VOTER LEARNING IN THE 1992 PRESIDENTIAL-ELECTION - DID THE NONTRADITIONAL MEDIA AND DEBATES MATTER

This study is based on telephone interviews with a random sample of 50 4 adult Indiana residents from 21 October to 2 November 1992. Through hierarchical multiple regression analyses it seeks to test whether mor e exposure and attention to ''nontraditional'' news media (such as tel evision ''talk shows'' and the morning TV network shows) predicted mor e knowledge of the issue positions of the candidates, a greater likeli hood of voting, or more interest in the campaign. Statistical controls for demographics, traditional news media exposure and attention, and presidential debate exposure are introduced. This study also examines whether more exposure and attention to the traditional news media of r adio, television, and newspapers, as well as exposure to the televised presidential debates, is associated with more campaign interest and k nowledge after controlling for various demographics.