Mobile media activity breadth and political engagement: an online resource perspective
by Jason A. Martin
International Journal of Mobile Communications (IJMC), Vol. 14, No. 1, 2016

Abstract: This study investigates online resource theory by focusing on mobile communication's role in political engagement. The effects of mobile media use on online political engagement are explored through a random-sample survey of how citizens used mobile devices during the 2012 US presidential election. Controls for demographics, political interest, and ideological strength provide context for understanding individual-level differences. Younger, better educated respondents who were more likely to be politically interested and self-described as possessing stronger political ideologies were more likely to engage with the election campaign through their mobile phones. Users' mobile media activity breadth produced the strongest positive association with online political engagement. Also, the interactive association of political interest and mobile media activity breadth reinforced political interest's influence on engagement. Findings support and extend literature on the positive but complicated role of mobile and digital technology in the deployment of online resources for political engagement.

Online publication date: Mon, 30-Nov-2015

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Mobile Communications (IJMC):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

    Username:        Password:         

Forgotten your password?


Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com