Dissecting frogs: The effect of humorous political advertisements on candidate evaluations

This dissertation examines the role of humor in political campaigns, with a primary focus on candidate evaluations. The use of humor by candidates in campaigns, though widespread in the political arena, has been largely ignored by mainstream political science. This neglect is unfortunate because of the importance that many candidates place on humor, to the extent of hiring professional comedy writers to help with speeches and spending precious advertising dollars on humorous commercials. Specifically, this research attempts, utilizing experimental methods, to determine if humor used in real political commercials helps increase or decrease positive judgments of candidates.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Political Science

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Marshall, Richard Henry

Contributors dc:contributor

• Kuklinski, James H.

• Business Administration, Marketing
• Political Science, General
• Mass Communications

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 1996 Marshall, Richard Henry

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

9780591088694
AAI9702599
(UMI)AAI9702599

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/20227