Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The study of opinion change and stability, using survey research, has produced conflicting results. Although longitudinal cross-sectional surveys suggest that change and constancy exist, panel studies challenge this conclusion, and, indeed, point to the possibility that opinion itself may be based more on random reactions (non-attitudes) than on thoughtful consideration of questions. This paper examines this incongruity through an analysis of opinion about fifteen policy issues probed in a four-wave panel study administered in New Zealand over the course of the 1990s. Central to its focus is an analysis of the existence and impact of non-attitudes on mass public opinion. The findings question whether non-attitudes are operative and suggest that genuine change and stability are extant. Moreover, consistency in views appears anchored by underlying attitudes. Both alteration and stability seem to form, develop, or emerge in response to stimuli emanating from the surrounding political environment.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Immigration has emerged as one of the most important policy debates in contemporary America. What shapes citizens attitudes towards immigration policy? Of particular interest is the role played by religion and nationalism – two other important emerging forces in American politics – in determining these attitudes. In previous research (Nooruddin and McDaniel 2006), we show that higher levels of nationalism are associated with more exclusionary definitions of American citizenship. In this paper, we deepen the causal chain by including religion in the analysis. On the one hand, scholars have argued that American nationalism is rooted in religious beliefs, which would suggest that more religious citizens should have higher levels of nationalistic fervor and therefore favor less inclusionary immigration policy. On the other, some religious elites have emphasized the principles of tolerance and compassion in their faith in arguing that members of their congregation should be open-minded and accepting of increased immigration. This paper uses survey data to discriminate between these arguments, and seeks to contribute thereby to the larger debates about the evolving nature of contemporary US politics.

Publication Type: Session Paper
Abstract: Families talk about everyday issues from the weather to social concerns (Wood & Duck, 2006); but this study proposes that family communication also socializes about how to express love to others. A sample of 196 matched dyads of undergraduates and one of their parents completed two instruments; the Love Attitudes Scale (Hendrick & Hendrick, 1990) and the Revised Family Communication Patterns Inventory (Ritchie & Fitzpatrick, 1990), along with three open-ended questions about family communication practices. Triangulation of methods revealed a relationship between family communication and all six young adult love attitudes. Fathers’ love attitudes predicted five of six young adult love attitudes: Eros, Ludus, Pragma, Mania, and Agape. Free responses exposed five sources of knowledge about love, including family, friends, media, past relationship experience, and church. Results suggest that fathers may represent an understudied influence on young adult love attitudes, and that family communication may play an important role in the young adults’ preferred expressions of love.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This study examines how prior attitudes toward the issues such as smoking, drinking and drug use affect the processing of TV PSAs designed to decrease those riskly behaviors. TV viewers may have strong or weak prior attitudes toward the issues when viewing these PSAs and the automatically activated these attitudes likely affect attention, memory and persuasion. Further, whether a viewer has an attitude that is congruent or incongruent with the attitude presented through the PSAs would also influence these factors. It is predicted that the PSAs viewed with strong (thus highly accessible) prior attitudes will receive more attention and will be remembered better than the PSAs viewed with weak attitudes (inaccessible). Further, when the prior attitudes match with the message attitude, the processing will be more elaborated (more attention and better memory). However, attitude change will be induced when the attitudes are weak rather than strong.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Longitudinal studies offer the opportunity to examine trends over time both in terms of participation and attitudes. However, the loss of participants from one wave to another can result in bias of survey results. The Study of HIV and AIDS Stigma, conducted for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), is a longitudinal study of a national, RDD selected Knowledge Networks panel investigating knowledge of HIV and AIDS, as well as attitudes and beliefs surrounding this issue. The survey was initially conducted in summer 2000 with a follow-up in spring 2003. Comparisons are made of panel participants and non-participants between the 2 waves, as well as changes in attitudes. Survey non-participants at time 2 include non-respondents who are still on the panel, and non-respondents from attrition (who have chosen to withdraw from the panel). In addition, we investigate changes in attitudes over time and discuss the implications of differing panel participation on those changing attitudes and how this may result in biased data. Early analysis indicates that participants with more negative attitudes in wave 1 were less likely to participate in wave 2 resulting in potential bias to the results.