Measuring Morality in Political Attitude Expression Articles uri icon

publication date

  • August 2018

start page

  • 1028

end page

  • 1033

issue

  • 3

volume

  • 80

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0022-3816

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1468-2508

abstract

  • This study explores whether and how individuals evoke moral considerations when discussing their political beliefs. By analyzing open-ended responses in the 2012 American National Election Study using a previously validated dictionary, I find systematic ideological differences in moral reasoning, even when respondents are not explicitly asked about morality. The study proceeds to show that the reliance on moral considerations in attitude expression is amplified by the moral content of individual media environments.

subjects

  • Sociology

keywords

  • moral foundations theory; open-ended survey responses; text analysis; media contents