The Effect of Internet Use on Offline Political Participation: Based on an Analysis of Random Digit Dialing Telephone Survey

ZENG Fanbin

Chinese Journal of Journalism & Communication ›› 2015, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (11) : 125-144.

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PDF(1275 KB)
Chinese Journal of Journalism & Communication ›› 2015, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (11) : 125-144.

The Effect of Internet Use on Offline Political Participation: Based on an Analysis of Random Digit Dialing Telephone Survey

  • Zeng, Fanbin, an associate professor at the College of Journalism and Communication, Jinan University. His research interests include new media and media economics. E-mail: zengfanbin@vip.sina.com.
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Abstract

In recent years, political participation of Chinese citizens has gradually become a widespread concern and topic of studies for all scholars. This study examined the impact of Internet use, including time spent online and different types of internet use, on offline political participation. Based on an analysis of random digit dialing telephone survey of Internet users in Guangzhou (N = 518), it is found that time spent online has no effects on Internet users’ offline political participation. However, one of the types of internet use that express views on a variety of public things online is found to be a positive predictor on offline political participation even after controlled other variables. The result of this study showed that the effect of Internet use on political participation depended on a public sphere for political expression rather than a source of political information in China. This study also argued that when the internet is used as a communication medium and as one of entertainment tools, it had no relation with offline political participation. This study pointed out that the Internet would serve to activate those citizens who are already predisposed or interested in politics, but also give these citizens a public sphere for political expression in China.

Key words

Time spent online / different types of internet use / offline political participation / Uses and Gratifications

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ZENG Fanbin. The Effect of Internet Use on Offline Political Participation: Based on an Analysis of Random Digit Dialing Telephone Survey[J]. Chinese Journal of Journalism & Communication. 2015, 37(11): 125-144

Funding

This Project was financed by 2012 Humanities and Social Science Youth Foundation of the Ministry of Education of China(Grant Number: 12YJC860052); Grant Title "Effect of Time Spent Online and Patterns of internet use on Real-life Political Participation."
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