Predictors of motivation to use computer‐mediated political communication systems

Abstract
The study assessed several predictors of citizen motivation to use a computer‐mediated political communication system (CMPCS): needs, traditional political participation, satisfactions obtained from that participation, and satisfactions anticipated from CMPCS use. Telephone interviews were conducted with a random sample of 405 mid‐Michigan residents of voting age. Needs and the satisfactions anticipated from CMPCS use were found to be the most substantial predictors of CMPCS motivation for both computer owner and nonowner sub‐samples. Traditional political participation also predicted CMPCS motivation for computer owners.