Celia Anne Sheerin

Political Efficacy and Youth Non-voting: a Qualitative Investigation into the Attitudes and Experiences of Young Voters and Non-voters in New Zealand Celia Anne Sheerin

This dissertation examines political efficacy and youth non-voting in New Zealand. Drawing from focus group discussion and depth interviews with young New Zealanders, it compares and contrasts the attitudes and experiences of 18-24 year-old voters and non-voters. Contrary to the predictions of efficacy theory, I find fewer differences between young voters and non-voters than expected. The dissertation identifies three types of young non-voters: 'disinterested', 'inconvenienced' and 'principled' non-voters, each of whom give different and diverse explanations for their non-participation. The dissertation also draws attention to the oft-overlooked benefits of using qualitative methods to conduct political science research, and finds that the standard (quantitative) operationalisation of efficacy obscures the complex and nuanced nature of young peoples thoughts about politics. Depth interviews and focus groups are found to be valuable means to gain insight into the political attitudes of young people, as, unlike quantitative methods, they allow participants to elucidate themselves using language and ideas of their own.