Downloads
Publication date: September 2013
Overview: While there are many studies exploring the impact of news media (a one-way, "monologic" format), studies of discussion and debate programmes ("dialogic formats") are much less common. There is also a lack of evidence from developing countries; most evidence published in peer-reviewed academic journals comes from Europe and North America.
To address both gaps, this study spoke to 4,000 Nepali citizens to investigate whether exposure to a political debate programme could influence political participation. The study found that:
- Exposure to Sajha Sawal in Nepal is significantly associated with an increase in political participation and discussion
- How much a person was exposed to Sajha Sawal was also a factor; the more exposure, the greater the level of political participation and discussion