单选题 In the past decade, new scientific developments in communications have changed the way many people gather information about politics. The most important of these new 1 is the Internet. Recent research suggests the use of the Internet for political information increases the 2 of participation.
While a(n) 3 relationship between Internet news and political participation has been found, a theoretical link as to why the Internet is 4 from other media forms is largely 5 . This research is an attempt to 6 the "black-box" linking the Internet and political participation by building on two theoretical 7 . The first, surge and decline theory, comes out of political science and the second, media systems dependency theory, 8 from communications. Both explanations focus on individual costs and benefits of political participation. The media can 9 the "costs" by providing sufficient information to make 10 decisions about voting. Previous research 11 that the Internet benefits the public through the cost side of the equation. One of the media"s greatest 12 is information and the public 13 on media to provide them with the information they need. 14 the Internet is capable of providing information 15 , and from a multitude of sources, one would expect it to 16 political action through lowering the cost of information.
Besides lowering participation costs, the media can 17 increase the benefits of participation. Intense media 18 of an event such as an election can 19 excitement that increases the perceived "benefit" of participating. The Internet may encourage a unique participation benefit 20 increased mobilization efforts.