Hypotheses and Research Questions

With the existing literature on Internet and political participation, this study uses self collected survey data to test the relationship between SNS use and college students’ political participation in China. Formally, the hypotheses are as follows:

H1: Time spent on SNS is positively linked with political participation.

H2: Frequency of SNS use is positively associated with political participation.

H3: Political attitude, as important mediation, has an influence on the relationship between intensity of SNS use and political participation.

H4: Political participation skill, as important mediation, has an influence on the relationship between intensity of SNS use and political participation.

H5a: Students’ political participation varies according to different purposes of using SNS.

H5b: Students’ political participation varies according to different purposes of using the internet.