The Types of Independent Voters and Their Political Behaviors and Attitudes: The Case of Taiwan’s 2008 Presidential Election

• Main Authors: Wu, Shin-Chan, 吳欣禪
• Other Authors: Wang, Jong-Tian
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/85681825029470220556

碩士 === 國立臺灣師範大學 === 政治學研究所 === 98 === 　　The purpose of this research is to confer with the types, political behaviors and attitudes of “independent voters” in Taiwan. This research tries to classify independent voters into two categories, one is “pure independents” and the other “independent leaners”. This study first employs variables like demographic backgrounds, Political Participation and Political Attitude to find out the differences between the two types of Independent Voters. Then, the independent leaners are compared with the partisans to test the thesis that leaners are actually partisans. With the help of the TEDS 2008P, this study applies statistical tools to conduct empirical research. Major research findings are as follows: 1. Compared with pure Independents, Independent Leaners were younger, with higher education and income. 2. Regarding Political Attitudes and Political behaviors, Independent Leaners, in contrast to pure independents, were more likely to have their own opinion on a variety of political issues. 3. Independent leaners showed higher degree of Political Efficacy and political involvement than the pure independents. 4. Compared with Partisans, Independent Leaners were more politically involved even though they shared similar point of views in many issues.