[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-detail-119500-en":3,"doc-seo-119500-105":30,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":91},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",{"doc_id":7,"user_id":8,"nickname":9,"user_avatar":10,"doc_module":4,"category_id":11,"category_name":12,"doc_title":13,"doc_description":14,"doc_content":15,"file_id":16,"file_url":17,"file_type":18,"file_size":19,"view_count":4,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":20,"is_downloadable":20,"audit_status":20,"page_count":21,"language":22,"language_code":23,"site_id":24,"html_lang":23,"table_of_contents":25,"faqs":26,"seo_title":27,"seo_description":14,"update_tm":28,"read_time":29},119500,962075114101,"Seraphina","https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/e000253a75eb197efd?x-image-process=image/resize,m_fixed,w_180,h_180&k=1780044092746381165",8,"Research & Report","Paving New Ways - The Case for Machine Learning in Political Psychology - Doctoral Thesis","Paving New Ways advances political psychology research by using machine learning models to improve the prediction of political cognitions and behavior. The dissertation emphasizes harnessing increased complexity through modern learning approaches, and leverages data abundance via large datasets and novel data sources. It presents multiple original manuscripts demonstrating the potential of machine learning in the field, including work on belief in conspiracy theories and political opinion estimation from social media. A future-oriented outlook frames directions for subsequent research.","Doctoral thesis submitted to  \nthe Faculty of Behavioural and Cultural Studies Heidelberg University  \nin partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Dr. phil.)  \nin Psychology  \nTitle of the publication-based thesis Paving New Ways –  \nThe Case for Machine Learning in Political Psychology  \npresented by  \nNils Brandenstein  \nyear of submission  \n2025  \nDean: Prof. Dr. Guido Sprenger  \nSupervisor: Prof. Dr. Jan Rummel  \nContents  \ni List of scientific publications of the publication-based dissertation 1  \nii Acknowledgements 3  \niii Preface 5  \n1 The importance of predicting political cognitions and behavior 7  \n2 Daring more complexity-Harnessing machine learning models in po  \nlitical psychology 11  \n3 The advent of data abundance - Utilizing large datasets and novel  \ndata sources to their full potential 15  \n4 Showcasing the potential of machine learning in political psychology: Three original manuscripts 19  \n5 A potential future of political psychological research 23  \nReferences 27  \nAppendix A1-Manuscript I 33  \nAppendix B1-Manuscript II 55  \nAppendix C1-Manuscript III 75  \nDeclaration in accordance to § 8 (1) c) and d) of the doctoral degree regulation of the Faculty 99  \ni List of scientific publications of the publication-based dissertation  \nManuscript I  \nBrandenstein, N. (2022) . Going beyond simplicity: Using machine learning to predict belief in conspiracy theories. EuropeanJournal of Social Psychology, 52(5-6), 910–930. [https://doi.org/10](https://doi.org/10) . 1002/ejsp.2859  \nManuscript II  \nBrandenstein, N., Ackermann, K., Aeschbach, N., & Rummel, J. (2023) . The key determinants of individual greenhouse gas emissions in Germany are mostly domain-specific. Communications Earth & Environment, 4(1), 422. [https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-01092-x](https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-01092-x)  \nManuscript III  \nBrandenstein, N., Montag, C., & Sindermann, C. (2024). To follow or not to follow: Estimating political opinion from Twitter data using a network-based machine learning approach. Social Science Computer Review, 0(0). [https://doi.org/10.1177/08944393241279418](https://doi.org/10.1177/08944393241279418)  \nii Acknowledgements  \nWhat a ride! The last five years have proven to be the most challenging, exciting, definitely stressful, but mostly rewarding and joyful time of my life so far. Like most PhD students, I had no idea ofwhat I was getting myself into. But one thing I quickly learned is that the people around you make all the difference and can help you master even the biggest challenges. I am deeply grateful for the continuous support of my colleagues, friends and family.  \nFirst, I want to thank my supervisor, Prof. Dr. Jan Rummel. After presenting my master’s thesis at his colloquium and without knowing me well, he offered me the opportunity to pursue a PhD in his lab, and most importantly, to pursue my PhD. Whenever I tell other researchers that I do political psychology research using machine learning models in an experimental psychology lab, they understandably look confused at first. While our research interests are very different (although they have converged over time), Jan has always supported my ideas, given me the freedom to explore them and-most importantly-believed in my success. He always made time in his busy schedule for discussions about research, teaching, administration, or career planning, and has shaped both me as a researcher and my work in various ways. I know that kind of support is not the norm in psychology labs and I am truly grateful to have him as my supervisor. Next, I want to thank Prof. Dr. Andreas Voß for immediately agreeing to be the second reviewer of my dissertation and for showing genuine interest in my studies.  \nGreat colleagues make for a great work environment and I undoubtedly had the best there are. First, I want to thank the Sacred Cat Gang, Wiebke, Steffi, Kathrin, Milena, Lukas, Fabi and Thorben. After starting off as ","cbCaijEPV4SGJD0p","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaijEPV4SGJD0p","pdf",5428102,1,104,"English","en",105,"# List of scientific publications of the publication-based dissertation\n## Manuscript I\n## Manuscript II\n## Manuscript III\n# Acknowledgements\n# Preface\n# The importance of predicting political cognitions and behavior\n# Daring more complexity - Harnessing machine learning models in political psychology\n# The advent of data abundance - Utilizing large datasets and novel data sources to their full potential\n# Showcasing the potential of machine learning in political psychology: Three original manuscripts\n# A potential future of political psychological research\n# References\n# Appendix A1 - Manuscript I\n# Appendix B1 - Manuscript II\n# Appendix C1 - Manuscript III","[{\"question\":\"What central research goal does the dissertation pursue in political psychology?\",\"answer\":\"To predict political cognitions and behavior more effectively by applying machine learning models in political psychology research.\"},{\"question\":\"How does the dissertation address methodological complexity?\",\"answer\":\"It focuses on harnessing complexity through machine learning models tailored to political psychological processes rather than relying on overly simplistic approaches.\"},{\"question\":\"What role do data resources and data sources play in the work?\",\"answer\":\"The work leverages data abundance by using large datasets and novel data sources to maximize the value extracted for political-psychological prediction.\"}]","Paving New Ways - The Case for Machine Learning in Political Psychology - Doctoral Thesis | PDF",1785724673,262,{"code":4,"msg":31,"data":32},"ok",{"site_id":24,"language":23,"slug":33,"title":13,"keywords":34,"description":14,"schema_data":35,"social_meta":86,"head_meta":88,"extra_data":90,"updated_unix":28},"paving-new-ways-the-case-for-machine-learning-in-political-psychology-doctoral-thesis","",{"@graph":36,"@context":85},[37,54,68],{"@type":38,"itemListElement":39},"BreadcrumbList",[40,44,48,51],{"item":41,"name":42,"@type":43,"position":20},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":45,"name":46,"@type":43,"position":47},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":49,"name":12,"@type":43,"position":50},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/",3,{"item":52,"name":13,"@type":43,"position":53},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/paving-new-ways-the-case-for-machine-learning-in-political-psychology-doctoral-thesis/119500/",4,{"url":52,"name":13,"@type":55,"author":56,"headline":13,"publisher":58,"fileFormat":61,"inLanguage":23,"description":14,"dateModified":62,"datePublished":62,"encodingFormat":61,"isAccessibleForFree":63,"interactionStatistic":64},"DigitalDocument",{"name":9,"@type":57},"Person",{"url":41,"name":59,"@type":60},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-08-03",true,{"@type":65,"interactionType":66,"userInteractionCount":4},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":67},"ViewAction",{"@type":69,"mainEntity":70},"FAQPage",[71,77,81],{"name":72,"@type":73,"acceptedAnswer":74},"What central research goal does the dissertation pursue in political psychology?","Question",{"text":75,"@type":76},"To predict political cognitions and behavior more effectively by applying machine learning models in political psychology research.","Answer",{"name":78,"@type":73,"acceptedAnswer":79},"How does the dissertation address methodological complexity?",{"text":80,"@type":76},"It focuses on harnessing complexity through machine learning models tailored to political psychological processes rather than relying on overly simplistic approaches.",{"name":82,"@type":73,"acceptedAnswer":83},"What role do data resources and data sources play in the work?",{"text":84,"@type":76},"The work leverages data abundance by using large datasets and novel data sources to maximize the value extracted for political-psychological prediction.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":52,"og:type":87,"og:title":13,"og:site_name":59,"og:description":14},"article",{"robots":89,"canonical":52},"index,follow",{"doc_id":7,"site_id":24},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":92},[93,97,101,105,110,115,120,123,128,131,135],{"id":20,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":94,"show_sort_weight":95,"slug":96},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":47,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":98,"show_sort_weight":99,"slug":100},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":53,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":102,"show_sort_weight":103,"slug":104},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":106,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":107,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":111,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":112,"show_sort_weight":113,"slug":114},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":116,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":117,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":119},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":11,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":12,"show_sort_weight":121,"slug":122},30,"research-report",{"id":124,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":126,"slug":127},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":126,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":129,"show_sort_weight":126,"slug":130},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":132,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":133,"show_sort_weight":132,"slug":134},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":136,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":137,"show_sort_weight":106,"slug":138},19,"General","general"]