Study: Facebook Ads Have Little Effect On Political Campaign

As Election Day comes closer, you're likely seeing political ads everywhere you turn — on front lawns, in newspapers, and on television. You're likely also seeing them on Facebook, and not just for President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney. Two researchers studied the Facebook ads placed by a candidate running for a state legislature position, seeing if they helped his name recognition or likeability. Unfortunately, in this case, the Facebook ads barely moved the needle for the candidate.

As Election Day comes closer, you’re likely seeing political ads everywhere you turn — on front lawns, in newspapers, and on television. You’re likely also seeing them on Facebook, and not just for President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney. Two researchers studied the Facebook ads placed by a candidate running for a state legislature position, seeing if they helped his name recognition or likeability. Unfortunately, in this case, the Facebook ads barely moved the needle for the candidate.

University of California, Berkeley graduate student David Broockman teamed up with Donald Green, a political science professor at Columbia University in New York, to see if Facebook ads have any effect on a political campaign.

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