NR 547 MIDTERM 2026 PREP: DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS,
CLINICAL ASSESSMENT & PRACTICE QUESTIONS
Weaknesses of the party identification model
Studies since the 1960s have shown a steady decline in voters who identify with one party
Analysts believe trends show a marked decline in party identification
Rational Choice model
Voters are like consumers, many choose the party offering the best range of policy products that
work best
Strengths of the rational choice model
Voters can maximise the impact of their vote
Weaknesses of the rational choice model
Assumes everyone is voting for themselves
Assumes everyone reads the manifesto
Dominant Ideology model
Powerful groups in society influence voting behaviour
,Strengths of the dominant ideology model
Interest groups have the most influence over public opinion and voting, not parties
Weaknesses of the dominant ideology model
gnores individual interests and personal freedom, it suggests that voters are socially
conditioned to cast their vote
Voting Context model
Voters weigh up the consequences of their vote and look at the range of options open to them
Strengths of the voting context model
More likely to vote in elections
Weaknesses of the voting context model
May not see the value in voting for local government
People cast a protest/tactical vote
Party support
Can be measured by the overall number of votes
Obviously overall party support is the most important however it is good to see what parties are
doing well in certain areas e.g. labour is very popular in london
,An overall increase in party support may not mean more seats if the party simply increases the
majority of seats they already had
Tactical voting
In safe seats, tactical voting does not affect the outcome
Voting for a 2nd place party does not guarantee they will win, some 3rd parties win
1997, tactical voting cost the conservatives 48 seats
Before 2001/2005, vote 'trading' websites were appearing
Turnout
Until 1997, the percentage of eligible voters casting their votes has been relatively stable, at
between 72 and 83.9%
In 2001, turnout was 59.4%
Reasons why people many not vote
Voter mobility
Apathy (only 37% of young people voted in 2005)
Boredom
Class
Dealignment and party identification
Protest voting
, A protest vote is designed to register disapproval of a party that is normally supported by a
voter
In 2005, lib dems benefitted from protest voting by labour supporters
2005 protest vote party
Passive abstainers
little to no interest in politics, often called apathetic, they can't be bothered to vote as politics
doesn't affect them
Active abstainers
interested in politics but choose not to vote for political reasons (disagreement, disapproval,
lack of choice)
1979 general election - seats won
labour: 269
conservative: 339
lib dem: 11
1979 general election - male votes
labour: 40%
conservative: 43%
lib dem: 13%
CLINICAL ASSESSMENT & PRACTICE QUESTIONS
Weaknesses of the party identification model
Studies since the 1960s have shown a steady decline in voters who identify with one party
Analysts believe trends show a marked decline in party identification
Rational Choice model
Voters are like consumers, many choose the party offering the best range of policy products that
work best
Strengths of the rational choice model
Voters can maximise the impact of their vote
Weaknesses of the rational choice model
Assumes everyone is voting for themselves
Assumes everyone reads the manifesto
Dominant Ideology model
Powerful groups in society influence voting behaviour
,Strengths of the dominant ideology model
Interest groups have the most influence over public opinion and voting, not parties
Weaknesses of the dominant ideology model
gnores individual interests and personal freedom, it suggests that voters are socially
conditioned to cast their vote
Voting Context model
Voters weigh up the consequences of their vote and look at the range of options open to them
Strengths of the voting context model
More likely to vote in elections
Weaknesses of the voting context model
May not see the value in voting for local government
People cast a protest/tactical vote
Party support
Can be measured by the overall number of votes
Obviously overall party support is the most important however it is good to see what parties are
doing well in certain areas e.g. labour is very popular in london
,An overall increase in party support may not mean more seats if the party simply increases the
majority of seats they already had
Tactical voting
In safe seats, tactical voting does not affect the outcome
Voting for a 2nd place party does not guarantee they will win, some 3rd parties win
1997, tactical voting cost the conservatives 48 seats
Before 2001/2005, vote 'trading' websites were appearing
Turnout
Until 1997, the percentage of eligible voters casting their votes has been relatively stable, at
between 72 and 83.9%
In 2001, turnout was 59.4%
Reasons why people many not vote
Voter mobility
Apathy (only 37% of young people voted in 2005)
Boredom
Class
Dealignment and party identification
Protest voting
, A protest vote is designed to register disapproval of a party that is normally supported by a
voter
In 2005, lib dems benefitted from protest voting by labour supporters
2005 protest vote party
Passive abstainers
little to no interest in politics, often called apathetic, they can't be bothered to vote as politics
doesn't affect them
Active abstainers
interested in politics but choose not to vote for political reasons (disagreement, disapproval,
lack of choice)
1979 general election - seats won
labour: 269
conservative: 339
lib dem: 11
1979 general election - male votes
labour: 40%
conservative: 43%
lib dem: 13%
