ORCID Identifier(s)

0000-0003-2443-3209

Graduation Semester and Year

2023

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Lauri A Jensen-Campbell

Abstract

Latinos have grown to be the largest ethnic minority group in the U.S. since the 2000 U.S. Census count but have historically voted at lower numbers compared to White Americans. Two studies examined a new construct, ethnic group political efficacy (GPE), to understand better marginalized groups voting participation. Study 1 developed a group political efficacy scale (GPE). Using exploratory factor and item response theory analysis, results revealed that the scale has three factors: internal, external, and power GPE. More importantly, minorities’ voting intent was partially explained by ethnic GPE. Next, a focal second short-term longitudinal study with an online national sample of Latinos was conducted to examine Latino GPE further. Ethnic GPE was experimentally manipulated by priming participants' ethnicity and asking them to make a plan to vote for themselves and someone close to them. Study 2 results replicated and confirmed the scale development of ethnic GPE. Additionally, although participants in the treatment conditions were not more likely to vote in the midterm, they were more likely to vote with someone else instead of going alone and reported they would take someone to vote with them in the future. Findings suggest that politicians need to highlight the collectivism (group) in Latino culture when getting out the vote.

Keywords

political efficacy, voter participation, self-identification, groups, Latinos

Disciplines

Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

31292-2.zip (2067 kB)

Included in

Psychology Commons

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