Computational Experiments in Candidate Evaluation and Vote Choice

本研究将行为决策理论和计算建模的研究和方法结合起来，探索投票过程理论。将调查数据与计算机模拟相结合，在所谓的计算实验中，研究者可以对候选人评估和选择的过程理论进行比较和评估。研究者利用该方法进行了五项实验研究，探讨了候选人评价过程中的重要问题，包括问题复杂性（候选人是否符合其立场或简单陈述）、信息顺序、陈述格式以及候选人特质推断对候选人评价的影响。这项独特的调查使我们对候选人评估和候选人选择中问题和特征的影响的理解在方法上取得了重大进展。

This research investigation brings together research and methods from behavioral decision theory and computational modeling to explore process theories of voting. Combining survey data with computer simulations, in what is called computational experiments, the investigators can compare and evaluate process theories of candidate evaluation and choice. The investigators undertake five experimenal studies using this method to investigate important isssues in the candidate evaluation process, including the impact of issue complexity (whether candidates qualify their positions or state them simply), information order, presentation format, and the affect of trait inferences of candidates on the evaluation of the candidates. This unique investigation allows significant methodological advances in our understanding of the affect of issue and trait in candidate evaluation and candidate selection.