February 26 Study Questions

Introduction to Political Participation

 

 

What is the participation puzzle that Scholzman, Brady & Verba (SBV) are trying to explain?

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is SBV’s explanation for why Americans participate in voluntary activities?

 

 

 

 

 

 

What are the different kinds of motivations for participation?

 

 

 

 

 

 

What patterns do SBV identify in the relationship between motivation and type of participatory activity? What patterns exist in the relationship between the content and form of activism?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How could the Internet enhance or undercut the value of the types of participatory benefits identified by SBV?