Open AccessThe Influence of Name Sounds in the Congressional Elections of 2006
Author(s) -
Grant W. Smith
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
names
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.2
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 1756-2279
pISSN - 0027-7738
DOI - 10.1179/nam.2007.55.4.465
Subject(s) - reliability (semiconductor) , econometrics , constant (computer programming) , politics , statistics , psychology , computer science , political science , mathematics , law , physics , power (physics) , quantum mechanics , programming language
AbstractThis study retests this investigator's analytical model used in previously published studies of 1996 and 1998 elections measuring the influence of selected phonetic features of surnames on the relative success of various political candidates. The model presumably works best when voters are least motivated or most confused by issues. In the analyses of the 1998 elections the reliability of the model was 66%. In the analyses of the 2006 elections the reliability of the model was 68.6%. These results suggest that the analytical model is reliable over time and that the importance of issues and/or other factors was relatively constant or evenly polarized.