THE EFFECTS OF DEMOGRAPHICS ON POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION IN AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
by Daniela Tejada
Category: Humanities
Abstract – This study analyzes the relationship between demographic factors and political party affiliation in America, and how the addition of American youth to the voting population could possibly change political trends. This study administered an anonymous electronic survey to American high school students in grades nine through twelve, with a qualifier question of never having voted before. Participants were asked demographic identifier questions, including age, race/ethnicity, region, and religion. Participants were asked which political party they aligned with. The survey contained twenty-four questions to identify the participants’ alignment with the goals and beliefs of either the Democrat or Republican parties to account for error in the participants’ responses to the political affiliation question. The survey questions used a Likert scale, where participants were assigned a score based on their responses. The independent variable of this study was demographics, with the goal being to find its possible connection to political party affiliation, the dependent variable. The results of the survey demonstrated that most minority individuals identified with Democrat or Democrat-leaning ideals. Based on the results, it was concluded that the next political trend will have more Democrat/Democrat-leaning citizens, influenced by the rise in minorities and more liberal mindsets in American youth.