본 연구의 목적은 지난 2002년 대선에서 TV 토론과 인터넷이 유권자의 투표 참여와 지지후보 결정에 어느 정도 영향을 미쳤는지를 심층적으로 비교․고찰하는 데 있다. 본 연구는 TV 토론과 인터넷의 직접효과 뿐만 아니라 선거공정성, 정치효능감, 정치관심, 대북지원에대한 태도 등 심리적 매개 변수를 통한 간접효과에 대해서도 고찰한다. 이를 위해 본 연구는 중앙선관위가 2002년 대선직후 실시한 면접 여론조사 자료를 바탕으로 경로분석을 실시한다. 주요 분석 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, TV토론이 투표 참여와 대선 후보 지지 등에서 인터넷보다 훨씬 영향력이 크다는 점이 밝혀졌다. 둘째, TV토론은 선거공정성, 선거관심, 정치효능감, 대북지원에 대한 태도를 매개로 해서 영향을 미치는 간접효과가 있는 반면, 인터넷은 오로지 선거관심과 대북지원만을 매개로 한 간접효과만이 발견되었다. 더구나, TV토론은 모든 간접효과에서도 인터넷보다 영향력이 훨씬 컸다. 셋째, TV토론과 인터넷은 노무현후보 지지에 대해 직접적으로 영향을 미치지 못한 반면, 이회창후보 지지에서는 직접적으로 영향을 미친 것으로 나타났다. 다만, 이회창후보 지지의 경우, TV토론은 긍정적인 직접효과가 있었지만, 인터넷은 부정적인 직접효과가 발견되었다. 즉, TV 토론을 많이 시청할 사람일수록 이후보를 지지한 반면, 인터넷을 통해 이후보를 인지한 사람들은 이후보를 지지하지 않았던 것으로 나타났다. 넷째, TV토론이나 인터넷에서 선거관심 변수를 매개로 대부분의 간접효과가 다른 변수를 매개로 한 간접효과보다 상대적으로 컸다.

The purpose of this study is to examine comparatively the influence of internet and TV debate on the electoral voting and candidate support in the 2002 Korean presidential election. This study explores not only their direct effects but also indirect effects which might be made through psychological intermediary variables, such ash electoral fairness, political efficacy, political concern, political attitude toward the financial support for the North Korea, an so on. For this purpose, this study employes the path analysis with interview data of survey which was conducted immediately after the 2002 presidential election by the Central Election Management Commission. The major findings are as follows: First, TV debate showed a relatively stronger influence on the electoral voting and candidate support than internet. Second, TV debate had indirect effects on these political activities through 4 intermediary variables mentioned above, while internet only through political concern and political attitude toward the financial support for the North Korea. All indirect effects of TV debate were stronger than those of internet. Third, both TV debate and internet had no direct effect on the support for the candidate Roh Mu Hyun, while they had direct effect on the support for the candidate Lee Hoe Chang. However, TV debate had a positive direct effect, while internet had a negative effect. In other words, the more voters had viewed TV debate, the more they supported Lee. On the contrary, the more voters had recognized Lee through internet, they tended not to support him. Finally, most of indirect effects through the variable of political concern tended to be larger than those through other intermediary variables.

The purpose of this study is to examine comparatively the influence of internet and TV debate on the electoral voting and candidate support in the 2002 Korean presidential election. This study explores not only their direct effects but also indirect effects which might be made through psychological intermediary variables, such ash electoral fairness, political efficacy, political concern, political attitude toward the financial support for the North Korea, an so on. For this purpose, this study employes the path analysis with interview data of survey which was conducted immediately after the 2002 presidential election by the Central Election Management Commission. The major findings are as follows: First, TV debate showed a relatively stronger influence on the electoral voting and candidate support than internet. Second, TV debate had indirect effects on these political activities through 4 intermediary variables mentioned above, while internet only through political concern and political attitude toward the financial support for the North Korea. All indirect effects of TV debate were stronger than those of internet. Third, both TV debate and internet had no direct effect on the support for the candidate Roh Mu Hyun, while they had direct effect on the support for the candidate Lee Hoe Chang. However, TV debate had a positive direct effect, while internet had a negative effect. In other words, the more voters had viewed TV debate, the more they supported Lee. On the contrary, the more voters had recognized Lee through internet, they tended not to support him. Finally, most of indirect effects through the variable of political concern tended to be larger than those through other intermediary variables.

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Internet, TV debate, electoral voting, path analysis, direct effect, indirect effect, political concern, Korean presidential election.