Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

Title of Abstract

Does a Republican President in Office Explain the Public’s Confidence in the Police?

Submitting Student(s)

Angel Thomas, Winthrop UniversityFollow
Jessi Lessenberry, Winthrop UniversityFollow
Destiny Whichard, Winthrop UniversityFollow

Session Title

Additional Abstracts

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Political Science

Faculty Mentor

Hye-Sung Kim, Ph.D.

Abstract

Abstract

1. Title: Does a Republican President in Office Explain the Public’s Confidence in the Police?
2. Objective: What is the relationship between a Republican President in office and the public’s confidence in the police? In this study, we explore whether the public’s confidence in the police is explained by the party in power
3. Methods: Using the surveys compiled from Gallup, we will conduct multiple regression analyses to test whether confidence in the police goes up among American citizens during Republican presidential terms compared to Democratic presidential terms.
4. Results: The preliminary zero-order relationship shows that the percentage of confidence in the police is positively correlated with a Republican president in office. In multiple regression analyses, we will examine whether the correlation holds after controlling for potential confounders such as economic growth and presidential approval rating.
5. Conclusion: This study can provide information to show the correlation between partisanship and the public’s confidence in the police force after controlling economic growth and presidential approval rating. This study could help police forces, adequately prepare for incoming presidents and the public’s response.

Course Assignment

PLSC 350 - Kim