Doctoral Dissertation Research in Political Science: The Causes, Consequences, and Measurement of Perceived Political Control

控制感（POC）是社会心理学的一个概念，是个体对自己能够控制世界某些方面的感觉或信念。 这个项目研究了一个理论，即一个人对政治世界的感知控制水平（例如，选举结果和政府政策）是决定其公民参与和政治参与水平的关键因素。本项目侧重于四个主要研究目标。 首先，它为研究界提供了一种在公民调查中测量POC的准确方法。 其次，它表明POC结构既不同于又优于政治科学文献中的现有措施（例如，政治效能）。 第三，它提供了数据来测试来自POC理论的假设。 第四，该项目为科学界提供了一种方法，通过使用计算机化的心理测试技术，以一种具有成本效益的方式测量POC。对POC的研究很重要，因为具有高POC的公民更有可能履行"好公民"的角色。“具有较高POC的个人理论上应该更加关注政治，并寻求机会告知自己，与他人合作，在公共领域倡导他们的信仰，并通过投票或写信给当选官员等行为积极参与民主。 相比之下，那些认为自己无法控制政治结果的人更有可能被疏远、疏远、不感兴趣和不参与。 因此，通过更好地了解POC以及我们如何在公民中鼓励它，该项目旨在为设计课程，志愿服务项目和旨在促进公民参与和良好公民行为的其他干预措施提供基础。

The perception of control (POC), a concept from social psychology, is a feeling or belief that individuals have about how much they can control some aspects of the world. This project examines the theory that an individual's level of perceived control over the political world (e.g., election outcomes and government policy) is a critical factor in determining his or her level of civic engagement and political participation.This project focuses on four primary research goals. First, it provides the research community with an accurate way to measure POC in citizen surveys. Second, it demonstrates that the POC construct is both distinct from and superior to existing measures in the political science literature (e.g., political efficacy). Third, it provides data to test hypotheses derived from the POC theory. Fourth, the project provides the scientific community with the methodology to measure POC in a cost-effective way through the use of computerized psychological testing techniques.Research on POC is important, because citizens with high POC are more likely to fulfill the role of the "good citizen." Individuals with higher POC should theoretically pay more attention to politics and seek out opportunities to inform themselves, to work with others to advocate their beliefs in the public sphere, and to be active participants in democracy through acts like voting or writing letters to elected officials. By contrast, individuals who perceive that they have no control over political outcomes are more likely to be alienated, detached, uninterested, and uninvolved. Thus, by providing a better understanding of POC and how we might encourage it in citizens, this project aims to provide a basis for designing curricula, volunteerism projects, and other interventions designed to foster civic engagement and good citizenship practices.