Department Affiliations
Narrative
My research addresses two questions: “Why do people choose to support one candidate or issue over another?” and “Why do people choose to become politically active (by voting, volunteering for a candidate, contributing money to a candidate or political organization, signing a petition, or the like)?”
My first research program explores the direct and indirect effects of the media on citizens’ political attitudes. My second research program examines the impact of psychological motivations on citizens’ decisions to become politically active. I apply theories from political science, psychology, and mass communication and use multiple research methods to illuminate the processes by which citizens become politically engaged.
Specialties
- political participation
- media and politics
- political psychology
- survey research methods
- political propaganda
Educational Background
- Ph.D.: Psychology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 2000.
- M.A.: Psychology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 1995.
- B.A.: Psychology & Political Science, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, 1991.
Publications
- Examining the Mediators of Agenda Setting: A New Experimental Paradigm Reveals the Role of Emotions: Miller, Joanne Marie, Political Psychology, 28 689-717, 2007.
- Experience, Attitudes, and Willingness to Pay for Police and Fire Protection: Miller, Joanne Marie, Amy K. Donohue, American Review of Public Administration, 36 395-418, 2006.
- Theoretical and Empirical Implications of Attitude Strength: Miller, Joanne Marie, David A. M. Peterson, Joural of Politics, 66 847-867, 2004.
- Threat as a Motivator of Political Activism: A Field Experiment: Miller, Joanne Marie, Jon A. Krosnick, Political Psychology, 25 507-524, 2004.
- News Media Impact on the Ingredients of Presidential Evaluations: Politically Knowledgeable Citizens are Guided by a Trusted Source: Miller, Joanne Marie, Jon A. Krosnick, American Journal of Political Science, 44 295 - 309, 2000.
Research Activities
- An Experimental Test of the Role of Motives in Predicting Political Participation: Project funded by the National Science Foundation to examine the motivational underpinnings of political participation., Feb. 2007 - Sept. 2008
- Healing the Rifts: A Study of Intraparty Factionalism at the Presidential Nominating Conventions: Research project funded by the National Science Foundation to survey delegates to the Republican and Democratic National Conventions in 2008
- Embodied Politics: Partisans, Protesters, and the 2008 National Party Conventions: Research project funded by the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs, Univ. of Minnesota, to survey protesters and delegates at the Republican and Democratic national conventions in 2008
Professional Activities
- Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Political Science: 2007 - present
- Director of Graduate Studies: Graduate Minor in Political Psychology , 2005 - present
- Research Advisor: Elections Project, Humphrey Institute Center for the Study of Politics and Governance , 2004 - ongoing
- Member of Conference Committee: American Association for Public Opinion Research , 2002 - ongoing
Outreach Activities
- Media coverage of my research: Associated Press, Washington Post, USA Today, LA Times, Star Tribune, , Pioneer Press, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Minnesota Public Radio
Awards
- The American Review of Public Administration's Best Article, June 2007
Courses Taught
- Pol 3766 - Political Psychology
- POL 3785 - Persuasion and Political Propaganda
- POL 4767/5767 - Public Opinion
- Pol 1908W - Topics: Freshman Seminar: Political Propaganda
- POL 8127 - Survey Research Methods
- POL 8311 - Political Psychology and Socialization
Alternative Output Formats