Date of Conferral
2023
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Public Policy and Administration
Advisor
Anne J. Hacker
Abstract
Excessive polarization, partisanship, and animosity can promote legislative gridlock in the American political electorate and can have a negative impact on democracy. The purpose of this qualitative study was to obtain a greater understanding of the moral foundations used by residents in polarized cities to determine political party preferences. Haidt and Graham’s moral foundations theory and Janis’s groupthink theory provided the conceptual framework. Secondary data consisting of open-ended responses from the 2020 American National Election Studies time series study were used. Secondary data were collected regarding likes and dislikes about the two major political parties (Democrat and Republican) from respondents in five polarized cities: Jackson, Mississippi; New Orleans, Louisiana; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Birmingham, Alabama; and Shreveport, Louisiana. Data were analyzed to identify the moral foundations used by residents of politically polarized cities in the United States to determine political party preferences. Thematic coding was used through the lens of the conceptual framework, and findings indicate the moral foundations used by residents of politically polarized cities are primarily harm/care and fairness/reciprocity when assessing political parties. Ingroup/loyalty, respect/authority, and purity/sanctity were also used, but to a lesser extent. This research may contribute to positive social change by providing a better understanding of the reasons for political polarization, partisanship, and animosity, which could lead to methods for understanding partisanship to foster tolerance and civility in political discourse.
Recommended Citation
Barton, Antoine Lee, "Moral Foundations for Political Party Preference Among Residents of Politically Polarized U.S. Cities" (2023). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 14649.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/14649
