Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


30661.pdf (3.71 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Political Self-Identity and Views of Higher Education: A Study of Criminal Justice Graduate Students

Pietenpol, Annelise M
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin153907900801313

Abstract Details

2018, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services: Criminal Justice.
A growing body of literature points to the importance of political ideology in the deployment of motivated reasoning, in the formation of packages of policy stances, and in the polarization of groups. However, little research exists on how ideology impacts college students and their experiences in higher education. This study extends the literature by examining the salience of political ideology in several important student outcomes. Using a sample of current and former students in the University of Cincinnati’s online Master of Science in Criminal Justice program, I show that criminal justice students ascribe to several labels that correspond with underlying socio-political identities. Respondents’ socio-political identity is a salient predictor in how connected students feel to their classmates and professors, in how concerned they are about consequences for speaking out in class about a controversial political topic, and in their perceived experiences with discrimination, criticism, or self-censorship in higher education. Further, students in this study engage in politically motivated reasoning and ingroup/outgroup biases. Liberal and conservative students ascribe positive labels to their political group and ascribe negative labels to the other political group. Criminal justice students report the opposing political group biases teaching and research in academia, attribute political disparities in higher education to explanations favorable to their ingroup, and believe professors should engage in roles that align with their group’s core values. Finally, socio-political identity is a salient predictor of views on science and policy. Science views and general social and criminal justice policy stances coalesce into underlying policy packages that are informed by socio-political beliefs. When criminal justice master’s students make assessments about criminal justice policy, those assessments are not independent of other background beliefs. The study shows that criminal justice master’s students’ socio-political identities are important components of their educational experience. Criminal justice faculty would be remiss to deem their students’ political beliefs irrelevant to the classroom.
John Wright, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Brian B. Boutwell, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
J.C. Barnes, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Francis Cullen, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
206 p.
Criminology

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Pietenpol, A. M. (2018). Political Self-Identity and Views of Higher Education: A Study of Criminal Justice Graduate Students [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin153907900801313

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Pietenpol, Annelise. Political Self-Identity and Views of Higher Education: A Study of Criminal Justice Graduate Students. 2018. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin153907900801313.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Pietenpol, Annelise. "Political Self-Identity and Views of Higher Education: A Study of Criminal Justice Graduate Students." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin153907900801313

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin153907900801313
491
© 2018, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.