ERIC Number: EJ1084473
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Jan
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0038-0407
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Does College Influence Sociopolitical Attitudes?
Campbell, Colin; Horowitz, Jonathan
Sociology of Education, v89 n1 p40-58 Jan 2016
Past research shows a statistically significant relationship between college completion and sociopolitical attitudes. However, recent scholarship suggests the effects of college on social outcomes may be confounded with unobserved family background. In this study, we leverage the shared family and social background of siblings to better identify the effect of college on sociopolitical attitudes. We draw data from the Study of American Families and General Social Survey and use sibling fixed effects to assess the effect of college on political orientation, support for civil liberties, and beliefs about gender egalitarianism. We find that earning a four-year college degree has a significant impact on support for civil liberties and beliefs about gender egalitarianism, but the effect of college on political orientation is confounded by family background.
Descriptors: Higher Education, Colleges, Influences, College Students, Political Attitudes, Outcomes of Education, Civil Rights, Sex Fairness, Family Characteristics, Ideology, Statistical Analysis, Educational Attainment, Surveys, National Surveys
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: General Social Survey
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A