Authors: Claire Abernathy, Kevin M. Esterling, Justin Freebourn, Ryan Kennedy, William Minozzi, Michael A. Neblo, Jonathan A. Solis 

Project Description: This study examines the impact of telephone town halls, a common but understudied tool for congressional communication. A field experiment showed that participation improved constituent views of both the format and their Member of Congress. Furthermore, specific reforms—such as emphasizing focused topics and providing preparatory materials—yielded additional gains in format evaluations, suggesting strong potential to enhance democratic engagement through existing technologies.

Publication Details: Constituent Communication Through Telephone Town Halls: A Field Experiment Involving Members of Congress 

Keywords: Telephone Town Halls, Field Experiment, Constituent Engagement