Overview
My research examines group identity dynamics in the context of American political behavior. My recent work focuses on the nexus of race, nationalism, and political behavior. I also often examine the race-gendered dynamics of criminal justice attitudes using experimental methods.
My co-authored book (with Eric L. McDaniel and Irfan Nooruddin), The Everyday Crusade: Christian Nationalism in American Politics (Cambridge University Press) drops this June (2022)!
My co-authored book (with Eric L. McDaniel and Irfan Nooruddin), The Everyday Crusade: Christian Nationalism in American Politics (Cambridge University Press) drops this June (2022)!
Selected Publications
BOOK: The Everyday Crusade: Christian Nationalism in American Politics (forthcoming w. Cambridge University Press)
FORTHCOMING BOOK DROPS MAY 2022!
With Eric L. McDaniel and Irfan Nooruddin.
With Eric L. McDaniel and Irfan Nooruddin.
Politics, Groups, and Identities Forthcoming (exp. publication data: 2022): Ethnocultural or Generalized? Nationalism and Support for Punitive Immigration Attitudes
The revelation that the Trump administration separated immigrant children from their families at the U.S.–Mexico border and placed them in detention facilities sparked protests across the country in 2018. While the policy received swift backlash from the public and was widely derided as running counter to American values and the rule of law, a segment of the American public supports the policy. We argue that ethnocultural forms of nationalism— beliefs about religious, ethnic, and gendered criteria for “true Americanness”--help explain support for family separations. We test this argument using two surveys collected 2 years apart. In both data sets, we find substantial evidence that ethnocultural forms of nationalism are linked to support for family separation, while generalized nationalism is not.
The revelation that the Trump administration separated immigrant children from their families at the U.S.–Mexico border and placed them in detention facilities sparked protests across the country in 2018. While the policy received swift backlash from the public and was widely derided as running counter to American values and the rule of law, a segment of the American public supports the policy. We argue that ethnocultural forms of nationalism— beliefs about religious, ethnic, and gendered criteria for “true Americanness”--help explain support for family separations. We test this argument using two surveys collected 2 years apart. In both data sets, we find substantial evidence that ethnocultural forms of nationalism are linked to support for family separation, while generalized nationalism is not.
PS: Political Science & Politics 2020: Gender Attitudes, Support for Teacher's Strikes, and Legislative Elections
This paper examines the role of sexism and the 2018 Oklahoma Teacher's Walkout on voter attitudes and behavior during the 2018 midterm elections. We use OKC Exit Poll data to test a group implication argument. (co-authors: Ana Bracic, Mackenzie Israel-Trummel, and Sarina Rhinehart)
This paper examines the role of sexism and the 2018 Oklahoma Teacher's Walkout on voter attitudes and behavior during the 2018 midterm elections. We use OKC Exit Poll data to test a group implication argument. (co-authors: Ana Bracic, Mackenzie Israel-Trummel, and Sarina Rhinehart)
Political Behavior 2019: Is Sexism for White People? Gender Stereotypes, Race, and the 2016 Presidential Election
This paper uses original exit poll data collected in Oklahoma City on the day of the 2016 Election. We show the role that sexism played on support for Trump during the 2016 Election. All data were collected using the mobile Community Engagement + Experiments Laboratory at OU (CEEL), with the help of 60 OU students! (co-authors: Ana Bracic and Mackenzie Israel-Trummel)
This paper uses original exit poll data collected in Oklahoma City on the day of the 2016 Election. We show the role that sexism played on support for Trump during the 2016 Election. All data were collected using the mobile Community Engagement + Experiments Laboratory at OU (CEEL), with the help of 60 OU students! (co-authors: Ana Bracic and Mackenzie Israel-Trummel)
Oklahoma Politics 2017: Exit Polling: Field Research and Pedagogical Benefits of Community Engagement.
This paper discusses the benefits of Community Based Learning(CBL) in the context of training student enumerators to conduct the 2016 Oklahoma City Exit Poll. We are able to demonstrate a wide variety of student learning outputs, examine the quality of the survey sample collected, and present initial findings that explain Oklahoma City voters' support for a variety of contentious state questions in 2016.
This paper discusses the benefits of Community Based Learning(CBL) in the context of training student enumerators to conduct the 2016 Oklahoma City Exit Poll. We are able to demonstrate a wide variety of student learning outputs, examine the quality of the survey sample collected, and present initial findings that explain Oklahoma City voters' support for a variety of contentious state questions in 2016.
Journal of Race, Ethnicity, & Politics 2017: Owning Immigration? Messenger Ethnicity, Issue Ownership, and Support for Latino Candidates
This study employs an original survey experiment to examine whether Latino candidates can own the issue of immigration. The results show that Latino candidates are reviewed more positively than Anglo candidates when it comes to the immigration messages they deliver (especially pro-immigration messages). The findings suggest Latino candidates have the potential to “own” the issue of immigration, revealing a potential path by which Latino candidates can gain a strong foothold with the public in the context of a campaign. (co-author: Tyler Johnson)
This study employs an original survey experiment to examine whether Latino candidates can own the issue of immigration. The results show that Latino candidates are reviewed more positively than Anglo candidates when it comes to the immigration messages they deliver (especially pro-immigration messages). The findings suggest Latino candidates have the potential to “own” the issue of immigration, revealing a potential path by which Latino candidates can gain a strong foothold with the public in the context of a campaign. (co-author: Tyler Johnson)
Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and Politics 2016: Proud to be an American?: The changing relationship of national pride and identity
This study examines national pride and the boundaries of American citizenship; the findings uncover a blurring of the historical distinction between how Americans employ nationalism and patriotism to form their attitudes. (co-authors: Eric McDaniel and Irfan Nooruddin)
This study examines national pride and the boundaries of American citizenship; the findings uncover a blurring of the historical distinction between how Americans employ nationalism and patriotism to form their attitudes. (co-authors: Eric McDaniel and Irfan Nooruddin)
Politics & Religion 2015: Perceptions of Muslims and Islam: Indexing the Effect of Religious Nationalism
This article indexes the effect of religious nationalism, focusing specifically on its relationship to perceptions of Muslims and Islam.
This article indexes the effect of religious nationalism, focusing specifically on its relationship to perceptions of Muslims and Islam.
American Politics Research 2011: Divine Boundaries: How Religion Shapes Citizens' Attitudes Toward Immigrants
2009: Framing and Value Recruitment in the Debate over Teaching Evolution
