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A cognitive–motivational model of voting intention: The mediating role of voting orientation in linking critical thinking to voting intention

Cilt: 23 Sayı: 2026 12 Ağustos 2026
Ömer Erdoğan *, Ceren Demirci
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A cognitive–motivational model of voting intention: The mediating role of voting orientation in linking critical thinking to voting intention

Öz

This study examines how voting intention is associated with cognitive and motivational processes by focusing on the evaluative meaning individuals attribute to electoral participation. Rather than treating voting intention as the direct outcome of isolated predictors, the proposed model considers voting orientation—defined as the personal importance, civic meaning, and participatory value attributed to voting—as a possible intermediary between critical thinking disposition and voting intention. Locus of control is examined as a potential boundary condition of this indirect association. Data were collected from 383 eligible voters residing across the seven geographical regions of Türkiye. The findings showed that critical thinking was positively associated with voting orientation and that voting orientation was, in turn, positively associated with voting intention. Critical thinking also showed a significant total association with voting intention; however, the remaining direct association was small and nonsignificant after voting orientation was included in the model. The bootstrap indirect effect through voting orientation was statistically significant. A sensitivity analysis using a single voting-orientation item produced the same substantive pattern: the indirect association remained statistically significant, whereas the remaining direct association was nonsignificant. Neither the interaction between critical thinking and locus of control nor the index of moderated mediation was statistically significant. Overall, the findings are consistent with the view that the relationship between a broad cognitive disposition and voting intention is partly organized through the meaning and value individuals assign to voting. Because the study was cross-sectional and based on a convenience sample, the results should not be interpreted as evidence of causal mediation or generalized to the Turkish electorate as a whole.

Anahtar Kelimeler

critical thinking, locus of control, voting intention, voting orientation, evaluative processes, political participation

Etik Beyan

Ethical approval was obtained from the Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Committee of Kastamonu University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (Decision No: 58, Meeting No: 1, Date: February 3, 2026).

Kaynakça

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Kaynak Göster

APA
Erdoğan, Ö., & Demirci, C. (2026). A cognitive–motivational model of voting intention: The mediating role of voting orientation in linking critical thinking to voting intention. OPUS Journal of Society Research, 23(2026), 1-26. https://doi.org/10.26466/opusjsr.1918324
AMA
1.Erdoğan Ö, Demirci C. A cognitive–motivational model of voting intention: The mediating role of voting orientation in linking critical thinking to voting intention. OPUS TAD. 2026;23(2026):1-26. doi:10.26466/opusjsr.1918324
Chicago
Erdoğan, Ömer, ve Ceren Demirci. 2026. “A cognitive–motivational model of voting intention: The mediating role of voting orientation in linking critical thinking to voting intention”. OPUS Journal of Society Research 23 (2026): 1-26. https://doi.org/10.26466/opusjsr.1918324.
EndNote
Erdoğan Ö, Demirci C (01 Ağustos 2026) A cognitive–motivational model of voting intention: The mediating role of voting orientation in linking critical thinking to voting intention. OPUS Journal of Society Research 23 2026 1–26.
IEEE
[1]Ö. Erdoğan ve C. Demirci, “A cognitive–motivational model of voting intention: The mediating role of voting orientation in linking critical thinking to voting intention”, OPUS TAD, c. 23, sy 2026, ss. 1–26, Ağu. 2026, doi: 10.26466/opusjsr.1918324.
ISNAD
Erdoğan, Ömer - Demirci, Ceren. “A cognitive–motivational model of voting intention: The mediating role of voting orientation in linking critical thinking to voting intention”. OPUS Journal of Society Research 23/2026 (01 Ağustos 2026): 1-26. https://doi.org/10.26466/opusjsr.1918324.
JAMA
1.Erdoğan Ö, Demirci C. A cognitive–motivational model of voting intention: The mediating role of voting orientation in linking critical thinking to voting intention. OPUS TAD. 2026;23:1–26.
MLA
Erdoğan, Ömer, ve Ceren Demirci. “A cognitive–motivational model of voting intention: The mediating role of voting orientation in linking critical thinking to voting intention”. OPUS Journal of Society Research, c. 23, sy 2026, Ağustos 2026, ss. 1-26, doi:10.26466/opusjsr.1918324.
Vancouver
1.Ömer Erdoğan, Ceren Demirci. A cognitive–motivational model of voting intention: The mediating role of voting orientation in linking critical thinking to voting intention. OPUS TAD. 01 Ağustos 2026;23(2026):1-26. doi:10.26466/opusjsr.1918324