Political learning during the 2000 U.S. presidential election: The impact of the campaign on the gender gap in political knowledge

We examine how political campaigns influence individuals’ levels of correct, incorrect, and don’t know responses and the gender gap in political knowledge during the 2000 American presidential campaign. Using data from the 2000 National Annenberg Election Survey (NAES), we demonstrate that as the campaign progresses the electorate provides more correct answers and fewer incorrect answers. Moreover, the political campaign significantly reduces (and possibly eliminates) the direct effect of sex on political knowledge. While the political campaign decreases the number of incorrect answers provided by both men and women, the number of correct answers provided by women increases. Our findings highlight the importance of the political campaign in determining relative levels of political knowledge for men and women.

► We model levels of political knowledge over the course of the 2000 election.
► We differentiate correct, incorrect, and don't know responses to political knowledge items.
► Over the campaign individuals provide more correct answers and fewer incorrect answers.
► The political campaign reduces the direct effect of sex on political knowledge.
► Over the campaign the number of correct answers provided by women increases.