(iPoster) Religiosity and Trust in the Federal Government

• In Event: Poster Session: New Perspectives in Political Science Research: Scholarship by Vanderbilt REU Students

Abstract

Research has broadly shown positive correlations between religiosity and trust; however, both terms are multifaceted, and thus the research ranges across the many aspects that make up both variables. As a result, the understanding of how trust and religion interact is incomplete, with results varying across projects and approaches. This paper explores the ways in which individual religiosity - the extent to which an individual views religion as an integral and integrated part of their life - may influence trust in the federal government. Using ANES survey data from the 2024 presidential election and a multivariate regression analysis, I look at the connection between survey responses to the question of religious importance in one's life and the question of their trust in the federal government. I situate this paper in a way that builds on existing knowledge in the field as well as explores gaps in the scholarship by considering religion as an object of personal interest, as opposed to an action that is performed or a label that is socially inscribed. A democracy is built upon trust in the government, by understanding how religion influences trust in the government we are gaining insight into how people form opinions about the government, as well as an understanding of the broader state of democracy.

Author

• Isabel Byrd, Miami University