I conducted this project for my Political Sociology class. This study examines the impact of participation in participatory budgeting (PB) in Saratoga Springs, NY—a small U.S. city—on residents’ perceptions of government responsiveness. A survey of a sample of Cycle 3 PB voters measured involvement (cycles voted in, proposals submitted) and evaluations of the practice, with responsiveness indexed from Likert items on city spending responsibility and local government attention to input.​

Multivariate OLS regressions show positive PB evaluations and observed community impacts significantly predict higher perceived responsiveness, explaining up to 26% of variance, while being involved in the proposal process predicts more negative perceptions of government responsiveness. Descriptive data reveal strong overall PB favorability (means >3.5/5) and support for expansion. Findings suggest PB boosts responsiveness perceptions more through tangible outcomes than the morals of the procedure, and highly involved individuals in civic processes may be more critical.

Completed!

Independent research project for Political Sociology.

Fall 2025