Regressions on Personality and Political Preferences of Collegiate Greek Letter Social

Organizations

Michael B. Armstrong

CE/T Defense

Spring 2013

Introduction

• Research on fraternities/sororities–Alcohol abuse/binge drinking–Academic success/adjustment–Social involvement

• My interest

The Five Factor Model of Personality

• Variety of personality constructs• Global description of personality• Five scores• Literature

Political Preference

• Liberalizing Effect• Typical Greek members• Finances

Hypotheses

I. Greek members more likely to be extraverted.

II. Greek members less likely to be neurotic.

III. Greeks members less likely to be open to experience.

IV. Greeks members less likely to be conscientious.

* (No difference in agreeableness.)

Hypotheses

V. Greeks members more likely to be politically conservative.

VI.The longer Greeks are affiliated to their respective organizations, the more similar they will become in personality.

VII.The longer Greeks are affiliated to their respective organizations, the more similar they will become in political preference.

Methods

• 613 participants – (70% female, 30% male)– (51% Greek, 49% unaffiliated)

• Mini-IPIP• Political Conservatism Measure• Regressions

Results

• Greeks more likely to be extraverted than unaffiliated students.

Exp (B) = 1.113, p < .001

• Greeks less likely to be neurotic.Exp (B) = .935, p = .029

• Greeks more likely to be conservative.Exp (B) = 1.112, p < .001

Hypotheses VI & VII

• Inconclusive–Results need more power–Sample size–Design

Conclusion

• Greek-affiliated students are more likely to be extraverted, emotionally stable, and conservative than unaffiliated college students.

• Gateway to further research