The Effect of Partisan Social Networks on COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Beliefs

• In Event: Emerging Scholars Lightning Round: Graduate Student Research: Contemporary Issues in US Politics: Identities, Technology, and Economic Policy

Abstract

A growing literature shows that the Covid-19 pandemic in the United States was characterized by a response amongst its politicians and citizens split along party lines. Republicans respond in ways different than Democrats in attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions of danger. Research studying the effect of homogenous and heterogeneous partisan social networks has resulted in mixed findings on their effect on political behavior. I conduct a critical retest of the effect of heterogeneous and homogenous partisan social networks on Covid-19 related pandemic attitudes, confidence in the CDC and support for masking requirements. In conducting two ordered probit regression models, I find no support that heterogeneous networks affect pandemic-related beliefs and nearly no support that homogenous networks affect pandemic-related beliefs.

Author

• Cory Anastasia, University at Buffalo