Leiden University Student Repository

Lemmens, N.E. (2012)

Resistance is futile? The contribution of political knowledge, political beliefs and message intensity on changes in public opinion

Master thesis | Political Science (MSc)

This thesis tests the RAS model created by John Zaller. By using the Dutch Parliamentary Election Study from 1998 to 2003, the observed change in public opinion of Dutch voters towards non western immigrants is tested. Results include the inability to explain the changes in public opinion according to the RAS model. However, key variables such as political knowledge and political predispositions prove to be significant explanatory variables in this case.

public

opinion

RAS

resistance

acceptance

sampling

change

Author

Lemmens, N.E.

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

Political Communication and Behavior

Supervisors

Meffert, M.F.
Holsteijn, J.J.M.

ECTS Credits

20

Language

en