Focusing our study

Hey all since we are trying to create 5 survey questions in terms of media effecting voter turn out we need to focus our survey either Internationally, Federally, or Locally. The topic can go in many directions so I think it is best to get a broad consensus on what we should focus on. A couple people have already suggested BC politics. I personally think this would be the best route as it would be pertinent to all of us. Once we have done this then we can start focusing our survey questions.

What do you guys think?

I'm pretty sure the survey is going to be given to BC residents (does anybody else remember hearing that?) so it would seem like BC politics would be the best bet, since that is what people are going to be most familiar with. That's my vote.

That's probably true, but I feel like the more local your political analysis becomes, the less people become interested. For example, I have no real interest in how the municipal race in Vancouver is going to turn out because its perceived to have a smaller effect on me, whether or not thats true. I do care, however, on how federal elections turn up, both in Canada and the US.

More people are going to be able to recognize Barack Obama and his policies over Gordon Campbell (HST, excluded here), simply because his power is much "sexier" and more appealing to the masses. Campbell has a MUCH higher effect on residents of BC, however.

Maybe we can ask a question on which political races individuals more closely follow. Personally, I believe that those preferences are strongly affected by the media... I think in terms of a correlation between independent variable: size of political race (in terms of number of eligible voters) and dependent variable: voter turnout in percentage, there will be a strong positive correlation...

I'm sure there are several reasons for this, but bottom line is CNN's national broadcast is not going to cover an issue that does not appeal to (in their opinion) ALL viewers.