PPA 419 Aging Services Administration Lecture 3b – Aging and political attitudes, 1948 – 2004

Source The American National Election Studies (www.electionstudies.org). THE 1948-2004 ANES CUMULATIVE DATA FILE [dataset]. Stanford University and the University of Michigan [producers and distributors], 2005.

Problems with Cross-Sectional Studies Influenced by unique circumstances at the time of the survey. Cannot separate affects of age, cohort, and period.

Age, Cohort, and Period Age – Impact of maturation on individual. Cohort – Generational effects caused by exposure to phenomena unique to birth period. Period – Events affecting all cohorts and ages at a single time.

American National Election Studies We can study political attitudes by examining cohorts and age groups over time. Use ANES – 1948 – 2004. 1948, every two years from 1952 to 2004. Twenty-eight surveys in all. 47,438 cases.

Attitudes examined Party identification. Strength of partisanship. Interest in the election. Interest in public affairs. External efficacy. Government responsiveness. Trust in government. Political ideology.

Comparisons Age cohort. 1. 1975-Present 2. 1959-1974 3. 1943-1958 4. 1927-1942 5. 1911-1926 6. 1895-1910 7. Before 1895

Comparisons Age groups. 1. 17-24 2. 25-34 3. 35-44 4. 45-54 5. 55-64 6. 65-74 7. 75-99 and over

Party identification by age cohort

Party identification by age group

Strength of partisanship by age cohort

Strength of partisanship by age group

Interest in the election by age cohort.

Interest in the election by age groups

Interest in public affairs by age cohort

Interest in public affairs by age groups

External efficacy by age cohorts

External efficacy by age groups

Government responsiveness by age cohorts

Government responsiveness by age groups

Trust in government by age cohorts

Trust in government by age groups

Conservatism by age cohort

Conservatism by age group