather than primaries not only reduces the number of participants, but also significantly affects the ideological composition of the electorate. Caucuses produce a more ideologically consistent electorate than do primaries, because policy centrists appear to avoid caucuses. This experimental finding is strongly buttressed by the observational data on Obama and Clinton voters.},
keywords = {caucus, experiments, institutions, political participation, primary},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
During the 2008 presidential campaign, the question of mass participation in primaries and caucuses became unusually salient, with a close Democratic race calling special attention to these often overlooked procedural elements of America's democratic system. This study adds a new element to scholarship on institutional design and citizen participation by way of a survey-based experiment conducted in the midst of the 2008 campaign. The results show that institutional choices are not neutral. Nominating candidates through caucuses rather than primaries not only reduces the number of participants, but also significantly affects the ideological composition of the electorate. Caucuses produce a more ideologically consistent electorate than do primaries, because policy centrists appear to avoid caucuses. This experimental finding is strongly buttressed by the observational data on Obama and Clinton voters.
Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Mendelberg, Tali; Mattioli, Lauren
Why Women's Numbers Elevate Women's Influence, and When They Do Not: Rules, Norms, and Authority in Political Discussion Journal Article
In: Politics, Groups, and Identities, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 203-208, 2015, (Also published in 2016 as a chapter in Gender and Political Psychology, ed. Zoe Oxley. New York: Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Gender-and-Political-Psychology/Oxley/p/book/9781138961036).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: critical mass, deliberation, experiments, gender, small groups
@article{Karpowitz2015,
title = {Why Women's Numbers Elevate Women's Influence, and When They Do Not: Rules, Norms, and Authority in Political Discussion},
author = {Christopher F. Karpowitz and Tali Mendelberg and Lauren Mattioli},
url = {http://ckarpowitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Karpowitz-Mendelberg-and-Mattioli_PGI_WhenWomen.pdf},
doi = {10.1080/21565503.2014.999804},
year = {2015},
date = {2015-01-22},
journal = {Politics, Groups, and Identities},
volume = {3},
number = {1},
pages = {203-208},
abstract = {Critical mass theory argues that women's numbers are a major cause of women's status and authority in a group. Applications of the theory to political settings have yielded mixed support for the theory. We unpack one mechanism that can explain when, why, and how numbers aid women. That mechanism is the norm of communication during group discussion. Our focus is on how women build or lose authority while they interact with men. We argue that numbers – and group procedures – shape norms that advance or hinder women's authority. Women's authority in turn affects the group's decision about economic redistribution – the higher the women's authority, the higher the group's generosity to the poor. We suggest that future work further explore how rules and norms affect women's status in a group by equalizing their participation and influence, with the ultimate goal being equal gender authority.},
note = {Also published in 2016 as a chapter in Gender and Political Psychology, ed. Zoe Oxley. New York: Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Gender-and-Political-Psychology/Oxley/p/book/9781138961036},
keywords = {critical mass, deliberation, experiments, gender, small groups},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Critical mass theory argues that women's numbers are a major cause of women's status and authority in a group. Applications of the theory to political settings have yielded mixed support for the theory. We unpack one mechanism that can explain when, why, and how numbers aid women. That mechanism is the norm of communication during group discussion. Our focus is on how women build or lose authority while they interact with men. We argue that numbers – and group procedures – shape norms that advance or hinder women's authority. Women's authority in turn affects the group's decision about economic redistribution – the higher the women's authority, the higher the group's generosity to the poor. We suggest that future work further explore how rules and norms affect women's status in a group by equalizing their participation and influence, with the ultimate goal being equal gender authority.
Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Mendelberg, Tali; Mattioli, Lauren
How Group Forces Demonstrate the Malleability of Gendered Behavior Journal Article
In: Politics, Groups, and Identities, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 149-177, 2015, (Also published in 2016 as a chapter in Gender and Political Psychology, ed. Zoe Oxley. New York: Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Gender-and-Political-Psychology/Oxley/p/book/9781138961036).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: deliberation, experiments, gender, small groups
@article{Karpowitz2015b,
title = {How Group Forces Demonstrate the Malleability of Gendered Behavior},
author = {Christopher F. Karpowitz and Tali Mendelberg and Lauren Mattioli},
url = {http://ckarpowitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Karpowitz-Mendelberg-and-Mattioli_PGI_HowGroup.pdf},
doi = {10.1080/21565503.2014.999808},
year = {2015},
date = {2015-01-22},
journal = {Politics, Groups, and Identities},
volume = {3},
number = {1},
pages = {149-177},
abstract = {In this brief response, we take up several themes raised by the scholars who responded to our work, paying special attention to the interaction between individuals and group contexts. We argue that our study represents a productive first step in the attempt to understand how norms shape individual behavior, discursive dynamics, collective outcomes, and overall authority in small-group settings.},
note = {Also published in 2016 as a chapter in Gender and Political Psychology, ed. Zoe Oxley. New York: Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Gender-and-Political-Psychology/Oxley/p/book/9781138961036},
keywords = {deliberation, experiments, gender, small groups},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
In this brief response, we take up several themes raised by the scholars who responded to our work, paying special attention to the interaction between individuals and group contexts. We argue that our study represents a productive first step in the attempt to understand how norms shape individual behavior, discursive dynamics, collective outcomes, and overall authority in small-group settings.
2014
Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Raphael, Chad
Deliberation, Democracy, and Civic Forums: Improving Equality and Publicity Book
Cambridge University Press, 2014, ISBN: 9781107046436.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: deliberation, democracy, democratic theory, equality, publicity
@book{Karpowitz2014b,
title = {Deliberation, Democracy, and Civic Forums: Improving Equality and Publicity},
author = {Christopher F. Karpowitz and Chad Raphael},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107110212},
doi = {10.1017/CBO9781107110212},
isbn = {9781107046436},
year = {2014},
date = {2014-11-30},
publisher = {Cambridge University Press},
abstract = {Innovative forums that integrate citizen deliberation into policy making are revitalizing democracy in many places around the world. Yet controversy abounds over whether these forums ought to be seen as authentic sources of public opinion and how they should fit with existing political institutions. How can civic forums include less powerful citizens and ensure that their perspectives are heard on equal terms with more privileged citizens, officials, and policy experts? How can these fragile institutions communicate citizens' policy preferences effectively and legitimately to the rest of the political system? Deliberation, Democracy, and Civic Forums proposes creative solutions for improving equality and publicity, which are grounded in new theories about democratic deliberation, a careful review of research and practice in the field, and several original studies. This book speaks to scholars, practitioners, and sponsors of civic engagement, public management and consultation, and deliberative and participatory democracy.
Read more at http://www.cambridge.org/us/academic/subjects/sociology/political-sociology/deliberation-democracy-and-civic-forums-improving-equality-and-publicity#VSqTjBKSBT3kJM47.99},
keywords = {deliberation, democracy, democratic theory, equality, publicity},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {book}
}
Innovative forums that integrate citizen deliberation into policy making are revitalizing democracy in many places around the world. Yet controversy abounds over whether these forums ought to be seen as authentic sources of public opinion and how they should fit with existing political institutions. How can civic forums include less powerful citizens and ensure that their perspectives are heard on equal terms with more privileged citizens, officials, and policy experts? How can these fragile institutions communicate citizens' policy preferences effectively and legitimately to the rest of the political system? Deliberation, Democracy, and Civic Forums proposes creative solutions for improving equality and publicity, which are grounded in new theories about democratic deliberation, a careful review of research and practice in the field, and several original studies. This book speaks to scholars, practitioners, and sponsors of civic engagement, public management and consultation, and deliberative and participatory democracy.
Read more at http://www.cambridge.org/us/academic/subjects/sociology/political-sociology/deliberation-democracy-and-civic-forums-improving-equality-and-publicity#VSqTjBKSBT3kJM47.99
Read more at http://www.cambridge.org/us/academic/subjects/sociology/political-sociology/deliberation-democracy-and-civic-forums-improving-equality-and-publicity#VSqTjBKSBT3kJM47.99
Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Mendelberg, Tali
The Silent Sex: Gender, Deliberation, and Institutions Book
Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, 2014, ISBN: 9780691159768, (Winner of the David O. Sears Book Award for the best book published in 2014 in the field of mass politics, International Society of Political Psychology • Winner of the Robert E. Lane Award for the best book published in 2014 in political psychology, Political Psychology Section, American Political Science Association • Winner of the Best Book Award for the best book published in 2014 using experimental methods, Experimental Research Section, American Political Science Association ).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: decision rule, deliberation, experiments, gender, small groups
@book{Karpowitz2014,
title = {The Silent Sex: Gender, Deliberation, and Institutions},
author = {Christopher F. Karpowitz and Tali Mendelberg},
url = {http://press.princeton.edu/titles/10402.html
http://ckarpowitz.com/research/the-silent-sex/},
isbn = {9780691159768},
year = {2014},
date = {2014-08-24},
publisher = {Princeton University Press},
address = {Princeton, NJ},
abstract = {Do women participate in and influence meetings equally with men? Does gender shape how a meeting is run and whose voices are heard? The Silent Sex shows how the gender composition and rules of a deliberative body dramatically affect who speaks, how the group interacts, the kinds of issues the group takes up, whose voices prevail, and what the group ultimately decides. It argues that efforts to improve the representation of women will fall short unless they address institutional rules that impede women’s voices.},
note = {Winner of the David O. Sears Book Award for the best book published in 2014 in the field of mass politics, International Society of Political Psychology
• Winner of the Robert E. Lane Award for the best book published in 2014 in political psychology, Political Psychology Section, American Political Science Association
• Winner of the Best Book Award for the best book published in 2014 using experimental methods, Experimental Research Section, American Political Science Association
},
keywords = {decision rule, deliberation, experiments, gender, small groups},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {book}
}
Do women participate in and influence meetings equally with men? Does gender shape how a meeting is run and whose voices are heard? The Silent Sex shows how the gender composition and rules of a deliberative body dramatically affect who speaks, how the group interacts, the kinds of issues the group takes up, whose voices prevail, and what the group ultimately decides. It argues that efforts to improve the representation of women will fall short unless they address institutional rules that impede women’s voices.
Mendelberg, Tali; Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Goedert, Nicholas
Does Descriptive Representation Facilitate Women's Distinctive Voice? How Gender Composition and Decision Rules Affect Deliberation Journal Article
In: The American Journal of Political Science, vol. 58, no. 2, pp. 291-306, 2014.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: deliberation, democracy, descriptive representation, experiments, gender, representation
@article{Mendelberg2014,
title = {Does Descriptive Representation Facilitate Women's Distinctive Voice? How Gender Composition and Decision Rules Affect Deliberation},
author = {Tali Mendelberg and Christopher F. Karpowitz and Nicholas Goedert},
url = {http://ckarpowitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Mendelberg-Karpowitz-Goedert_AJPS.pdf},
doi = {10.1111/ajps.12077},
year = {2014},
date = {2014-04-02},
journal = {The American Journal of Political Science},
volume = {58},
number = {2},
pages = {291-306},
abstract = {Does low descriptive representation inhibit substantive representation for women in deliberating groups? We address this question and go beyond to ask if the effects of descriptive representation also depend on decision rule. We conducted an experiment on distributive decisions, randomizing the group's gender composition and decision rule, including many groups, and linking individuals’ predeliberation attitudes to their speech and to postdeliberation decisions. Women's descriptive representation does produce substantive representation, but primarily under majority rule—when women are many, they are more likely to voice women's distinctive concerns about children, family, the poor, and the needy, and less likely to voice men's distinctive concerns. Men's references shift similarly with women's numerical status. These effects are associated with group decisions that are more generous to the poor. Unanimous rule protects women in the numerical minority, mitigating some of the negative effects of low descriptive representation. Descriptive representation matters, but in interaction with the decision rule.},
keywords = {deliberation, democracy, descriptive representation, experiments, gender, representation},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Does low descriptive representation inhibit substantive representation for women in deliberating groups? We address this question and go beyond to ask if the effects of descriptive representation also depend on decision rule. We conducted an experiment on distributive decisions, randomizing the group's gender composition and decision rule, including many groups, and linking individuals’ predeliberation attitudes to their speech and to postdeliberation decisions. Women's descriptive representation does produce substantive representation, but primarily under majority rule—when women are many, they are more likely to voice women's distinctive concerns about children, family, the poor, and the needy, and less likely to voice men's distinctive concerns. Men's references shift similarly with women's numerical status. These effects are associated with group decisions that are more generous to the poor. Unanimous rule protects women in the numerical minority, mitigating some of the negative effects of low descriptive representation. Descriptive representation matters, but in interaction with the decision rule.
Mendelberg, Tali; Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Oliphant, J. Baxter
Gender Inequality in Deliberation: Unpacking the Black Box of Interaction Journal Article
In: Perspectives on Politics, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 18-44, 2014.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: deliberation, experiments, gender, interruptions
@article{Mendelberg2014b,
title = {Gender Inequality in Deliberation: Unpacking the Black Box of Interaction},
author = {Tali Mendelberg and Christopher F. Karpowitz and J. Baxter Oliphant},
url = {http://ckarpowitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Mendelberg-Karpowitz-Oliphant_Perspectives.pdf},
doi = {10.1017/S1537592713003691},
year = {2014},
date = {2014-03-15},
journal = {Perspectives on Politics},
volume = {12},
number = {1},
pages = {18-44},
abstract = {When and why do women gain from increased descriptive representation in deliberating bodies? Using a large randomized experiment, and linking individual-level speech with assessments of speaker authority, we find that decision rules interact with the number of women in the group to shape the conversation dynamics and deliberative authority, an important form of influence. With majority rule and few women, women experience a negative balance of interruptions when speaking, and these women then lose influence in their own eyes and in others’. But when the group is assigned to unanimous rule, or when women are many, women experience a positive balance of interruptions, mitigating the deleterious effect of small numbers. Men do not experience this pattern. We draw implications for a type of representation that we call authoritative representation, and for democratic deliberation.},
keywords = {deliberation, experiments, gender, interruptions},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
When and why do women gain from increased descriptive representation in deliberating bodies? Using a large randomized experiment, and linking individual-level speech with assessments of speaker authority, we find that decision rules interact with the number of women in the group to shape the conversation dynamics and deliberative authority, an important form of influence. With majority rule and few women, women experience a negative balance of interruptions when speaking, and these women then lose influence in their own eyes and in others’. But when the group is assigned to unanimous rule, or when women are many, women experience a positive balance of interruptions, mitigating the deleterious effect of small numbers. Men do not experience this pattern. We draw implications for a type of representation that we call authoritative representation, and for democratic deliberation.
Karpowitz, Christopher F.
DICTION and the Study of American Politics Book Chapter
In: Hart, Roderick P. (Ed.): Communication and Language Analysis in the Public Sphere, IGI Global, Hershey, PA, 2014, ISBN: 9781466650039.
Links | BibTeX | Tags: content analysis
@inbook{Karpowitz2014b,
title = {DICTION and the Study of American Politics},
author = {Christopher F. Karpowitz},
editor = {Roderick P. Hart},
url = {http://ckarpowitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Karpowitz_Diction-AmericanPolitics.pdf},
doi = {10.4018/978-1-4666-5003-9},
isbn = {9781466650039},
year = {2014},
date = {2014-01-15},
booktitle = {Communication and Language Analysis in the Public Sphere},
publisher = {IGI Global},
address = {Hershey, PA},
keywords = {content analysis},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inbook}
}
2013
Raphael, Chad; Karpowitz, Christopher F.
Good Publicity: The Legitimacy of Public Communication about Deliberation Journal Article
In: Political Communication, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 17-41, 2013.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: content analysis, deliberation, legitimacy, publicity
@article{Raphael2013,
title = {Good Publicity: The Legitimacy of Public Communication about Deliberation},
author = {Chad Raphael and Christopher F. Karpowitz},
url = {http://ckarpowitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Karpowitz-and-Raphael_Political-Communication.pdf
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/suppl/10.1080/10584609.2012.737412},
doi = {10.1080/10584609.2012.737412},
year = {2013},
date = {2013-01-30},
journal = {Political Communication},
volume = {30},
number = {1},
pages = {17-41},
abstract = {Although deliberative democratic theory values the principle of publicity, few empirical studies systematically assess the public communication of civic groups that deliberate over policy. The proliferation of such groups in contemporary politics, and of uncertainty about their legitimacy, suggests the need for such study. Drawing on contemporary deliberative theory, we derive a set of legitimate publicity indicators for assessing how well groups report their deliberative processes and policy conclusions. We demonstrate the reliability and utility of these measures in a comparative content analysis of the final reports of three common kinds of deliberative bodies: a government-stakeholder task force, an activist strategy group, and a citizen consensus conference. We conclude by suggesting an agenda for further research on the perceived legitimacy of publicity about deliberative processes, outcomes, and impacts on the policy process.},
keywords = {content analysis, deliberation, legitimacy, publicity},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Although deliberative democratic theory values the principle of publicity, few empirical studies systematically assess the public communication of civic groups that deliberate over policy. The proliferation of such groups in contemporary politics, and of uncertainty about their legitimacy, suggests the need for such study. Drawing on contemporary deliberative theory, we derive a set of legitimate publicity indicators for assessing how well groups report their deliberative processes and policy conclusions. We demonstrate the reliability and utility of these measures in a comparative content analysis of the final reports of three common kinds of deliberative bodies: a government-stakeholder task force, an activist strategy group, and a citizen consensus conference. We conclude by suggesting an agenda for further research on the perceived legitimacy of publicity about deliberative processes, outcomes, and impacts on the policy process.
2012
Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Mendelberg, Tali; Shaker, Lee
Gender Inequality in Deliberative Participation Journal Article
In: The American Political Science Review, vol. 106, no. 3, pp. 533-547, 2012.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: decision rule, deliberation, experiments, gender
@article{Karpowitz2012,
title = {Gender Inequality in Deliberative Participation},
author = {Christopher F. Karpowitz and Tali Mendelberg and Lee Shaker},
url = {http://ckarpowitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Karpowitz-Mendelberg-and-Shaker_APSR.pdf},
doi = {10.1017/S0003055412000329},
year = {2012},
date = {2012-08-09},
journal = {The American Political Science Review},
volume = {106},
number = {3},
pages = {533-547},
abstract = {Can men and women have equal levels of voice and authority in deliberation or does deliberation exacerbate gender inequality? Does increasing women's descriptive representation in deliberation increase their voice and authority? We answer these questions and move beyond the debate by hypothesizing that the group's gender composition interacts with its decision rule to exacerbate or erase the inequalities. We test this hypothesis and various alternatives, using experimental data with many groups and links between individuals’ attitudes and speech. We find a substantial gender gap in voice and authority, but as hypothesized, it disappears under unanimous rule and few women, or under majority rule and many women. Deliberative design can avoid inequality by fitting institutional procedure to the social context of the situation.},
keywords = {decision rule, deliberation, experiments, gender},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Can men and women have equal levels of voice and authority in deliberation or does deliberation exacerbate gender inequality? Does increasing women's descriptive representation in deliberation increase their voice and authority? We answer these questions and move beyond the debate by hypothesizing that the group's gender composition interacts with its decision rule to exacerbate or erase the inequalities. We test this hypothesis and various alternatives, using experimental data with many groups and links between individuals’ attitudes and speech. We find a substantial gender gap in voice and authority, but as hypothesized, it disappears under unanimous rule and few women, or under majority rule and many women. Deliberative design can avoid inequality by fitting institutional procedure to the social context of the situation.
Butler, Daniel; Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Pope, Jeremy C.
A Field Experiment on Legislators' Home Styles: Service versus Policy Journal Article
In: The Journal of Politics, vol. 74, no. 2, pp. 474-486, 2012.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Congress, experiments, home style, representation
@article{Butler2012,
title = {A Field Experiment on Legislators' Home Styles: Service versus Policy},
author = {Daniel Butler and Christopher F. Karpowitz and Jeremy C. Pope},
url = {http://ckarpowitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/ButlerKarpowitzPope_JOP.pdf
http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/suppl/10.1017/S0022381611001708/suppl_file/sup001.doc},
doi = {10.1017/S0022381611001708},
year = {2012},
date = {2012-04-15},
journal = {The Journal of Politics},
volume = {74},
number = {2},
pages = {474-486},
abstract = {We conducted a field experiment involving roughly 1,000 letters sent by actual individuals to nearly 500 different legislative offices in order to test whether legislative offices prioritize service over policy in their home style. We find strong evidence that both state and federal legislative offices are more responsive to service requests than they are to policy requests. This pattern is consistent with the desire of legislators to gain leeway with their constituents in order to pursue their own policy goals. We also find that at the federal level Democrats prioritize service over policy more than Republicans and at the state level legislators who won by larger margins are more likely to prioritize service over policy. Finally, our results suggest that the decision to prioritize service occurs in how the office is structured. Among other things this suggests that legislators may be microtargeting less than is often supposed.},
keywords = {Congress, experiments, home style, representation},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
We conducted a field experiment involving roughly 1,000 letters sent by actual individuals to nearly 500 different legislative offices in order to test whether legislative offices prioritize service over policy in their home style. We find strong evidence that both state and federal legislative offices are more responsive to service requests than they are to policy requests. This pattern is consistent with the desire of legislators to gain leeway with their constituents in order to pursue their own policy goals. We also find that at the federal level Democrats prioritize service over policy more than Republicans and at the state level legislators who won by larger margins are more likely to prioritize service over policy. Finally, our results suggest that the decision to prioritize service occurs in how the office is structured. Among other things this suggests that legislators may be microtargeting less than is often supposed.
2011
Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Monson, J. Quin; Nielson, Lindsay; Patterson, Kelly D.
Political Norms and the Private Act of Voting Journal Article
In: Public Opinion Quarterly, vol. 75, no. 4, pp. 659-685, 2011.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: experiments, political norms, privacy, voting
@article{Karpowitz2011b,
title = {Political Norms and the Private Act of Voting},
author = {Christopher F. Karpowitz and J. Quin Monson and Lindsay Nielson and Kelly D. Patterson},
url = {http://ckarpowitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Karpowitzetal_POQ.pdf},
doi = {10.1093/poq/nfr024},
year = {2011},
date = {2011-10-19},
journal = {Public Opinion Quarterly},
volume = {75},
number = {4},
pages = {659-685},
abstract = {Research spurred by the widespread adoption of new voting technology has largely neglected the issue of privacy. Using data from a field experiment, we find that a treatment intended to increase a sense of privacy is able to alter poll-worker and voter behavior, but has little direct effect on voter attitudes. More importantly, we find that concern about privacy is concentrated among an identifiable group: those who go against their community's descriptive political norm or majority. This “political minority” is more sensitive to issues of privacy and harder to reassure that voting conditions will safeguard the confidentiality of their choices. Data from the 2008 Cooperative Congressional Election Study confirm that privacy is a concern for voters nationwide who feel out of step with their locality's political majority.},
keywords = {experiments, political norms, privacy, voting},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Research spurred by the widespread adoption of new voting technology has largely neglected the issue of privacy. Using data from a field experiment, we find that a treatment intended to increase a sense of privacy is able to alter poll-worker and voter behavior, but has little direct effect on voter attitudes. More importantly, we find that concern about privacy is concentrated among an identifiable group: those who go against their community's descriptive political norm or majority. This “political minority” is more sensitive to issues of privacy and harder to reassure that voting conditions will safeguard the confidentiality of their choices. Data from the 2008 Cooperative Congressional Election Study confirm that privacy is a concern for voters nationwide who feel out of step with their locality's political majority.
Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Mendelberg, Tali
An Experimental Approach to Citizen Deliberation Book Chapter
In: Druckman, James N.; Green, Donald P.; Kuklinski, James H.; Lupia, Arthur (Ed.): The Cambridge Handbook of Experimental Political Science, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2011, ISBN: 9780521174558, (The book won the Robert E. Lane Award for the best book published in political psychology in 2011, Political Psychology Section, American Political Science Association and the Best Book Award for best book published in 2011 that either uses or is about experimental research methods, Experimental Research Section, APSA.).
Links | BibTeX | Tags: deliberation, democracy, experiments, small groups
@inbook{Karpowitz2011,
title = {An Experimental Approach to Citizen Deliberation},
author = {Christopher F. Karpowitz and Tali Mendelberg},
editor = {James N. Druckman and Donald P. Green and James H. Kuklinski and Arthur Lupia},
url = {http://www.cambridge.org/us/academic/subjects/politics-international-relations/research-methods-politics/cambridge-handbook-experimental-political-science?format=PB&isbn=9780521174558#jeSc2CW0jTX45Lv4.97},
isbn = {9780521174558},
year = {2011},
date = {2011-06-01},
booktitle = {The Cambridge Handbook of Experimental Political Science},
publisher = {Cambridge University Press},
address = {New York},
note = {The book won the Robert E. Lane Award for the best book published in political psychology in 2011, Political Psychology Section, American Political Science Association and the Best Book Award for best book published in 2011 that either uses or is about experimental research methods, Experimental Research Section, APSA.},
keywords = {deliberation, democracy, experiments, small groups},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inbook}
}
Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Monson, J. Quin; Patterson, Kelly D.; Pope, Jeremy C.
Tea Time in America? The Impact of the Tea Party Movement on the 2010 Midterm Elections Journal Article
In: PS: Political Science and Politics, vol. 44, no. 2, pp. 303-309, 2011.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: elections, representation, social movements, Tea Party, voting
@article{Karpowitz2011b,
title = {Tea Time in America? The Impact of the Tea Party Movement on the 2010 Midterm Elections},
author = {Christopher F. Karpowitz and J. Quin Monson and Kelly D. Patterson and Jeremy C. Pope},
url = {http://ckarpowitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Karpowitz-et-al-Tea-Time-PS.pdf},
doi = {10.1017/S1049096511000138},
year = {2011},
date = {2011-04-15},
journal = {PS: Political Science and Politics},
volume = {44},
number = {2},
pages = {303-309},
abstract = {By winning the presidency and strengthening its majority in both chambers of Congress, the 2008 election gave control of the government to the Democratic Party. However, as the 2010 election season unfolded, the news for the Democratic Party could not have been much worse. Economic conditions had not improved dramatically. A bitter and lengthy fight over health care reform signaled to citizens that little had changed in how Washington, DC, governed. The stimulus package and its impact on the federal debt caused unease in a segment of the electorate that was concerned with the size of government. In this context, observers of American politics began to take note of the number of citizens affiliating with, or at least expressing favorability toward, a loose coalition of groups known as the Tea Party movement. Tea Party rallies began to occur throughout the United States, seeking to draw attention to the movement's primary issues.
},
keywords = {elections, representation, social movements, Tea Party, voting},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
By winning the presidency and strengthening its majority in both chambers of Congress, the 2008 election gave control of the government to the Democratic Party. However, as the 2010 election season unfolded, the news for the Democratic Party could not have been much worse. Economic conditions had not improved dramatically. A bitter and lengthy fight over health care reform signaled to citizens that little had changed in how Washington, DC, governed. The stimulus package and its impact on the federal debt caused unease in a segment of the electorate that was concerned with the size of government. In this context, observers of American politics began to take note of the number of citizens affiliating with, or at least expressing favorability toward, a loose coalition of groups known as the Tea Party movement. Tea Party rallies began to occur throughout the United States, seeking to draw attention to the movement's primary issues.
2009
Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Raphael, Chad; Allen S. Hammond, IV
Deliberative Democracy and Inequality: Two Cheers for Enclave Deliberation among the Disempowered Journal Article
In: Politics & Society, vol. 37, no. 4, pp. 576-615, 2009.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: deliberation, enclaves, small groups
@article{Karpowitz2009b,
title = {Deliberative Democracy and Inequality: Two Cheers for Enclave Deliberation among the Disempowered},
author = {Christopher F. Karpowitz and Chad Raphael and Allen S. Hammond, IV},
url = {http://ckarpowitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Karpowitz-Raphael-Hammond_Politics-and-Society.pdf},
doi = {10.1177/0032329209349226},
year = {2009},
date = {2009-12-01},
journal = {Politics & Society},
volume = {37},
number = {4},
pages = {576-615},
abstract = {Deliberative democracy grounds its legitimacy largely in the ability of speakers to participate on equal terms. Yet theorists and practitioners have struggled with how to establish deliberative equality in the face of stark differences of power in liberal democracies. Designers of innovative civic forums for deliberation often aim to neutralize inequities among participants through proportional inclusion of disempowered speakers and discourses. In contrast, others argue that democratic equality is best achieved when disempowered groups deliberate in their own enclaves (interest groups, parties, and movements) before entering the broader public sphere. Borrowing from each perspective, the authors argue that there are strong reasons to incorporate enclave deliberation among the disempowered within civic forums. They support this claim by presenting case study evidence showing that participants in such forums can gain some of the same benefits of deliberation found in more heterogeneous groups (e.g., political knowledge, efficacy and trust), can consider a diversity of viewpoints rather than falling into groupthink and polarization, and can persuade external stakeholders of the legitimacy of the group’s deliberations.},
keywords = {deliberation, enclaves, small groups},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Deliberative democracy grounds its legitimacy largely in the ability of speakers to participate on equal terms. Yet theorists and practitioners have struggled with how to establish deliberative equality in the face of stark differences of power in liberal democracies. Designers of innovative civic forums for deliberation often aim to neutralize inequities among participants through proportional inclusion of disempowered speakers and discourses. In contrast, others argue that democratic equality is best achieved when disempowered groups deliberate in their own enclaves (interest groups, parties, and movements) before entering the broader public sphere. Borrowing from each perspective, the authors argue that there are strong reasons to incorporate enclave deliberation among the disempowered within civic forums. They support this claim by presenting case study evidence showing that participants in such forums can gain some of the same benefits of deliberation found in more heterogeneous groups (e.g., political knowledge, efficacy and trust), can consider a diversity of viewpoints rather than falling into groupthink and polarization, and can persuade external stakeholders of the legitimacy of the group’s deliberations.
Karpowitz, Christopher F.
What Can a President Learn from the Mass Media? The Instructive Case of Richard Nixon Journal Article
In: The British Journal of Political Science, vol. 39, no. 4, pp. 755-780, 2009.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: mass media, political communication, presidency
@article{Karpowitz2009,
title = {What Can a President Learn from the Mass Media? The Instructive Case of Richard Nixon},
author = {Christopher F. Karpowitz},
url = {http://ckarpowitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Karpowitz_BJPS2009.pdf},
doi = {10.1017/S0007123409990135},
year = {2009},
date = {2009-10-15},
journal = {The British Journal of Political Science},
volume = {39},
number = {4},
pages = {755-780},
abstract = {This study examines the media diet of Richard Nixon, whose exposure to the news consisted almost entirely of a White House-produced daily news summary. Nixon staffers repeatedly asserted that the summary was the most effective way to give the president a comprehensive, objective account of the previous day’s reporting. While the summaries covered a wide range of media sources, analysis of the framing and filtering done by the White House raises doubts about the assertion that summaries were an effective substitute for first-hand consumption of the news. Nixon’s handwritten marginal notes reveal that the summaries provoked reactions in the president that had important implications for his conduct of the presidency.},
keywords = {mass media, political communication, presidency},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This study examines the media diet of Richard Nixon, whose exposure to the news consisted almost entirely of a White House-produced daily news summary. Nixon staffers repeatedly asserted that the summary was the most effective way to give the president a comprehensive, objective account of the previous day’s reporting. While the summaries covered a wide range of media sources, analysis of the framing and filtering done by the White House raises doubts about the assertion that summaries were an effective substitute for first-hand consumption of the news. Nixon’s handwritten marginal notes reveal that the summaries provoked reactions in the president that had important implications for his conduct of the presidency.
2007
Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Mendelberg, Tali
Groups and Deliberation Journal Article
In: Swiss Political Science Review, vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 645-622, 2007.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: deliberation, small groups
@article{Karpowitz2007,
title = {Groups and Deliberation},
author = {Christopher F. Karpowitz and Tali Mendelberg},
url = {http://ckarpowitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Karpowitz-and-Mendelberg-Swiss-Political-Science-Review.pdf},
doi = {10.1002/j.1662-6370.2007.tb00092.x},
year = {2007},
date = {2007-11-15},
journal = {Swiss Political Science Review},
volume = {13},
number = {4},
pages = {645-622},
abstract = {We present a group-based approach to the study of deliberation. Deliberation occurs in groups, yet many studies of deliberation do not take the group as a unit of analysis. We argue that group composition and the attendant social dynamics to which they give rise are an important aspect of deliberation. We offer several examples of ways to study these effects, including the interaction of gender composition and the group's decision rule in the context of an experimental study of decisions about justice, the effect of racial composition in simulated juries, and the effect of ideological composition in local meetings. We examine the consequences of these factors on a variety of outcomes, including individuals' private opinion, individuals' behaviour, and group decisions. In conclusion we discuss the implications that group effects have for empirical and normative theories of deliberation.},
keywords = {deliberation, small groups},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
We present a group-based approach to the study of deliberation. Deliberation occurs in groups, yet many studies of deliberation do not take the group as a unit of analysis. We argue that group composition and the attendant social dynamics to which they give rise are an important aspect of deliberation. We offer several examples of ways to study these effects, including the interaction of gender composition and the group's decision rule in the context of an experimental study of decisions about justice, the effect of racial composition in simulated juries, and the effect of ideological composition in local meetings. We examine the consequences of these factors on a variety of outcomes, including individuals' private opinion, individuals' behaviour, and group decisions. In conclusion we discuss the implications that group effects have for empirical and normative theories of deliberation.
Crowe, Justine; Karpowitz, Christopher F.
Where Have You Gone, Sherman Minton? The Decline of the Short-Term Supreme Court Justice Journal Article
In: Perspectives on Politics, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 425-445, 2007.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: democracy, retirement, Supreme Court
@article{Crowe2007,
title = {Where Have You Gone, Sherman Minton? The Decline of the Short-Term Supreme Court Justice},
author = {Justine Crowe and Christopher F. Karpowitz},
url = {http://ckarpowitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Crowe-and-Karpowitz-Perspectives-Article.pdf},
doi = {10.1017/S1537592707071472},
year = {2007},
date = {2007-09-01},
journal = {Perspectives on Politics},
volume = {5},
number = {3},
pages = {425-445},
abstract = {Against the backdrop of a decade-long wait for a Supreme Court vacancy, legal academics from across the political spectrum have recently proposed or supported significant constitutional or statutory reforms designed to limit the terms of Supreme Court justices and increase the pace of turnover at the Court. Fearing a Court that is increasingly out of touch with the national mood and staffed by justices of advanced age, advocates of term and age limits contend that the trend in Supreme Court tenures is inexorably upward. But are Supreme Court justices really serving longer now than in the past? If so, why? And what might such trends mean for American constitutional democracy? In a debate otherwise dominated by law professors—and largely without careful empirical analysis—we place the issue of judicial tenure in historical perspective, with special attention to the institutional development of the Court, the changing politics of the appointments process and the types of individuals who emerge from it, and to a lesser extent, broader socio-demographic trends in technology and medicine. In the process, we show how proponents of reforms designed to end life tenure have ignored a significant factor influencing patterns in judicial service: the decline of the “short-term” justice. Trends in judicial tenure, we argue, cannot be explained by more justices serving unusually long terms; rather, they are driven at least in part by the fact that fewer justices are serving relatively short terms. In this article, we consider why justices have retired after only short service throughout much of history, why they rarely do so today, the conditions under which future justices might be compelled to serve shorter terms, and the democratic gains and losses associated with short-term service on the Court. In sum, by following the rise and fall of the short-term justice over the course of American political development, we offer a new perspective, grounded in political science, on an issue currently occupying the attention of lawyers, journalists, and policymakers alike.},
keywords = {democracy, retirement, Supreme Court},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Against the backdrop of a decade-long wait for a Supreme Court vacancy, legal academics from across the political spectrum have recently proposed or supported significant constitutional or statutory reforms designed to limit the terms of Supreme Court justices and increase the pace of turnover at the Court. Fearing a Court that is increasingly out of touch with the national mood and staffed by justices of advanced age, advocates of term and age limits contend that the trend in Supreme Court tenures is inexorably upward. But are Supreme Court justices really serving longer now than in the past? If so, why? And what might such trends mean for American constitutional democracy? In a debate otherwise dominated by law professors—and largely without careful empirical analysis—we place the issue of judicial tenure in historical perspective, with special attention to the institutional development of the Court, the changing politics of the appointments process and the types of individuals who emerge from it, and to a lesser extent, broader socio-demographic trends in technology and medicine. In the process, we show how proponents of reforms designed to end life tenure have ignored a significant factor influencing patterns in judicial service: the decline of the “short-term” justice. Trends in judicial tenure, we argue, cannot be explained by more justices serving unusually long terms; rather, they are driven at least in part by the fact that fewer justices are serving relatively short terms. In this article, we consider why justices have retired after only short service throughout much of history, why they rarely do so today, the conditions under which future justices might be compelled to serve shorter terms, and the democratic gains and losses associated with short-term service on the Court. In sum, by following the rise and fall of the short-term justice over the course of American political development, we offer a new perspective, grounded in political science, on an issue currently occupying the attention of lawyers, journalists, and policymakers alike.
Mendelberg, Tali; Karpowitz, Christopher F.
Deliberating about Justice Book Chapter
In: Rosenberg, Shawn (Ed.): Deliberation, Participation, and Democracy: Can the People Govern?, Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2007, ISBN: 978-0-230-59108-0.
Links | BibTeX | Tags: deliberation, democracy, small groups
@inbook{Mendelberg2007,
title = {Deliberating about Justice},
author = {Tali Mendelberg and Christopher F. Karpowitz},
editor = {Shawn Rosenberg},
url = {http://ckarpowitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Mendelberg-and-Karpowitz_Rosenberg-Volume.pdf
http://www.palgrave.com/us/book/9780230517356},
isbn = {978-0-230-59108-0},
year = {2007},
date = {2007-06-01},
booktitle = {Deliberation, Participation, and Democracy: Can the People Govern?},
publisher = {Palgrave Macmillan},
address = {New York},
keywords = {deliberation, democracy, small groups},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inbook}
}
2006
Macedo, Stephen; Karpowitz, Christopher F.
The Local Roots of American Inequality Journal Article
In: PS: Political Science and Politics, vol. 39, no. 1, pp. 59-64, 2006.
Links | BibTeX | Tags: democracy, local politics
@article{Macedo2006,
title = {The Local Roots of American Inequality},
author = {Stephen Macedo and Christopher F. Karpowitz },
url = {http://ckarpowitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/PSJan06MacedoKarpowitz.pdf},
doi = {10.1017/S1049096506060094},
year = {2006},
date = {2006-01-15},
journal = {PS: Political Science and Politics},
volume = {39},
number = {1},
pages = {59-64},
keywords = {democracy, local politics},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
2005
Macedo, Stephen; Alex-Assensoh, Yvette; Berry, Jeffrey M.; Brintnall, Michael; Campbell, David E.; Fraga, Luis Ricardo; Fung, Archon; Galston, William A.; Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Levi, Margaret; Levinson, Meira; Lipsitz, Keena; Niemi, Richard G.; Putnam, Robert D.; Rahn, Wendy M.; Reich, Rob; Rodgers, Robert R.; Swanstrom, Todd; Walsh, Katherine Cramer
Democracy at Risk: How Political Choices Undermine Citizen Participation and What We Can Do About It Book
Brookings Institution Press, Washington, DC, 2005, ISBN: 9780815754046.
Links | BibTeX | Tags: civic engagement, democracy, political participation
@book{Macedo2005,
title = {Democracy at Risk: How Political Choices Undermine Citizen Participation and What We Can Do About It},
author = {Stephen Macedo and Yvette Alex-Assensoh and Jeffrey M. Berry and Michael Brintnall and David E. Campbell and Luis Ricardo Fraga and Archon Fung and William A. Galston and Christopher F. Karpowitz and Margaret Levi and Meira Levinson and Keena Lipsitz and Richard G. Niemi and Robert D. Putnam and Wendy M. Rahn and Rob Reich and Robert R. Rodgers and Todd Swanstrom and Katherine Cramer Walsh },
url = {https://www.brookings.edu/book/democracy-at-risk/},
isbn = {9780815754046},
year = {2005},
date = {2005-08-25},
booktitle = {Democracy at Risk: How Political Choices Undermine Citizen Participation, and What We Can Do About It},
publisher = {Brookings Institution Press},
address = {Washington, DC},
keywords = {civic engagement, democracy, political participation},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {book}
}
Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Mansbridge, Jane J.
Disagreement and Consensus: The Importance of Dynamic Updating in Public Deliberation Book Chapter
In: Gastil, John; Levine, Peter (Ed.): The Deliberative Democracy Handbook, pp. 237-253, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, 2005, ISBN: 978-1-118-10510-8.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: case study, deliberation, disagreement, dynamic updating
@inbook{Karpowitz2005,
title = {Disagreement and Consensus: The Importance of Dynamic Updating in Public Deliberation},
author = {Christopher F. Karpowitz and Jane J. Mansbridge},
editor = {John Gastil and Peter Levine},
isbn = {978-1-118-10510-8},
year = {2005},
date = {2005-07-01},
booktitle = {The Deliberative Democracy Handbook},
pages = {237-253},
publisher = {Jossey-Bass},
address = {San Francisco},
abstract = {In the case described here, an expensive and elaborate deliberative reform aimed at producing community consensus in fact eclipsed issues that then emerged in a comparatively adversarial public hearing. To avoid this kind of failure and to capture possible enduring conflicts in interest and perspective, effective deliberation should interactively combine the two features of forging new interests and discovering existing ones. The resulting process of dynamic updating in deliberation incorporates the evolution of both conflicting and common interests.},
keywords = {case study, deliberation, disagreement, dynamic updating},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inbook}
}
In the case described here, an expensive and elaborate deliberative reform aimed at producing community consensus in fact eclipsed issues that then emerged in a comparatively adversarial public hearing. To avoid this kind of failure and to capture possible enduring conflicts in interest and perspective, effective deliberation should interactively combine the two features of forging new interests and discovering existing ones. The resulting process of dynamic updating in deliberation incorporates the evolution of both conflicting and common interests.
Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Mansbridge, Jane J.
Disagreement and Consensus: The Need for Dynamic Updating in Public Deliberation Journal Article
In: Journal of Public Deliberation, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. Article 2, 2005.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: case study, deliberation, democracy
@article{Karpowitz2005b,
title = {Disagreement and Consensus: The Need for Dynamic Updating in Public Deliberation},
author = {Christopher F. Karpowitz and Jane J. Mansbridge},
url = { http://www.publicdeliberation.net/jpd/vol1/iss1/art2},
year = {2005},
date = {2005-03-01},
journal = {Journal of Public Deliberation},
volume = {1},
number = {1},
pages = {Article 2},
abstract = {This analysis compares a consensus-oriented procedure, Princeton Future, with a more adversarial procedure, the public meetings of the Princeton, N.J. borough council, organized as public hearings. It finds that the consensus-oriented procedure failed to pick up significant conflicting interests among the citizens and as a consequence failed to provide venues for discussing and possibly negotiating those interests. It advises that deliberative democratic procedures provide for dynamic updating on the underlying and changing interest structure before and during deliberation, with particular attention to the important lines of conflict. Thus facilitators should help participants in deliberation not only forge common interests but also clarify their conflicting interests.},
keywords = {case study, deliberation, democracy},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This analysis compares a consensus-oriented procedure, Princeton Future, with a more adversarial procedure, the public meetings of the Princeton, N.J. borough council, organized as public hearings. It finds that the consensus-oriented procedure failed to pick up significant conflicting interests among the citizens and as a consequence failed to provide venues for discussing and possibly negotiating those interests. It advises that deliberative democratic procedures provide for dynamic updating on the underlying and changing interest structure before and during deliberation, with particular attention to the important lines of conflict. Thus facilitators should help participants in deliberation not only forge common interests but also clarify their conflicting interests.
0000
Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Pope, Jeremy C.
Reconsidering Parties and Partisanship Book Forthcoming
University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, MI, Forthcoming.
BibTeX | Tags:
@book{nokey,
title = {Reconsidering Parties and Partisanship},
author = {Christopher F. Karpowitz and Jeremy C. Pope},
editor = {Forthcoming},
publisher = {University of Michigan Press},
address = {Ann Arbor, MI},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {forthcoming},
tppubtype = {book}
}
Busby, Ethan; Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Cara Wong,
The Handbook of Innovations in Political Psychology Book Forthcoming
Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, UK, Forthcoming.
BibTeX | Tags:
@book{nokey,
title = {The Handbook of Innovations in Political Psychology},
author = {Ethan Busby and Christopher F. Karpowitz and Cara Wong,},
editor = {Under contract},
publisher = {Edward Elgar Publishing},
address = {Cheltenham, UK},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {forthcoming},
tppubtype = {book}
}
Elder, Elizabeth Mitchell; Karpowitz, Christopher F.; Mendelberg, Tali
Race, Voice, and Authority in Group Discussion Journal Article Forthcoming
In: Perspectives on Politics, Forthcoming.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: deliberation, descriptive representation, experiments, race, small groups
@article{ElderKarpowitzMendelberg2024,
title = {Race, Voice, and Authority in Group Discussion},
author = { Elizabeth Mitchell Elder and Christopher F. Karpowitz and Tali Mendelberg},
journal = {Perspectives on Politics},
abstract = {Few studies examine how often people of color voice their views or shape the discussion in civic or political decision-making groups. Existing studies do not link participants' private preferences to what they say, and lack data on racial inequalities in individuals' public speech. We analyze a large sample of citizens randomized to groups tasked with deciding on punishment for corporate malfeasance, an issue of consequence for communities of color. We develop systematic measures of racial inequality in voice and uptake during discussion. We find that members of color speak less and are less likely to mention their own preferences. These effects are not explained by racial differences in preferences or by being the lone racial minority. Race also shapes the uptake of preferences during discussion. A seat at the table does not suffice for equal voice.},
keywords = {deliberation, descriptive representation, experiments, race, small groups},
pubstate = {forthcoming},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Few studies examine how often people of color voice their views or shape the discussion in civic or political decision-making groups. Existing studies do not link participants' private preferences to what they say, and lack data on racial inequalities in individuals' public speech. We analyze a large sample of citizens randomized to groups tasked with deciding on punishment for corporate malfeasance, an issue of consequence for communities of color. We develop systematic measures of racial inequality in voice and uptake during discussion. We find that members of color speak less and are less likely to mention their own preferences. These effects are not explained by racial differences in preferences or by being the lone racial minority. Race also shapes the uptake of preferences during discussion. A seat at the table does not suffice for equal voice.
