ABSTRACT

We review the influence of voting advice applications (VAAs) on three core outcomes: turnout, vote choice, and issue knowledge. In a meta-analysis of 55 effects reported in 22 studies, comprising 73,673 participants in 9 countries, we find strong evidence for positive effects of VAA usage on reported turnout (OR = 1.87; 95% CI = [1.50, 2.33]) and vote choice (OR = 1.44; 95% CI = [1.16, 1.78]) as well as modest evidence on knowledge increase (partial correlation = 0.09; 95% CI = [−0.01, 0.18]). At the same time, we observe large heterogeneity in effect sizes, for which study design turns out to be a key driver. Effects are substantively weaker in causally more rigorous experimental studies. We highlight the need for more well-powered experimental research as well as studies focusing on the acquisition of knowledge in VAA usage.

摘要

我们回顾了投票建议应用程序 (VAA) 对三个核心结果的影响：投票率、投票选择和问题知识。在 22 项研究中报告的 55 项影响的荟萃分析中，包括 9 个国家的 73,673 名参与者，我们发现强有力的证据表明 VAA 的使用对报告的投票率（OR = 1.87；95% CI = [1.50, 2.33]）和投票有积极影响选择（OR = 1.44；95% CI = [1.16, 1.78]）以及知识增加的适度证据（偏相关 = 0.09；95% CI = [-0.01, 0.18]）。与此同时，我们观察到效应量的巨大异质性，研究设计被证明是一个关键驱动因素。在因果关系更严格的实验研究中，影响实质上较弱。我们强调需要更有力的实验研究以及专注于获取 VAA 使用知识的研究。