Analysis of Results: The Effect of Twitter’s influence during the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election

Sydney Brown

Bethune-Cookman University

POL 499 Senior Seminar

Dr. Dorcas E. McCoy

November 18, 2021

Analysis of Results

This study investigated the impact of Twitter’s influence on the sample pool of female undergraduate students at Bethune-Cookman University. It examined the internal focus on the female student’s political engagement and the voter turnout during the 2020 Presidential Election. The instruments used were a series of questionnaires and interviews on the subjects. This study is a research mix between qualitative and quantitative methods. This research hypothesized that Twitter’s platform has an impact on female undergraduate students’ voting behavior during the 2020 Presidential Election. The independent variable is Twitter. The dependent variable is female undergraduate students’ voting behavior during the 2020 Presidential Election at Bethune-Cookman University.

Twitter is one of the social media platforms people use to voice their opinion and vote for politicians that would run this country effectively. Presidential campaign managers incorporate hashtags and create Twitter accounts to their method of citizens voting in favor of their candidate. Studies and statistics evaluated and analyzed how the political interaction students have when they use Twitter based on their political ideology and personal interest. In this investigation, female undergraduate students at Bethune-Cookman University were targeted to understand their voting behavior during the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election. This study emphasized the importance of Twitter influencing student political engagement. There were 40 respondents and 2 interviewers that were a part of this study and had a 99% completion rate.

3152140273685Based on the subjects that were examined there was an age range of 18-28. The age range with a higher percentage in subjects were 21-24. The median age range of subjects were 18-20.

00Based on the subjects that were examined there was an age range of 18-28. The age range with a higher percentage in subjects were 21-24. The median age range of subjects were 18-20.

-723900889000This model examined 85% of the subject having a Twitter account. Most of the subject are currently use Twitter as one of their social media platforms.

00This model examined 85% of the subject having a Twitter account. Most of the subject are currently use Twitter as one of their social media platforms.

3070225166370Module 1 this study shows that Democrats are on Twitter more than other political parties, which was found on the female undergraduate students on Bethune-Cookman University campus.

As you can see in the model many of the subjects were Democrats. There was a higher percentage of subjects who were not affiliated with any political party than those who were Republicans and Independents. 62% of the subjects were Democrats, which won the majority vote in the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election. 26% of the subjects were not associated with any political involvement. 10% of the subjects were a part of the independent party. 3% of the subjects were a Republican.

00Module 1 this study shows that Democrats are on Twitter more than other political parties, which was found on the female undergraduate students on Bethune-Cookman University campus.

As you can see in the model many of the subjects were Democrats. There was a higher percentage of subjects who were not affiliated with any political party than those who were Republicans and Independents. 62% of the subjects were Democrats, which won the majority vote in the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election. 26% of the subjects were not associated with any political involvement. 10% of the subjects were a part of the independent party. 3% of the subjects were a Republican.

-478790887730Many of the subjects voted during the U.S. presidential election. As shown above, 77% of the subjects participated whereas 23% of the subjects did not vote. The voter turnout of the youth increased from the 2016 election by 39% (Tuff, 2021)

00Many of the subjects voted during the U.S. presidential election. As shown above, 77% of the subjects participated whereas 23% of the subjects did not vote. The voter turnout of the youth increased from the 2016 election by 39% (Tuff, 2021)

3581400849630As a collective whole, the subjects agreed the social media platform has evolved beyond its realms by being utilized for various purposes such as news, online shopping, and business promotions and expanding people’s perception of the world.

00As a collective whole, the subjects agreed the social media platform has evolved beyond its realms by being utilized for various purposes such as news, online shopping, and business promotions and expanding people’s perception of the world.

-532765936625Many of the subjects believed Twitter had an influence on female undergraduate students’ voting behavior during the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election because Twitter has been used as a platform for current political events such as elections.

00Many of the subjects believed Twitter had an influence on female undergraduate students’ voting behavior during the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election because Twitter has been used as a platform for current political events such as elections.

3329940664210As you can see in the model above, 90% of the subjects answered the question on the survey they are Twitter users and either always, usually, sometimes, or rarely use the social media platform. 10% of the subjects answered they never used Twitter.

00As you can see in the model above, 90% of the subjects answered the question on the survey they are Twitter users and either always, usually, sometimes, or rarely use the social media platform. 10% of the subjects answered they never used Twitter.

-2597151560195As you can see on the model above, 88% of the subjects see political advertisement on their Twitter’s news feed when they utilize their platform. 12% of the subjects always see political engagement, whereas 76% of the subjects either usually, sometimes, or rarely see political activity.

00As you can see on the model above, 88% of the subjects see political advertisement on their Twitter’s news feed when they utilize their platform. 12% of the subjects always see political engagement, whereas 76% of the subjects either usually, sometimes, or rarely see political activity.

3895090610235This study shows a various answer in the subjects’ selection; 38% percent of the subjects never do any political related activities, 12 % of the subjects always are politically involved, 10% of the subjects usually are active, 8% of the subjects sometimes are active, and 32% of the subjects rarely are.

00This study shows a various answer in the subjects’ selection; 38% percent of the subjects never do any political related activities, 12 % of the subjects always are politically involved, 10% of the subjects usually are active, 8% of the subjects sometimes are active, and 32% of the subjects rarely are.

-2476501468755As you can see in the model, 95% of the subjects created a Twitter for the purpose of family and friends. The remaining percentage created their account for employment, news, and educational purposes.

00As you can see in the model, 95% of the subjects created a Twitter for the purpose of family and friends. The remaining percentage created their account for employment, news, and educational purposes.

After evaluating my results, the respondents were involved in both Twitter and the U.S. Presidential Election and do believe Twitter has evolved beyond its realms. My hypothesis was null with the use of gathered evidence. Twitter is being utilized by the public however it is not being utilized in terms of political purposes. There were many patterns and influxes in the female undergraduate students’ interactions on the social media platform. After evaluating the subjects, 95% of them use Twitter to interact with friends and family, whereas the others utilize it for employment, news, and educational purposes. The political party distribution was incorporated in this study to highlight Twitter’s influence in politics.

Additionally, the correlation as it relates to the subjects who are female undergraduate students and have a Twitter account, the majority identified themselves with the Democratic political party and voted during the 2020 US presidential election. 85% of the subject have a Twitter account, 60% of the subjects are Democrats, and 78% of the subjects voted during the 2020 presidential election. As a result of the 2020 presidential election, the President of the United States is a Democrat.

Similarly, other parts were also represented such as the subjects who have Twitter are fairly in the two age ranges of 18-20 years old and 21-24 years old. The divide between subjects who do believe Twitter had an influence on their political involvement during the 2020 US Presidential Election is shown tremendously with a 52% agreement and 48% disagreement. There were 30% of the subjects that would either always or usually see political advertisements on their Twitter newsfeed whereas 58% of them would either sometimes or rarely see political activity, and 12% would never see anything. Based on the data, subjects who have never been politically active and participated in any civic engagement activities had the highest percentage out of those who were either always, usually, sometimes, or rarely participants. However, most subjects have a Twitter account and were voters during the 2020 U.S. presidential election and believe Twitter is evolved beyond its realms.

The age, political party, and voter participation were emphasized in a plan of action because of the youth voter turnout during the election. Nevertheless, there were strengths and weaknesses in my research. Strengths of the research include being a female undergraduate student at Bethune-Cookman University allowed me to encounter my colleagues. Although there was an overwhelming amount of a certain political party and age group, the research could have been strengthened by having more diverse perspectives of the reasons for creating a Twitter account. The respondents from the surveys were subjective as well as biased from their geographical backgrounds. Despite the modifications, the findings did not portray the influence of social media and how it affected the youth voter turnout based on political parties, voting turnout, and active users on Twitter.

Half of the youth voted in 2020, an 11-point increase from 2016. Circle at Tufts. (2021, April 29). Retrieved November 16, 2021, from https://circle.tufts.edu/latest-research/half-youth-voted-2020-11-point-increase-2016.