PhD Position: Role of Social Norms in Negative Campaigning and Affective Polarization

Are you interested in political communication, election campaigns, and quantitative empirical research? We are seeking a highly motivated PhD student for the research project ‘That’s (not) appropriate’– Role of Social Norms in Voters’ Acceptance of Negative Campaigning and Affective Polarization.

While considerable research exists on the causes and consequences of attack politics, the perceptual dynamics of negative campaigning remain largely under-investigated. How is negative campaigning perceived by those who are exposed to it? How can differences in accepting such behavior as legitimate action – a vital component for the success of a sponsor of a negative campaign strategy – be explained? And what are the consequences of (perceptions of) attack politics on an individual and societal level – for instance, in terms of affective polarization? The project is guided by the following overarching research questions: (RQ1) To what extent do social norms drive voters’ acceptance of negative campaigning? (RQ2) What are the consequences of (perceptions of) attack politics for the individual voter, both in electoral and systemic terms?

If working on these fundamental questions seems attractive to you, this PhD vacancy might be just for you.

The PhD project will be embedded within the Political Communication & Journalism programme group. In our group, we explore the contributions of media and communication to citizens’ perception, knowledge, and understanding of political issues and political and social groups, as well as citizens’ participation in the political arena and their electoral behavior. The PhD project will be supervised by Dr. Corinna Oschatz, Dr. Alessandro Nai, and Dr. Andreas Schuck.

What are you going to do

The project is currently planned to include (1) longitudinal survey data (with rolling cross-section components) gathered during the general elections in the Netherlands, the US, and Japan, (2) an automated content analysis of the campaign on social media by the main political actors competing in the upcoming elections in the US to link with the panel study, (3) and an experimental study. Building on these different data sources, you will work on four related studies during your PhD project.

In the first study, you will unpack the ways in which voters across the political spectrum perceive election campaigns and what consequences derive from these perceptions drawing on (currently collected) panel data from the Netherlands. In study two, you will contribute to setting up the panel study during the US election campaign. Leveraging the rolling cross-section components in longitudinal data with data from the content analysis of the campaign, you will be able connect these two data sources in a linkage study design to test for the dynamic evolution of norms as a function of the evolution of actual campaign negativity over time and as the campaign unfolds (feedback loop). In the third study, you compare panel data for the Dutch, US (and perhaps Japanese) elections to explore whether culture and the political system “sets the stage” for the effects of social norms about negativity and their consequences. Finally, the fourth study is an experimental study dedicated to the impact of norm violations on the acceptance of negative campaigning and consequences for affective polarization.

You will

• Review and synthesize the literature on voter perception of attack politics; the role of social norms, and their consequential effects on the evaluation and acceptance of negative campaigning as well as on affective polarization
• Contribute to develop, field, and analyze the panel survey in the US and (potentially) Japan
• Conceptualize and conduct an automated content analysis of the social media campaign in the US
• Design, field, and analyze an experimental study on the role of norm violations
• Write up findings for publications in high-impact scientific journals and presenting them at (inter)national conferences.

What do you have to offer

You are

• Curious, creative, and interested in learning from different disciplines
• Very familiar with quantitative data analysis in social sciences (broadly defined) with a demonstrated ability to learn new techniques
• Eager to learn and apply new digital data collection methods
• Resilient in the face of challenges that come with new methodological approaches
• Able to balance the demands of several tasks (e.g., combining research and teaching) successfully
• Organized, flexible, and demonstrate attention to detail
• Able to work both independently and collaboratively. You are a team player but also have a pro-active attitude

Your experience and profile

• Have acquired a (research) master’s degree in communication science, political science, computation social science (or related disciplines) – or are expected to obtain it soon;
• Showcase a strong interest in topics associated with elections, negative campaigning, and polarization
• Have a demonstrated interest in quantitative methods; having prior experience with automated content analyses and/or handling panel data is a plus;
• Have demonstrable skills in R and/or Python (or willingness to acquire proficiency on short term)
• Excellent proficiency in English (as demonstrated, for example, by written work or professional presentations).

What can we offer you

The planned starting date for this project is 1 April 2024 (to be negotiated). The position concerns temporary employment of 38 hours for a maximum term of 4 years. The initial employment is for one year. Following a positive assessment and barring altered circumstances, this term will be extended by a maximum of 36 additional months (48 in total), which should result in the conferral of a doctorate.

You will have the opportunity to attend training courses and both national and international events. You will also be tasked with teaching (Bachelor’s) students for approximately 10% of teaching of the contract. For this position the PhD Candidate (Promovendus) profile applies.

Your salary will be €2.770,- gross per month in the first year and will increase to €3.539,- in the final year, based on full-time employment and in keeping with the Collective Labor Agreement of Dutch Universities. We additionally offer an extensive package of secondary benefits, including 8% holiday allowance and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.

The UvA offers excellent possibilities for further professional development and education.

What else do we offer

• a position in which initiative and input are highly valued
• an enthusiastic and warm team that is open to new colleagues
• the possibility to write a PhD dissertation on a “hot” topic at the cutting edge of the literature
• an inspiring academic and international working environment in the heart of Amsterdam

About us

The University of Amsterdam is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the broadest spectrum of degree programmes. It is an intellectual hub with 39,000 students, 6,000 employees and 3,000 doctoral students who are all committed to a culture of inquiring minds.

About the faculty

A challenging work environment with a variety of duties and ample scope for individual initiative and development within an inspiring organization. The social and behavioral sciences play a leading role in addressing the major societal challenges faced by the world, the Netherlands and Amsterdam, now and in the future.

Want to know more about our organisation? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.

Questions

Do you have any questions or do you require additional information? Please contact:

• Dr. Corinna Oschatz, Assistant Professor, c.m.oschatz@uva.nl

Job application

Do you recognize yourself in the job profile? Then we look forward to receiving your application by 10 January 2024. Interviews with the selected candidates will take place in late January – early February. You may apply online by using the link below.

Applications in one bundled .pdf should include:

• a curriculum vitae;
• a letter of motivation that outlines your prior expertise and interest in pursuing this PhD project (max 2 pages). Please be as specific as possible in describing how you meet the selection criteria. If you do not meet all the criteria yet, please explain how you will acquire the required skills;
• undergraduate diploma and (unofficial) graduate transcripts;
• an academic writing sample in English (e.g., journal article, Master’s thesis, Bachelor’s thesis).

The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritize diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We value a spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provide the space to keep asking questions, and promote a culture of curiosity and creativity.

If you encounter Error GBB451/ GBC451, please try using a VPN connection when outside of the European Union. Please reach out directly to our to our HR Department directly. They will gladly help you continue your application