Michael Meffert
Assistant Professor
- Name
- Dr. M.F. Meffert
- Telephone
- +31 71 527 2727
- m.f.meffert@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
- ORCID iD
- 0000-0003-4275-8904
Michael F. Meffert is a lecturer in Political Psychology and Political Communication at the Institute of Political Science at Leiden University. He holds a PhD and MA in Political Science from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook and a MA in Political Science and English Studies from the University of Mannheim, Germany. Prior to arriving at Leiden University, Dr. Meffert was an Assistant Professor of Communication at the University of Maryland, College Park (1999-2004), and a Research Associate at the Collaborative Research Centre for Rationality, Decision Making, and Economic Modelling (SFB 504) at the University of Mannheim (2004-2008).
His dissertation examined the effects of political information from media sources and personal networks on candidate evaluations and vote intentions. His current research is focused on motivated information processing, in particular how voters select and are affected by (negative) political information, and strategic voting in multiparty systems with coalition governments. His research has appeared in the American Political Science Review (with Helmut Norpoth and Anirudh V.S. Ruhil), the Journal of Communication (with Sungeun Chung, Amber Joiner, Leah Waks, and Jennifer Garst), and various book chapters. Dr. Meffert is currently teaching the courses ‘Research Methods in Political Science’, ‘Theories and Methods’, and ‘Political Psychology’.
PhD supervision
Michael F. Meffert is available to supervise PhD students and invites PhD research proposals in the areas of:
- political communication (esp. selective exposure)
- political psychology (esp. motivated information processing)
- electoral behavior (esp. strategic coalition voting)
See for more information on PhD positions:
Assistant Professor
- Faculteit der Sociale Wetenschappen
- Instituut Politieke Wetenschap
- Meffert M.F. & Zmerli S. (2022), Informationsverarbeitung und Entscheidungsfindung = Information Processing and Decision Making. In: Zmerli S. & Feldman O. (Eds.), Politische Psychologie: Handbuch für Studium und Wissenschaft [Handbook of Political Psychology]. Baden-Baden: Nomos. 103-125.
- Tromble R.K., Rossini P., Hovy D., Meffert M.F., Tintarev N. & Stromer-Galley J. (2019), How Do We Evaluate the “Health of Conversations” on Social Media? Four Metrics for Twitter. Annual conference of the European Political Science Association, Belfast. Annual conference of the European Political Science Association 20 June 2019 - 22 June 2019.
- Tromble R.K., Rossini P., Meffert M.F. & Stromer-Galley J. (2019), Four Metrics for Assessing the “Health” of Online Political Discussions. Annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Washington D.C. Annual meeting of the American Political Science Association 29 August 2019 - 1 September 2019.
- Tromble R.K. & Meffert M.F. (2018), When Voters and Politicians Meet on Social Media: The Effect of Experiencing Interactivity on Political Attitudes. 17th Dutch-Belgian Politicologenetmaal 7 June 2018 - 8 June 2018. Leiden: 17th Dutch-Belgian Politicologenetmaal.
- Tromble R.K. & Meffert M.F. (2018), Tweeting with Benefits: The Effect of Politicians’ Twitter Interactions on Citizens’ Perceptions and Efficacy. Annual Conference of the European Political Science Association 21 June 2018 - 23 June 2018. Vienna: Annual Conference of the European Political Science Association.
- Gschwend T. & Meffert M.F. (2017), Strategic Voting. In: Arzheimer K. (Ed.), The SAGE Handbook of Electoral Behaviour. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. 339-366.
- Saldner S. & Meffert M.F. (2017), Immigration Attitudes: The Role of Values and Contextual Factors. Annual conference of the European Political Science Association (22/06/2017-24/06/2017, Milan). Annual conference of the European Political Science Association 22 June 2017 - 24 June 2017.
- Gschwend T., Meffert M.F. & Stoetzer L.F. (2017), Weighting Parties and Coalitions: How Coalition Signals Influence Voting Behavior, Journal of Politics 79(2): 642-655.
- Meffert M.F. (2017), Voters’ Coalition Preferences: Policy or Affect? 16th Dutch-Belgian Politicologenetmaal (01/06/2017-02/06/2017, Leiden). 16th Dutch-Belgian Politicologenetmaal 1 June 2017 - 2 June 2017.
- Meffert M.F. (2017), Voters’ Coalition Preferences: Policy or Affect? Annual meeting of the International Society of Political Psychology (29/06/2017-02/07/2017, Edinburgh). Annual meeting of the International Society of Political Psychology 29 June 2017 - 2 July 2017.
- Meffert M.F. (2016), When party and issue preferences clash: Selective exposure and attitudinal depolarization. Annual conference of the European Political Science Association (23/06/2016-25/06/2016, Brussels, Belgium). Annual conference of the European Political Science Association 23 June 2016 - 25 June 2016.
- Tromble R.K. & Meffert M.F. (2016), The life and death of frames: Dynamics of media frame duration, International Journal of Communication 2016(10): 5079–5101.
- Meffert M.F. (2016), When party and issue preferences clash: Selective exposure and attitudinal depolarization. Annual meeting of the International Society of Political Psychology (13/07/2016-16/07/2016, Warsaw, Poland). Annual meeting of the International Society of Political Psychology 13 July 2016 - 16 July 2016.
- Meffert M.F. (2016), When Party and Issue Preferences Clash: Selective Exposure and Attitudinal Depolarization. Annual conference of the International Communication Association (09/06/2016-13/06/2016, Fukuoka, Japan). Annual conference of the International Communication Association 9 June 2016 - 13 June 2016.
- Meffert M.F. & Nagtzaam M. (2016), Voting for radical right-wing parties: The role of fear. Annual meeting of the American Political Science Association (01/09/2016-04/09/2016, Philadelphia). Annual meeting of the American Political Science Association 1 September 2016 - 4 September 2016.
- Meffert M.F. (2015), Strategic coalition voting in multiparty systems: assessing strategies and conditions by simulation. Paper presented at the annual conference of the European Political Science Association, Vienna, 25-27 June 2015. European Political Science Association Annual Conference 25 June 2015 - 27 June 2015.
- Meffert M.F. (2015), When party and issue preferences clash: selective exposure and attitudinal depolarization. Paper presented at the Politicologenetmaal, Maastricht, 12-13 June 2015. 14th Dutch-Belgian Politicologenetmaal, Maastricht 11 June 2015 - 12 June 2015.
- Tromble R. & Meffert M.F. (2015), The life and death of frames: A dynamic analysis of media frame duration. Paper presented at the annual conference of the International Communication Association, San Juan, 21-25 May 2015. International Communication Association Annual Conference 21 May 2015 - 25 May 2015.
- Meffert M.F. (2015), Informationsverarbeitung und Entscheidungsfindung [Information processing and decision making]. In: Zmerli S. & Feldman O. (Eds.), Politische Psychologie. Handbuch für Studium und Wissenschaft. Baden-Baden: Nomos. 85-104.
- Meffert M.F. & Nagtzaam M.A.M. (2014), Voting for right-wing populist parties: The role of fear. Paper presented at the annual conference of the European Political Science Association, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. .
- Meffert M.F. & Gschwend T. (2014), Strategic voting, proportional representation, and coalition governments: A laboratory experiment. Paper presented at the Montreal Voting Experiment Workshop of the Making Electoral Democracy Work (MEDW) project, Montreal, Canada. .
- Meffert M.F. & Hopmann D.N. (2014), Media use and political polarization: A comparative study of advanced Western democracies. Paper presented at the expert seminar “Polarization in politics and media coverage” at the University of Antwerp, Belgium. .
- Federer-Shtayer H. & Meffert M.F. (2014), The block-weighted cleavage salience index, Party Politics 20(3): 324-329.
- Gschwend T., Stötzer L. & Meffert M.F. (2014), How coalition signals influence voting behavior. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Washington, DC. .
- Tromble R.K. & Meffert M.F. (2014), A dynamic analysis of media framing: The 2006 Danish Muhammad cartoon controversy. Paper presented at the annual conference of the European Political Science Association, Edinburgh, June 19-21. .
- Meffert M.F. & Nagtzaam M.A.M. (2014), Fear, out-group attitudes, and voting for right-wing populist parties. Paper presented at the 13th Dutch-Belgian Politicologenetmaal, Maastricht, Netherlands. Politicologenetmaal 2014 12 June 2014 - 13 June 2014.
- Meffert M.F. & Nagtzaam M.A.M. (2014), Voting for right-wing populist parties: The role of fear. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Society of Political Psychology, Rome, Italy. .
- Meffert M.F. & Hopmann D.N. (2013), Interpersonal disagreement as moderator of media effects. International Society of Political Psychology, Herzliya. International Society of Political Psychology 8 July 2013 - 11 July 2013.
- Meffert M.F. & Hopmann D.N. (2013), Media selection and partisan fragmentation: A comparative study of advanced Western democracies. International Communication Association, London. International Communication Association 17 June 2013 - 21 June 2013.
- Meffert M.F. & Gschwend T. (2013), Strategic voting, proportional representation, and coalition governments: A laboratory experiment. International Conference of Europeanists, Amsterdam. International Conference of Europeanists 25 June 2013 - 27 June 2013.
- Chung S., Fink E.L., Waks L., Meffert M.F. & Xie X. (2012), Sequential Information Integration and Belief Trajectories: An Experimental Study Using Candidate Evaluations, Communication Monographs 79(2): 160-180.
- Meffert M.F. & Gschwend T. (2012), Coalition Preferences in Multiparty Systems. [other].
- Meffert M.F. & Gschwend T. (2012), Explaining Strategic Coalition Voting: Policy or Affect?. [other].
- Meffert M.F. & Gschwend T. (2012), Experimental Triangulation of Coalition Signals: Varying Designs, Converging Results. In: Kittel B., Luhan W.J. & Morton R.B. (Eds.), Experimental Political Science: Principles and Practices. Houndmills: Palgrave Macmillan. 140-160.
- Meffert M.F. & Gschwend T. (2012), When Party and Issue Preferences Clash: Selective Exposure and Attitudinal Depolarization. [other].
- Bytzek E., Gschwend T., Huber S., Linhart E. & Meffert M.F. (2012), Koalitionssignale und ihre Wirkungen auf Wahlentscheidungen, Politische Vierteljahresschrift (Special Issue 45): 393-418.
- Meffert M.F. & Hopmann D.N. (2012), Media Selection and Partisan Segregation: A Comparative Study of Advanced Western Democracies. [other].
- Meffert M.F., Joiner A., Chung S. & Waks L. (2011), Motivated Information Processing: From Information Selection to Attitudinal Polarization. [other].
- Meffert M.F. & Gschwend T. (2011), Polls, Coalition Signals, and Strategic Voting: An Experimental Investigation of Perceptions and Effects, 50(5): 636-667.
- Meffert M.F. (2011), Strategic Coalition Voting in Multiparty Systems: A Simulation. [other].
- Meffert M.F. (2011), Selective Exposure and Audience Fragmentation? An Assessment of Partisan Selectivity in Germany. [other].
- Meffert M.F., Huber S., Gschwend T. & Pappi F.U. (2011), More than Wishful Thinking: Causes and Consequences of Voters’ Electoral Expectations about Parties and Coalitions, Electoral Studies 30(4): 804-815.
- Meffert M.F. (2011), Partisan Selectivity for Information and Media Sources. [other].
- Meffert M.F. & Gschwend T. (2011), Motivated Voters and Campaign Information: Information Selection, Processing, and Effects in a Multiparty System. [other].
- Meffert M.F., Joiner A., Chung S. & Waks L. (2011), Motivated Voters and Negative Information: When Attention Leads to Attitudinal Polarization. [other].
- Meffert M.F. & Gschwend T. (2010), Strategic coalition voting: Evidence from Austria, Electoral Studies 29(3): 339-349.
- Meffert M.F. (2010), Exposure and Perception: Campaign Information and the German Voter during the 2009 Election Campaign. [other].
- Meffert M.F. & Gschwend T. (2010), Coalition Signals as Voter Cues. [other].
- Meffert M.F. (2010), Coalition Signals as a Voter Cue. [other].
- Meffert M.F. (2010), Motivated Information Processing: From Information Selection to Attitudinal Polarization. [other].
- Meffert M.F. & Gschwend T. (2010), Coalition Signals and Vote Intentions. [other].
- Chung S., Waks L., Fink E.L., Meffert M.F. & Xie X. (2010), The Evolution of Candidate Evaluation via Information Integration: Trajectories Resulting from Multiple Messages. [other].
- Meffert M.F. & Gschwend T. (2010), Coalition Signals as Cues for Party and Coalition Preferences. [other].
- Meffert M.F. (2009), Strategic Coalition Voting in Multiparty Systems: A Simulation. [other].
- Chung S., Meffert M.F., Waks L., Waheed M. & Velazquez A.L.I. (2009), A Dynamic Model of Attitudes toward Candidates and Attitudes toward Issues. [other].
- Meffert M.F. & Gschwend T. (2009), Coalition Governments and Strategic Voting: A Laboratory Experiment. [other].
- Huber S., Gschwend T., Meffert M.F. & Pappi F.U. (2009), Erwartungsbildung über den Wahlausgang und ihr Einfluss auf die Wahlentscheidung. In: Gabriel O.W., Wessels B. & Falter J.W. (Eds.), Wahlen und Wähler. Analysen aus Anlass der Bundestagswahl 2005. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften. 561-584.
- Meffert M.F., Gschwend T. & Schütze N. (2009), Coalition preferences in multiparty systems. [other].
- Meffert M.F. & Gschwend T. (2009), Polls, Coalition Signals, and Strategic Voting: An Experimental Investigation of Perceptions and Effects. [other].
- Meffert M.F. & Gschwend T. (2009), Coalition signals and vote decisions: A survey experiment. [other].
- Meffert M.F. & Gschwend T. (2009), Strategisches Wählen in Mehrparteiensystemen: Ein Gruppenexperiment. In: Henning C., Linhart E. & Shikano S. (Eds.), Parteienwettbewerb, Wählerverhalten und Koalitionsbildung. Baden-Baden: Nomos. 107-132.
- Meffert M.F., Huber S., Gschwend T. & Pappi F.U. (2008), Erwartungsbildung über den wahlausgang und ihr einfluss auf die wahlentscheidung. Mannheim: University of Mannheim.
- Meffert M.F. & Gschwend T. (2008), Strategic coalition voting: Evidence from Austria. [other].
- Meffert M.F. & Gschwend T. (2008), Strategic voting under proportional representation and coalition governments: A laboratory experiment. [other].
- Meffert M.F. & Gschwend T. (2008), Strategic voting in multiparty systems: A group experiment. [other].
- Meffert M.F., Huber S., Gschwend T. & Pappi F.U. (2008), More than wishful thinking: Causes and consequences of voters’ expectations about election outcomes. [other].
- Meffert M.F., Chung S., Waks L., Waheed M. & Velazquez A.L.I. (2008), When my favorite candidate opposes my favorite position on an issue: The effect of incongruent messages on attitude change toward the issue and toward the source. [other].
- Meffert M.F. & Gschwend T. (2008), Polls, coalition signals, and strategic voting: An experimental investigation of perceptions and effects. [other].
- Meffert M.F. (2008), Wenn affären wellen schlagen: Zum einfluss der landes- und bundespolitik auf das wahlverhalten in Schleswig-Holstein. In: Völkl K., Schnapp K.U., Holtmann E. & Gabriel O.W. (Eds.), Wähler und Landtagswahlen in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Baden-Baden: Nomos. 287-308.
- Meffert M.F. & Gschwend T. (2008), Voting for coalitions? The role of coalition preferences and expectations in voting behavior. [other].
- Meffert M.F. & Gschwend T. (2008), Strategic voting in multiparty systems: A group experiment. Mannheim, Germany: University of Mannheim.