Doctoral Dissertation Research in Political Science: In Whom Do We Trust? Confidence in American Political Institutions

这篇博士论文研究支持调查考察了影响公民对政府信任的因素。调查者试图建立一个完整的政府信任理论。这是通过假设信任作为公共决策运作的，并且信任将是公共信息和公共处置的结果来实现的。公民对政府的信任度取决于有关政府绩效的信息，以及用于解释这些信息的意识形态、政党认同感和社会资本。理论和假设通过使用1972至2000年间政府信任度的季度测量来检验。这种对政府的信任表明，对政府的信任是定期变化的。调查人员还试图评估对政府的信任对政治参与、选民投票率和选举的影响。

This Doctoral Dissertation Research Support investigation examines the factors that affect citizen trust in government. The investigator attempts to build a complete theory of trust in govermnent. This is done by assuming trust operates as a public decision and that trust will be the result of public information and public disposition. Citizen trust in their government will vary depending on information about government performance and dispositions of ideology, party identification and social capital that are used to interpret that information.The theory and hypotheses are tested by using a quarterly measure of trust in government for the period 1972 to 2000. This measure of trust in government demonstrates that trust in governmnent varies on a regular basis. The investigator also attempts to assess the effect of trust in government on political participation, voter turnout and elections.