FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS: Rebecca Keister, 401-456-4679, rkeister@ric.edu; Laura Hart, 401-456-8977, lhart@ric.edu
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Focus group research conducted by the American Democracy Project (ADP) at RIC shows that R.I. voters are not confident their next governor will improve the state’s economic outlook.
RIC’s ADP asked Rhode Island voters to participate in a post-gubernatorial debate focus group session on Oct. 30. The groups included a millennial focus group, comprised of the state’s youngest voters to determine how their responses to candidate performance differed from other voter groups.
Audience feedback about the 2014 gubernatorial race included:
· A majority of citizens feel a sense of cynicism about candidates and the campaign process.
· Citizens will vote for their favored candidate, but are skeptical about the new governor’s ability to increase the availability of jobs in Rhode Island or improve the state’s economic outlook.
· Voters look for wisdom, innovation, compassion and honesty in their governor, but they do not see those qualities demonstrated in any 2014 gubernatorial candidate.
· Citizens feel a sense of fatigue about the gubernatorial campaign.
Audience feedback about the Oct. 30 debate included:
· Millennials felt that candidates Gina Raimondo and Allan Fung lacked transparency in their answers and said that, as a result, they find it more difficult to trust either candidate.
· Several participants stated the debate left them unsettled.
· Nearly every participant agreed that the candidates failed to add anything new to discussion on the issues and resorted to scripted answers during the debate.
· Participants felt scripted responses during the debate blurred the voters’ decision-making process.
· Participants felt that candidate performances during the debate did not offer a clear sense of personal traits while off camera or a clear sense of how the candidates would govern.
“Unlike other focus groups ADP at RIC has conducted for past gubernatorial races, this year was unusual in that there was a consistent sense of pessimism about the entire political process, including faith in the candidates’ ability to improve the economy and effect positive change,” said Val Endress, associate professor of communication and director of the ADP at RIC.
Focus research was lead by Endress and Kay Israel, associate professor of communication and associate director of the ADP at RIC. The research team included nine undergraduate students who served as facilitators for the focus groups and helped to compile research results.
“Feelings of frustration seemed evident across the focus groups,” Israel said. “The participants’ candidate preference differed, but their cynicism was uniform across party lines.”
This research is part of a longitudinal, biennial study that began in 2004 and will conclude in 2016. Past post-debate research has helped shape the format of debates held in Rhode Island.
The ADP is an initiative of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities partnership with the New York Times to produce college graduates who are committed to being active, involved citizens.
Of the over 220 colleges and universities in the country with ADP programs, RIC is the only higher education institution in Rhode Island participating.
For more information on the ADP at RIC, visit http://www.ric.edu/adp/
