Real-time response (RTR) measurement is an important technique to assess human processing of information. Ever since Maier et al. verified the reliability and validity of physical RTR devices in this journal a decade ago, there has been a growing trend toward virtual measurement platforms to overcome the limitations of conventional, laboratory-based methods. We introduce the Debat-O-Meter, a novel online RTR platform for mobile devices, which allows researchers to measure how viewers perceive political debates in the setting of their private homes. We draw on a large study (N = 5,660) conducted during the 2017 German general election campaign and show that virtualized measurement indeed facilitates diverse and large N field studies while simultaneously conforming to established standards of reliability and validity.

AbstractTelevised debates are major events in electoral campaigns, serving voters as a substantial source of political information and reaching millions of the potential electorate. Scholars have made use of this potential by applying Real-Time Response Measurement (RTR) to assess reception and perception processes. However, RTR-research has yet almost exclusively focused on duel scenarios. In this paper, we argue that the focus on the duel format in political and communication science research is inappropriate. Thus, we apply virtualized RTR on TV-debates with a multi-person panel. Drawing on data of two field studies (n = 1191/1058) conducted with the Debat-O-Meter – an innovative virtualized RTR-Measurement toolbox – in the course of the 2017 federal election in Germany, we show that virtualized RTR-Measurement can indeed produce valid and reliable data regarding TV-discussions with a multi-person podium. Additionally, we find perception processes to be primarily shaped by party identification and prior political preferences such as candidate orientation. Furthermore, our results give strong evidence that candidate preferences are substantially affected by debate reception. Overall, our data follows an established structure well-known from research on TV-duels. As such, research on TV discussions with a multi-person panel is compatible with the existing repertoire of methods, offers great potential for political communication research and provides results that can be linked to current findings in empirical debate research while making its own contribution to the research field.

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Live im Fernsehen übertragene Debatten zwischen politischen Spitzenkandidaten (TV-Duelle) sind das wohl augenfälligste Kennzeichen einer medial vermittelten Massendemokratie. Als US-Import 2002 erstmals zur Bundestagswahl eingesetzt, hat das Format schnell seinen Platz in deutschen Wahlkämpfen erobert. 1 Wichtigster Grund hierfür ist, dass der Breitenwirkung von TV-Duellen das Potenzial zugeschrieben wird, den Wahlkampf entscheidend zu beeinflussen. 2 Die Wirkung von TV-Duellen verbindet sich mit mehreren Aspekten 3 : Zunächst erreicht kein anderes Wahlkampfereignis derart viele Wähler; so sahen beispielsweise zwischen 14 und 21 Millionen Zuschauer die bisherigen Duelle auf Bundesebene. 4 Zum zweiten deckt kein anderes Format eine derart breite Palette an Themen ab und erlaubt es Wählern, nicht nur die Kandidaten und ihre Positionen kennen zu lernen, sondern diese auch direkt zu vergleichen. Und drittens sprechen TV-Duelle in besonderem Maße auch politisch weniger interessierte und daher oft nur schwer zu erreichende Wähler an 5 , sodass sie die Beschäftigung mit Politik anstoßen und den Boden für politisches Engagement bereiten können. Faas und Maier sprechen deshalb zurecht von "Wahlkämpfe[n] im Miniaturformat". 6

While the perception processes and effects of political TV duels at the (sub-)national level have been examined in great detail, studies with a similar scope of analytical profoundness and detail for TV duels at the European level are largely lacking . Therefore, the perceptions and effects of the duel between Manfred Weber (EVP) and Frans Timmermans (S&D) on the perception of the debate’s winner, the attitudes towards the candidates and voting intentions under consideration of the real-time reactions (RTR) of its viewers are analysed . In addition to the duel’s general perception, one can identify the determinants of the verdicts on the debate’s winner, the candidate evaluations including their images as well as the voting intentions of our study participants and show that the debate’s reception has significant effects . Aside from political predispositions, it is primarily the immediate perception during the debate, captured by real-time-response measurement that possesses great explanatory power . The data verify that the duel’s reception at the European level has significant effects on political cognitions, motivations, and audiences’ attitudes and therefore can be regarded as an effective instrument in European election campaigns . Such duels have the potential to contribute to the strengthening of the democratic quality of the European Union . [ZParl, vol . 50 (2019), no . 4, pp . 736 - 753]