Getting Older, Getting Wiser? The Impact of Aging on Candidate Evaluation

摘要: Domain-specific measures, such as political ideology and sophistication, have been used in models of how citizens evaluate candidates for office. Non-domain-specific factors, age, may additional explanatory power evaluations affect the type information processing strategies employed by citizens. Specifically, use person- issue-based evaluation be affected cognitive structure aging, including acquisition person impression skills resources. We test this hypothesis using Pooled Senate Election Study (1988–92) 1974 American National Study. The analysis reveals that younger base their mostly on criteria, but age they add person-based criteria to evaluations. Implications decision-making are discussed.