The Influence of Political Rumors on Undecided Voters in Elections

This report delves into the significant impact of political rumors on undecided voters during elections. It begins by defining political rumors and their manipulative nature, emphasizing their potential to sway voters, particularly those who are undecided. The study focuses on the role of social media and explores research questions to understand the spread and effects of misinformation. It examines how media outlets contribute to the dissemination of rumors and how quickly voters are influenced. The report investigates whether candidates can leverage rumors for political advantage, and whether negative campaigns can shift votes. Furthermore, it analyzes the reasons behind voters remaining undecided and explores strategies for handling political rumors, including the importance of positive campaigning and the overall impact of undecided voters on election outcomes. The research employs a series of interconnected research questions to thoroughly investigate the complexities of political rumors and their effects on the electoral process.

Running head: RESEARCH METHODS.
Research methods.
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

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RESEARCH METHODS.
Table of Contents
Introduction to the research topic:..............................................................................................2
Research questions.....................................................................................................................3
Correlation of the research question..........................................................................................5
Reviewing the research methods:...............................................................................................5
References..................................................................................................................................7

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RESEARCH METHODS.
Topic: How do political rumors effect undecided voters during elections?
Introduction to the research topic:
The rumors are generally the stories that are made up artificially from some kind of
unverified source. The rumors are created to circulate some amount of wrong information.
The word of mouth is the most important aspect in this case. The rumors are certain matters
that are related to the mouth of talk. Maximum rumors are spread by the mouth. According to
Allcott and Gentzkow (2017),there is a difference between the political rumor and normal
rumor. The matters that are related to the public importance are usually the components of
humor. The political rumors can be mentioned as powerful tools to manipulate the feelings of
the public. The aim of such rumor is to take the advantage of a political scenario. The
political rumors usually involve the unverified claims and statements that has no proof
(Diamond 2017). The objective of creating such rumors is to impact negatively in the election
process. This anticipates harmful consequences. The rumors majorly affects the undecided
voters. The voters who would intend to vote for the first time. The target of the political
rumor are those new voters who have not yet decided whom to vote. In this case the social
media plays a vital role. This particular study will analyze the issues that are usually related
to the political rumors. The study will further focus on the situations when the political
rumors will impact the voters who are undecided in case of manipulating their votes (Bennett
2016). The help of several research questions have been taken in order to make an extensive
study of the same. The research question will act as a guide to find out the answer to the
dilemma of circulating wrong information. The undecided voters are the treasures in election.
The chain of the new party can be increased with more amount of new voters. The rumor are
spread by one particular party about the other party to bring down the image of the party
(Bosco 2016). Therefore, this study serves as the opportunity to analyze the effects of rumors

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that has huge impact on the political outcomes in terms of voters that is given by the
undecided voters. In order to do so, it seeks the help of several examples like the latest
presidential poll that was held in USA. Donald Trump was helped to win the election. The
humor that was spread during that time was the intervention of the Russian government in the
election held in USA. Trump used it as a political hoax (Akey 2015).
Research questions
RQ 1 In what ways does the political rumors affect the undecided voters during election?
This question tries to act as a guide in understanding the uncertainties that occur
during the election. It also will help in comprehending the impact of the political rumors on
the voters who are left to decide whom they want to vote and whom they don’t want to vote.
There are innumerable circumstances that can be held responsible for the spread of the rumor.
It is however not certain whether the rumor can affect the common people or not. It might
affect the undecided voters and it might not affect them.
RQ 1.1 What role doe media play in spreading the political rumors?
This question is probably one of the most interesting question as it helps in
understanding the way media helps in spreading the rumor. This would explore the role of
media in spreading and rather highlighting a rumor. The media sometimes exaggerates the
news and they might have a negative impact on the voters who are unsure about their
decision of casting the vote. It will help to understand the importance of the medium that the
media use like specially the electronic media in spreading the political news.
RQ 1.2 How fast does the voters get affected by the rumors in a specific territory?
This is a “catch all” question. This is the source of all the questions. The periphery in
which the voters stay is greatly affected by the political rumor. The effect of the rumor is

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understood by this question. The aim of this question is to help in understanding the rate of
spread of a specific rumor. It specifies the fact whether the rumor affects the undecided voters
or the spread of it goes in vain.
RQ 1.3 Is it possible for a specific candidate to achieve the political advantage if he talks
against the rumor?
The logic behind this question is to understand the fact whether the candidates who
spread the news is having any political goals and is he able to achieve the same goal. This
question will enable to understand the necessity of public speaking regarding the rumors. It
will study the impact of the same on the voters.
RQ 1.4 Can the rumors shift away the desired votes that is expected from one particular
booth?
This question tries to realize the impact of the rumor on the new voters. This is
slightly broader as it tries to analyze the factors that have a huge impact on the voting
decisions. These factors are understood with the help of this question.
RQ 1.5 Can this negative effect really manipulates the votes to another end while the rumors
are left unaddressed for a longer period?
This research question intends to have a study whether the rumors really have a strong
effect on the voters. In this course the rumors are left unaddressed for a longer period of time.
It is not clear whether the political outcome of the rumor is accomplished or not. If it has a
political outcome it tries to do the same by manipulating the voters.
RQ 2 Can the rumor regarding the political issues be treated as an effective tool in order to
manipulate the undecided manipulators?
RQ 2.1 What is the reason for the voters to remain undecided in a specific area?

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RESEARCH METHODS.
This question explores the fact that would help to understand the chief reasons that
lies behind the undecided votes of the voters. The state of confusion will be helped to analyze
in this question. It is because of the confusion that the voters are unable to decide, whom they
want to vote.
RQ 2.2 how can the political humors be handled?
This research question is probably a concluding question that will help in realizing
the factors that can be adopted in order to resolve the issues related to political rumors.
RQ 2.3 How does the undecided voters really matters from a political point of view?
The importance of the undecided voters in the political arena in terms of election can
be well understood from this question. They have a huge impact on the results of the election.
RQ 2.4 Can the political rumors used as a weapon of media for the contestants in a political
scenario?
This research question has helped to address the use of the political rumors in
different context. The logic behind this question is to analyze the fact whether the political
rumors are able to achieve its goal.
RQ 2.5 Can a positive campaigning work better in the case of handling the political rumors?
From this particular question, the impact of the proper public speaking and the
scenario of the political campaign can be recognized. Asking this is to give a practical idea of
the scenario of the positive campaign.
Correlation of the research question
The previous paragraph includes the research questions that might be useful to
understand the aspects that are related to the political rumor. The questions are written in
relation to one another. For instance, RQ 1.2 and RQ 1.3 is related to one another. This two

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questions act as a strong persuasion from the end of the voter while they confront with a
political rumor. This would further help in understanding the tools that are used to initiate a
political rumor from the perspective of the electoral. On the other hand RQ 1.5 would include
the discussion about the addressing a political rumor from the political party’s perspective.
The range and the impact of the voters will can be analyzed through this. Apart from this this
might help in understanding the range of the undecided voters. RQ2.1 discusses the reason
that affects the voters remain confused and are unable to make a decision. This would enable
in identifying the root cause why the simple rumors can bring tremors in the undecided
voters. RQ 2.3 is striving to find out the facts that related to the undecided voters that will
collaborate the views comprehended from RQ 2.1. The other important question is the impact
of the positive campaigning and is it an effective one. The research questions helps to build to
identify the real factors that can affect the undecided voters and the impact of the same on the
election process. These research questions will enable the readers and the audience to
understand the factor of comprehending the topic in a better way.
Reviewing the research methods:
This is a common fact that the maximum amount of votes can make a particular party
win the election. Therefore it is extremely important to manipulate and influence the common
public to make them cast their vote for one particular party. The rumor acts as a catalyst to
the decision making factor of the undecided voters. During the election that was conducted in
USA the news of the Russian influence in the decision making process of the US government
made Donald Trump win the election. Trump won the election with the help of many electors
who have made their decision just a week before the election. However it can be mentioned
that the positive campaign have little effect on influencing the undecided voters. The people
of USA was afraid of the domination of the Russian government which was created in front
of them by the winning party itself. Therefore it can mentioned here that the rumors can be

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used as an effective tool for winning the votes from the undecided voters. Thus it can be
mentioned that through the particular research based question it can be understood that there
are ways that can be employed to influence the common public to win their votes. It not only
helps to understand the situation but it also helps to comprehend the topic.

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References
Akey, P., 2015. Valuing changes in political networks: Evidence from campaign
contributions to close congressional elections. The Review of Financial Studies, 28(11),
pp.3188-3223.
Allcott, H. and Gentzkow, M., 2017. Social media and fake news in the 2016
election. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 31(2), pp.211-36.
Bennett, W.L., 2016. News: The politics of illusion. University of Chicago Press.
Burton, M.J., Miller, W.J. and Shea, D.M., 2015. Campaign craft: the strategies, tactics, and
art of political campaign management: The strategies, tactics, and art of political campaign
management. ABC-CLIO.
Bosco, J., 2016. Taiwan factions: Guanxi, patronage, and the state in local politics. In The
Other Taiwan, 1945-92 (pp. 124-154). Routledge.
Diamond, L., 2017. Anatomy of an electoral earthquake: How the KMT lost and the DPP
won the 2000 presidential election. In Taiwan's Presidential Politics: Democratization and
Cross-Strait Relations in the Twenty-first Century (pp. 48-87). Routledge.