Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: In this paper I show that ideal points estimated from observed legislative behavior in Brazil reveal a pro vs. anti government dimension rather than an ideological cleavage. I then propose a method to retrieve ideological positions from survey data and discuss how ideology and observed behavior relate to each other. The paper documents the relative stability of the ideological structure of Brazilian parties, but also shows that ideology has wanned as a determinant of legislator behavior.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Americans know very little about politics, but are somehow still making political decisions. This paper seeks to determine some of the criteria used to make those decisions. First, it examines the beliefs that citizens hold about the ideology of candidates for office and finds that these beliefs are mostly correct, but often skewed. Then, by examining the policy preferences of candidates for office and survey respondents as well as non-policy related beliefs about candidates, this paper finds that these personality traits are actually just as good or better of a proxy for certain beliefs about candidates as policy preferences. Whereas ideology ratings should be determined strictly by policy preferences because ideology is a question of policy, perceived ideology is explained by both policy and personality. This finding leads to a conclusion that the judgments made by voters about candidates are, at least to some degree, based on things unrelated to the actual ideology of candidates.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The nonlinguistic aspects of ideology such as emotions may describe, interpret, and explain the relationship between affect and ideology. This study using critical discourse analysis in education researches this issue.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: NASCAR has emerged from its status as a largely regional phenomenon to become the second largest spectator sport in the United States. This paper analyzes NASCAR television events as ritual celebrations of a distinct ideology. The paper traces NASCAR’s development within the socio-cultural milieu of the mid-to-late 20th-century American South. Prerace coverage is treated as a prime opportunity to encode race events within a mythological discourse. It is argued that prerace telecasts seek to discursively construct NASCAR events as ritual celebrations of laissez-faire economics, ultra-conservative cultural values, and fervent nationalism.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: What are the public opinion consequences when public policy moves in a more liberal or conservative direction? The accepted wisdom on ideology in public opinion is that it is largely ephemeral for most people. While this is undoubtedly true, it is also possible that the relative salience of ideology could vary over time. As ideological distinctions become more important in political debate, ideology itself may come to mean more to the mass public. In addition, while ideology may be a nebulous concept for individuals to grasp, perhaps on average it is sensitive to shifts in public policy.
This paper represents an initial investigation of the these questions, with an emphasis on the first question. It finds—tentatively—that as Congress and the President produce more major legislation that is polarized along ideological lines, people increasingly have ideologies, and those who have ideologies are increasingly polarized towards the ends of the scale.