Klimavalget


Research projects

Most of my research centers around the Danish electorate and opinion formation. I am attached to several larger research projects in Denmark mapping out turnout and collecting data on the electorate. In my research I use a variety of methods from experiments to panels which allows me to better understand the mechanisms behind voter behavior and opinion formation. If you want to know more about some of my current and previous research projects, you can read more about them below.



Research Project: The Danish National Election Study (DNES).

The project began in 1971 and is the longest-running cross-section study in Denmark. Survey data have been collected after every following national election. The survey data is currently the most frequently downloaded dataset in the Danish National Survey Archives. I have been principal investigator since 2014. See www.valgprojektet.dk for more information.

From the project a number of publications are available e.g.:


The Danish Turnout Project

I am principal investigator of the project, where we investigate why people vote, applying a unique government records panel dataset of the actual turnout from the 2009-2021 Danish elections. Besides actually validated turnout the dataset includes very detailed socio-demographics, family relationships, and moving patterns.

Furthermore, as part of the project we conduct a number of large Get-out-the-Vote (GOtV) field experiments set-out to increase turnout. These experiments are set up to evaluate the effect of GOtV initiatives in a multi-party context with historically high turnout.

The project is currently funded by TrygFonden, Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Interior, The Danish Youth Council, and The Danish Institute for Human Rights.

From the project a number of publications are available e.g.:


Opinion Formation from an Experimental Perspective

The aim of the project is to answer the question: “How do information and arguments shape the Danes’ political opinions?”

Through opinion surveys, the project assesses the stability of the citizens’ political opinions and how information and arguments influence the opinions expressed in the surveys. The project uses split-sample surveys combined with survey experiments and discrete choice experiments on a representative national sample of Danish citizens (n=2,000). The issues include public services such as schools and opinions toward the European Union and political ideology.

The project is funded by the Danish Research Council, and I am the principal investigator.

From the project a number of publications are available e.g.:


OPEC - Online Panel of Electoral Campaigning

What kind of effect do the political campaigns have on the voters?

From 2001 to 2005 the Danish political parties’ campaign spending increased by more than 30 % to around 100 million DKK. The political campaigns spend more and more resources, but the knowledge of their effect is very limited. Basically, we have no idea whether the public and private money given to the parties and spent on campaigning have any effect at all.

Through a large online panel of the voters (n=10,000) the activities during the campaigning will be monitored. The survey will include a split-sample experiment. The aim of the project is to develop the dominating American models of campaign effect to a multiparty system where political campaigning on e.g. TV is forbidden.

Principal investigator: Kasper M. Hansen, funded by the Danish Research Council.

From the project a number of publications are available e.g.: