Whether they involve bribery, unethical behavior, or simply the abuse of power, political scandal has long been an important source of public outrage. Often, a single scandal can prompt changes in governance and policy-making by encouraging calls for increased transparency and accountability. The long-term effects of major scandals like Tammany Hall, Watergate, and campaign finance controversies can also be seen in ongoing debates over the role of ethics in government.
Political scandal has been studied across several disciplines including political science, psychology, and communication research. However, a recent meta-analysis shows that the vast majority of studies were conducted in North America (n=68) and Europe (n=25). More than two-thirds of the studies used student samples. A significant percentage of the studies were published in political science and psychology journals, while only a small minority were published in communication journals.
The analysis revealed that studies examining the effect of scandal on citizens’ evaluations of politicians generally reveal negative evaluative results. However, these findings may vary considerably depending on five central moderators: candidate characteristics, politician’s response, citizens’ prior attitudes, context, and type of scandal.
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