Knoxville — One week from Thursday voters will head to the polls.
And this campaign season some television ads are quick to point out the flaws in opposing candidates.
But some polls show that tactic doesn't work.
If you've turned on the TV, chances are you've caught a political ad.
It appears to be happening the most in the GOP primary race for governor.
RELATED | Decision 2018: Your key to early voting
"Political campaigns think that they matter, and that's why they spend a lot of time resources crafting those kinds of negative messages," Dr. Katie Cahill said. "But it seems that voters and research doesn't necessarily support that viewpoint."
Cahill is the associate director of the Howard Baker Jr. Center For Public Policy at UT.
She points to a October 2012 poll of more than 1,100 Americans that showed 65 percent did not like negative ads.
"And in fact, republicans and southerners were more likely to say that they weren't effective," Cahill said.
Just last month, a Quinnipiac University poll found 91 percent of respondents found a lack of civility is a serious problem in politics.
"It's unusual that you would see that level of agreement about something like that," Cahill said. "So 91 percent saying lack of civility is a problem, I think, indicates that this is a conversation that we need to start having."
She encourages voters to go beyond the campaign ads and be open-minded.
"I always challenge myself to explore alternative viewpoints," Cahill said. "I go to both sides of the aisle--as far left and as far right as I can possibly find."
And do research on the candidates.
"Read what they actually say about their policies and what their plan is, and about their own personal background and motivation for running for public office," Cahill said.
Cahill says social media can be a place for misinformation.
She says don't believe everything you read there.