American Pride and Social DemographicsAmerican Pride and Social Demographics

J. Milburn, L. Swartz, M. Tottil, J. Palacio, A. Qiran, V. Sriqui, J. Dorsey, J. Kim University of Maryland, College park, MD 20817

J. Milburn, L. Swartz, M. Tottil, J. Palacio, A. Qiran, V. Sriqui, J. Dorsey, J. Kim University of Maryland, College park, MD 20817

Conclusions Conclusions

MethodsMethods

ResultsResultsIntroductionIntroduction

We’ve come up with a template, here are our ten variables:

Prouddem-how proud the way democracy worksProudeco-how proud America’s economic achievementsProudsci- how proud it’s scientific and tech achievementsProudart-how proud its achievements in art and literatureProudhis-how proud its historyProudpol-how proud its political influence in the worldProudsss-how proud its social security systemProudspt-how proud its achievements in sportsProudmil-how proud America’s armed forcesProudgrp-how proud it’s fair and equal treatment

These variables are scaled from 1-4 with settings ranging from 1 being the highest as “very proud”, 2 as “somewhat proud”, 3 as “not very proud”, and 4 as “not proud at all.”

We re-coded 1 & 2 as “0” for “proud”, and 3 & 4 were re-coded to “1” for “not proud” for each of these pride variables. For the variables “sexdum” and “racedum” we recoded sex “0” as male, “1” female, and then racedum, “0” black, and “1” white. All other races were dropped. These independent variables, including age, education and income, were regressed with the pride traits.

Because the dependent variables are coded 0-1 we cannot use OLS regression. We are going to use logistic regression to predict the probability that demographic characteristics influence levels of pride individuals have on American achievements. The model will look like this:

   

The level of pride people have in their country can be determined by various factors. Depending on the country, there are various components that determine pride. To name a few, these components may include a country’s achievements, strengths, and weaknesses. The United States is composed of diverse population sets, and therefore levels of pride may vary due to this diversity.

Several studies have been conducted that attempt to depict the levels of national pride among different sets of the American population. The most common attributes that have been typically shown to influence pride in ones country are sex, race, and ethnicity. These attributes have defined individual’s levels of pride because significant social events in the United States have usually involved issues of race, gender and ethnicity. Studies have shown that these attributes tend to shape one’s belief system.

A good method to view differences in demographic characteristics is to measure the levels of pride in American achievements. America has achieved different levels of success in areas such as politics, science, technology, equal rights, and economics. However these achievements may have different meanings to different people. The purpose of this study is to test these differences and see if they are statistically significant.

In order to test our hypotheses that demographic characteristics influence levels of pride individuals have on American achievements, we chose to analyze data found in the General Social Survey (GSS) for 2003. The GSS is a source of data on societal trends tracking the opinion of U.S residents on demographic, behavioral, and attitudinal questions from 1972-2008. Respondents were asked several questions about their demographic characteristics as well as questions that measure their pride in U.S achievements.

Our independent variables are the demographic characteristics which include: sex, race, age, education, and income.

Our dependent variables measure respondent’s levels of pride in American achievements.    

When observing the independent variable sex, the only statistically significant difference (p=.025) between men and women is that women have less pride in Americas Equal Treatment of Groups. When observing the independent variable race, Whites tend to have more pride in American achievements such as democracy, economy, science, history, and equal treatment of groups. The only statistically significant difference in pride of achievements that whites had greater pride in sports than blacks (p=.004). When observing the relationship between age and achievements, the results show that as people get older, they tend to have greater pride in most aspects of American Achievements. The only achievement that respondents showed less pride is they aged was pride in equal treatment of groups (p=.001). In addition, for every year increase in education, respondents tended to have greater pride in American achievements of democracy and economy. On the other hand, for every year increase in education, respondents tended to show a statistically significant decrease in pride in areas such as history, sports, military, and equal treatment of groups. The relationship between income and American achievements shows that for every $1,000 increase in income, respondents tend to show less pride in America’s Social Security system. Pride increased in areas such as democracy and politics. When observing the relationship between political views and pride in American achievements, the results show that as the more conservative respondents reported to be, there was greater pride in economy, history, military, and equal treatment of groups. There was less pride in American art.

Methods – con’tMethods – con’t

Eiewspoliticalvincome

educationageracesexY

)(ˆ)(ˆ

)(ˆ)(ˆ)(ˆ)(ˆˆˆ

65

43210

 prouddem2

proudeco2

proudsci2

proudart2

proudhis2

proudpol2

proudsss2

proudspt2

proudmil2

proudgrp2

sexdum1.120

1.230 1.330 1.244 1.290 1.200 0.916 1.092 0.864 0.744

racedum 0.575 0.595 0.323 1.609 0.167 0.731 0.707 4.950 0.855 0.426

age 1.030 1.019 1.025 1.02 1.023 1.013 1.040 1.009 1.023 1.01

educ 1.08 1.097 1.118 0.981 0.912 1.022 0.998 0.869 0.855 0.879

inc1000 1.010 1.004 1.005 0.999 1.004 1.008 0.994 1.002 1.005 1.001

polviews 1.260 1.26 0.996 0.862 1.314 1.019 0.927 1.003 1.27 1.221

Neg. Pos.  

    0.001

    0.01

    0.05

Our investigation was designed to determine whether or not statistically significant differences in American pride could be attributed to major demographic characteristics. In order to proceed with our investigation, we used variables associated with pride in American achievements and regressed them against demographic variables sex, race, age, income, education, and political views. We wanted to see of pre-conceived notions regarding pride and social demographics actually hold true in statistical tests. Our results show that there are some statistically significant differences in odds of pride that follow significant demographic divisions in American society. Although we speculated that men would have more pride than women, only one measure of pride was statistically significant. The disparities in pride between black Americans and white Americans is particularly pronounced in pride in history, science, sports, and group treatment. Increase in age was also correlated with higher levels of pride. Furthermore, an increase in education levels was associated with greater pride in democracy and the economy. Political views also had a strong correlation with levels of pride respondents experienced. Higher levels of conservatism correlated with high levels of pride in American economy, history, military and equal treatment of groups. Overall these results solidify pre-conceived notions of pride that previous research has suggested.

Most of the results coincide with what we expected. However we were surprised that many of the differences associated with demographic characteristics and pride were not statistically significant. Several of the different significant levels of pride can be associated by the historical conditions that each demographic group experienced. For example, the reason whites have more pride in American achievements may be that they experienced better social conditions throughout history. One of the most surprising results was that whites tended to have more pride in sports than blacks. This is surprising because African Americans have excelled in American sports throughout the last century. Education may be a strong factor in determining different levels of pride. Research has show that the more educated groups in society are, the more they question the foundations of that society. Our results indicate that this is true. Attaining higher education correlates with lower level of pride in history, sports, military, and equal treatment of groups. This may be because more educated individuals are better informed and can see both the negative and positive aspects of American achievements.

Evans, M.D.R., and Jonathan Kelly. "National Pride in the Developed World: Survey Data from 24 Nations." International Journal of Public Opinion Research 14.3 (2002): 304-38. Print."General Social Survey." GSS: General Social Survey. The National Data Program for the Sciences. Web. 13 Dec. 2010. Huddy, Leonie, and Nadia Khatib. " American Patriotism, National Identity, and Political Involvement." American Journal of Political Science 51.1 (2007): 63-77.Photograph of eaglehttp://www.stenvold.com/Pictures/Eagle-American-Pride.jpgPhotograph of American flaghttp://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Travel/Pix/pictures/2007/07/24/StatueLiberty300.jpg

ReferencesReferences