Political Orientation Characterizes Essay

Research Report

ABSTRACT
Political orientation characterises the thought, attitudes and beliefs of a particular group
or nation towards their political leaders and overall government system. Individuals have thus
been classified under varying political ideologies with preference being predominantly attributed
to the liberal and conservative bands. Liberalism constitutes a reformed outlook and tolerance to
change that is unbound by neither tradition nor authority. Conservatism entails the exact opposite
whereby value is prescribed to preservation of traditional civil and cultural institutions. This
research investigation examines the influence political orientation has on moral judgement with
focus on the liberal and conservative groups and the five moral foundation elements presented in
the Moral Foundation Theory (MFT). In order to test the designed hypothesis, results
demonstrate Harm/care and Fairness/reciprocity as most relevant element among liberal
politicians. However, conservatives rated the five moral foundations equally relevant. To test this,
a survey of 227 SOL students was conducted. The sample thus included a total of 168 (74%)
females and 59 (26%) male participants. The results acquired from the survey demonstrate that
majority of the participants reported their self-identity as moderately liberal and only 1 participant
reported a strongly conservative identity. Ultimately, these results imply that a relationship
between an individual’s moral judgement and political orientation exists whereby political
ideology and preference can influence moral reasoning. Further research that identifies the
motivational and thought processes that initiate moral conviction in the first place is thus required
for greater insight into the liberal-conservative approach to morality.

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
METHOD........................................................................................................................................1
Participants.............................................................................................................................1
Materials.................................................................................................................................1
Procedure................................................................................................................................2
RESULTS........................................................................................................................................2
Demographic basis.................................................................................................................2
Mean.......................................................................................................................................4
Standard deviation..................................................................................................................5
DISCUSSION..................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9
Table of Figures
Figure 1 Demographic basis survey from mean and Standard deviation........................................3
Figure 2 People self identity's responses.........................................................................................4
Figure 3 Relationship between moral foundation and politics: Mean.............................................5
Figure 4 Relationship between moral foundation and politics: standard deviation.........................6