Election study Ouder-Amstel, 1986

Two wave panel-survey before and during parliamentary elections of May 20, 1986 to study the effect of television debates by party leaders. Themes wave 1: left-right selfrating / left-right rating main political parties: PVDA, CDA, VVD, D'66 / characteristics of leaders of the parties / evaluation of party leaders / evaluation of cabinet policy regarding: unemployment, social security, economy, safety, nuclear plants, peace and security / personal financial situation, emancipation of women / evaluation of PVDA viewpoints on these matters / evaluation of four main parties. Wave 2: exposure to television debates / evaluation of performance of political leaders in final debate / cruise missiles / exposure to other massmedia information regarding the debate / influence of debate on voting or vote intention / nuclear plants at Dodewaard and Borssele / Tsjernobyl disaster / repeated measurement of evaluation of government policy, opposition viewpoints, party-leaders. Background variables: basic characteristics/ household characteristics/ occupation/employment/ education/ social class/ politics/ religion/ readership, mass media, and 'cultural' exposur