In addition to this analysis, the findings of the Pew Research Center's 2012 Values Survey, which observed that party affiliation ranks as the most influential demographic factor when determining value differentiation between individual voters, and that this political polarization has intensified during the last four election cycles. The fact that the most divisive cable news outlets, FOX News and MSNBC, both began broadcasting to a national audience in 1996 provides a further basis for empirical research designed to evaluate the hypothesis that long-term viewership of ideologically inspired news sources decreases one's willingness to alter voting patterns, and is thus responsible for the reduced impact of news consumption on voting choice.

A control group of voters who do not regularly consume news and political information from either media outlet will also be used. Relevant questions to be asked would concern the respondent's party affiliation, their general voting record in municipal, state, and federal elections, and their willingness to support preferred candidates through campaign contributions or volunteer work. The results of this survey would then be analyzed to determine the presence of any correlation between long-term viewership of ideological news sources, and the lack of willingness to adjust voting…