University study in Hamilton aims to understand voter engagement during tonight's election debate | CBC News

CBC - 17/04
Two labs at McMaster University in Hamilton are conducting a study during Thursday's leaders debate, looking at the heart rate and eye movements of undecided voters as they watch.

Researchers at McMaster University in Hamilton are out to "make democracy better" by studying a group of young people as they watch and react to the leaders' debate Thursday evening.

In what they're calling a "Canadian science first," the university's LIVELab and Digital Society Lab are collaborating to monitor eye movements and heart rate of 40 to 50 undecided voters while they watch the English-language debate.

John McAndrews, managing director of the Digital Society Lab, said the project aims to understand "how we can make democracy better in the digital age."

He said the university is using three different types of measurements to "better understand the audience experience of this debate." 

The group of eligible voters aged 18 to 34 will wear...
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