Dr Laura Serra

My research lies at the intersection between electoral studies and public opinion analysis, and explores how voters’ characteristics and parties’ programmatic outlooks influence preferences and behaviours.

I have a PhD in Political Science. My doctoral research examined the widening age gap in British partisanship, from its origins to its implications. My thesis was awarded the McDougall Trust Prize 2024 for the best dissertation in the field of elections, electoral systems, and representation by the Political Studies Association. You can read it here.

My research interests further include the impact of party targeted group appeals on political behaviour, the political effects of the increasingly delayed transition into adulthood, as well as intergenerational political hostility and value change.

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

• Serra, L. (2025). The Impact of Party Appeals on Age Differences in Voting. Electoral Studies, 96, 102942.
• Serra, L. & Grasso, M. (2025). Political Socialisation in the UK: Describing Generational Changes of Values. International Journal of Culture, Politics, and Society.

Books and Edited Volumes

• Serra, L., & Grasso, M. (2027). Data challenges in political socialization research. In J. Greenlee & Z. Oxley (Eds.), The DeGruyter handbook of political socialization. DeGruyter. (forthcoming)
• Serra, L. (2027). Age and generation as dividing lines in the capital. In E. Simon & P. Diamond (eds.), Governing the Capital. Taylor & Francis. (forthcoming).
• Serra, L. & Smets, K. (2022). Age and Generation. In M. Grasso & M. Giugni (eds.), Oxford Handbook of Political Participation. Oxford University Press.
• Serra, L., Sloam, J., & Smets, K. (In press). Youth Political Participation in the UK. In F. Vassallo (ed.), Youth Political Activism in Democracies. Edward Elgar.
• Halperin, A., & Heath, O. (4^th ed. contributor, 2025). Political Research: Methods and Practical Skills. Oxford University Press.
• Serra, L. & Grasso, M. (Forthcoming). Emerging Generational Identities. In L. Mason et al. (eds.), Future Identities: Changing Identities in the UK, 10 Years On.

Manuscripts Under Review

• Serra, L. & Simon, E. (R&R). Maturation and the Right: A Comparative Study of Delayed Transitions to Adulthood and Conservatism. British Journal of Political Science.
• Serra, L., Bruter, M., Obradovic, S., & Harrison, S. (R&R) Intergenerational Gender Differences in Electoral Psychology. West European Politics.
• Obradovic, S., Serra, L., Bruter, M., & Harrison, S. (R&R) First-Time Voting as a Rite of Passage. European Political Science Review.
• Sleiman, Y., Grasso, M., Pattie, C., Serra, L., & Hofer, C. (R&R) Polarizing Punchlines. Political Studies.
• Serra, L., Bruter, M., Harrison, S., & Obradovic, S. Making the First Vote Count: Testing Initiatives to Boost Youth Electoral Engagement.