Americans 'Support' the Idea of Tuition-Free College: An Exploration of Sentiment and Political Identity Signals Otherwise
Saved in:
| Title: | Americans 'Support' the Idea of Tuition-Free College: An Exploration of Sentiment and Political Identity Signals Otherwise |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Collier, Daniel A., Mishra, Shubhanshu, Houston, Derek A., Hensley, Brandon O., Hartlep, Nicholas D. |
| Source: | Journal of Further and Higher Education. 2019 43(3):347-362. |
| Availability: | Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 16 |
| Publication Date: | 2019 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education Two Year Colleges |
| Descriptors: | Public Opinion, Public Support, Paying for College, Tuition, Community Colleges, Social Media, Discourse Analysis, Federal Programs, Educational Policy, Rhetoric, Political Attitudes, Politics of Education, Interpersonal Communication, Individual Characteristics, Political Affiliation, Discourse Communities |
| DOI: | 10.1080/0309877X.2017.1361516 |
| ISSN: | 0309-877X |
| Abstract: | In January 2015, President Obama captured headlines in the US by announcing America's College Promise (ACP), a policy that would reverse four decades of privatisation in higher education by making community colleges 'tuition-free'. This research explores the conversation that unfolded across the Facebook pages of various media sources. Key phrases associated with sentiments and communication styles are uncovered using a Bag of Words (BoW) technique. Next, guided by political identity theory, the researchers employ logistic regression to explore variable effects (e.g. source, gender, race, age and political leaning) on communicating: (1) Against ACP, (2) in a Civil manner, and (3) Against/Civil/On-Topic. BoW models suggest those against the policy utilise anti-free-ride, privatisation rhetoric, whereas those using uncivil language attack commentators and groups who counter personally-held political beliefs -- while also introducing non-sequiturs from other policies (e.g. healthcare and immigration). The combined communication styles unlocked tokens not found in larger sentiments, such as concerns over student loan debt. Logistic regression illustrates that, depending on sentiment or communication style explored, political identities and memberships associated with source and political alignment significantly affected likelihoods of communicating in the conversation. These findings are linked back to political identity theory. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2019 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1207708 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | In January 2015, President Obama captured headlines in the US by announcing America's College Promise (ACP), a policy that would reverse four decades of privatisation in higher education by making community colleges 'tuition-free'. This research explores the conversation that unfolded across the Facebook pages of various media sources. Key phrases associated with sentiments and communication styles are uncovered using a Bag of Words (BoW) technique. Next, guided by political identity theory, the researchers employ logistic regression to explore variable effects (e.g. source, gender, race, age and political leaning) on communicating: (1) Against ACP, (2) in a Civil manner, and (3) Against/Civil/On-Topic. BoW models suggest those against the policy utilise anti-free-ride, privatisation rhetoric, whereas those using uncivil language attack commentators and groups who counter personally-held political beliefs -- while also introducing non-sequiturs from other policies (e.g. healthcare and immigration). The combined communication styles unlocked tokens not found in larger sentiments, such as concerns over student loan debt. Logistic regression illustrates that, depending on sentiment or communication style explored, political identities and memberships associated with source and political alignment significantly affected likelihoods of communicating in the conversation. These findings are linked back to political identity theory. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0309-877X |
| DOI: | 10.1080/0309877X.2017.1361516 |
