Effect of Religious Denomination on Voting Preference Research Paper

Problem Statement

Since the very beginning, religion has always had a strong effect on the voting behavior of human beings. It very firmly indicates a person’s voting technique and choices. It creates a very strong impact on how the person, that is the voter, views certain specific issues, like homosexuality, abortion, economics of the state or country and also the person’s immediate environment. Every individual voter then applies their own understanding of these delicate issues as their guidelines and then decides which candidate is suitable to actually obtain their vote. Thus, it is rational to accept that religion and its various forms plays a significant impact and also influences a person’s voting techniques when elections take place. (Shepherd, 2004) It is to be determined whether the amount actually instruments the results in an overall election scenario.

Sub Problem statement

A number of studies have been made to determine the factors, which influence a person’s voting preference. Some people say that things like class, gender and race are an important factor influencing voting. Studies have also shown that religion and even lack of it is among the most essential factors determining a persons voting behavior. The various religious sects have varying opinions regarding our social and economic issues. They have drawn their own conclusions based on their influences. We also have to consider the opinions of the different secular groups, which add more confusion to the behavioral studies, making it more difficult to determine what causes an individual to take the decision one makes. (Shepherd, 2004) Thus, it is essential to analyze and establish the determining factor and address the fundamental variable.

Hypothesis statement

The basic hypothesis states that the influence of religion affects the outcome of a voting system and the fundamental variable in this case is religion more than any other factor.

Demarcation of the terrain of study

The best statistical method would be to interview long well formulated day-to-day working procedure at a specific and well-selected location. Throughout the procedure, it should be noticed whether there are specific variables within the testable population or not. These variables would be extremely important while evaluating the basic data in the final stages where the adjustments would be made to the formulated data in accordance to the observations. However, it is important to take into account the aspects of fundamental variables of an individual such as ethnicity, religious belief or positive support from the social background.

Assumptions

It is assumed that the basic hypothesis and the subsidiary hypothesis would be proven to be flawless and the study would confirm the hypothesis.

Limitations

Limitations to the research would in fact include many different considerations. Those considerations are inclusive of the number of respondents along with the number of churches and other places of worship in the general vicinity. Other things that limit this research would in fact be the concerns of other levels of awareness including professionals of various genres. Background information in regard to how the respondents learn religious alignment is limited within the scope of the research and because of this, the information gained only brings limited reasoning behind the choices in social management. Certainly, another limitation includes the ready acceptance to answer the questionnaires provided in regard to this research project. The numbers of subjects willing to volunteer this information even with assured anonymity may provide several limitations toward tabulation and calculation accuracy in regard to percentages.

Delimitations

Ethical aspects as the delimitation should be put into consideration and implemented. In instances where officials are to be deployed to work in the community, they should not misuse the power and authority bestowed on them. This is because some officers by virtue of being in possession of power and authority; they can continue acting in a coercive manner towards the community. This may damage the public order, which in the first place they were supposed to maintain. Officials should not take positions and start protecting their active supporters even when they are on the wrong since this can lead to bad perception of the officials by the public.

Definition of terminology

• Religion: Faith of an individual.
• Ethnic: Genre of human sects based on color or creed.
• Class: Strata of economic differences.
• Quantitative: Evaluation on the basis of numeric results.
• Qualitative: Evaluation on the basis of personal views.
• Subjects: The individual who would be the centre of observation.
• Hypothesis: Basic assumption based on the general observation.

Indication of the importance/significance of the study

Many people will say that religion does not affect their voting behavior and that they make their choices completely based on their social and moral ideology. A number of people agree that they are unwilling to vote for a person, even if he or she is very well qualified and deserving, simply because the candidate follows a specific religion or faith. But, it is quite certain that a huge number of people would never vote for someone who is an atheist and has no belief in God or any other form of higher powers, no matter how qualified or deserving he or she may be. What we often fail to understand is that almost every form of religion has similar views and concepts when it comes to determining what role religion play in politics. People of every religious sect believe that we, the people, would be far better if religion played an influential role and that religious leaders could be better political spokespersons. However, when it actually comes to believing this, people do not understand it and often break up into fights claiming their religion to be superior and their political leaders to be more eligible. Thus, instead of working hand in hand to make the country a better place to dwell, the people give more preference to their religion when it comes to voting, sometimes making a number of bad decisions, which could be harmful for the country and its people. (Howard, 2005) Therefore, when it comes to voting we need to be more careful in deciding whom to vote for and we should not choose a candidate simply due to his religion or it is important to determine the variable as it is a case of national priority.

A Review of related literature

Our country is divided into a number of sects based on the cultural differences, which is present in it. If the government is unable to meet the demands and requirements of its citizens, then the country is going to be divided more, based on its cultural differences. Religion is also important during campaigning, as we are able to understand which issues are attractive to the voters and the way in which they are going to vote. In addition, the people who hold important positions in the government and want to impress the constituency need to understand religion and the influence it has on the people. In doing so they will be better equipped to handle the people and their issues. The politicians and the government officials need to understand that people are very sentimental about their religious beliefs, so that they are able to run a modern society such as ours (Fox, 2006).

The public’s way of thinking about various moral and social issues is based on their religious views. For example, a number of people think that Islam is one of the religions, which encourage a lot of violence among its people and are thus, doubtful when it comes to voting for them. Whenever there is a presidential vote, a stir is seen all over the country and all the religious sects are provoked over their own differences and other social or economic issues. In a country like ours where religion has been of utmost importance since time began, different religious sects hold their religion above the other. People of one religious sect harbors negative feelings regarding the others and thus do not want to vote for them. Their religious association influences their views and ideology and thus, they are unable to see anything beyond their own religion. In times of national crisis, every religious sect blames the other one and instead of solving it in a calm and civilized manner, the fights are more and more glorified (Wood, 1999).

At times, the voters also take into note the religious beliefs of the candidates. A person is more likely to vote for a candidate if he or she belongs to the same religious sect as he himself does. This is because they sometimes think that by doing so once the candidate obtains a position in the government he or she will be more favorable to people belonging to their own religious sect. Sometimes the candidates can also influence the voters with the way they think, by telling them about their beliefs and ideas. If the candidate can maintain a proper balance for belief he mentions, the voters will be forced to believe that the candidate will be able to make proper policies and take important decisions once he or she comes to power. When the politicians and the government officials mention religion in their everyday speeches and their decisions, most people accept it. However, there are some who do not feel comfortable when they are actually exposed to the various religious arguments and statements issued by the politicians (Ehret, 2007).

Research procedure

A Qualitative method of study differs from the usual quantitative methods (used in the study of pure sciences) in the sense that it tends to be far more subjective. This is in sharp contrast to the methods used in pure sciences which are exclusively objective. The research methods for social science are a combination of both quantitative and qualitative methods. Being open to qualitative methods of study also allows social scientists to incorporate non-quantitative data (i.e. non-numerical data, such as words, images, gestures, impressions etc.) in their study. Since human beings tend to operate in terms of such data and not in terms of the terminology used in ordinary sciences this broader outlook is far more applicable in the study of social sciences. In keeping with the methodology employed in marketing researches the theories too are formulated and used keeping in mind that they are not necessarily applicable to all conditions.

The data sampling would be randomly managed utilizing stratified means with questionnaires completed by both male and female potential subjects. The choice to use subjects alone in this research was made for three reasons. First, it was far simpler to have access to subjects in regard to the researcher’s availability. Second, the focus itself is on subjects’ attitudes and understanding of the gadget. Third, the quantification of such information allows the researcher to gain a broader perspective on how subjects observe and realize the validity and reliability of information received from a variety of sources and how they apply it to daily life in terms of impact of religion of voting procedure.

References

1. Ehret, Ulrike; 2007; Understanding the Popular Appeal of Fascism, National Socialism and Soviet Communism: The Revival of Totalitarianism Theory and Political Religion; History Compass; 5, 4, 1236-1267; King’s College
2. Fox, Jonathan; 2006; Religion as an Overlooked Element of International Relations; The International Studies Review; 3, 3, 53-73; International Studies Association; Department of Political Studies
3. Howard, David & Peter E. Hopkins; 2005; Editorial: race, religion and the census; Population, Space and Place; 11, 2, 69-74; Institute of Geography, University of Edinburgh
4. Shepherd, Ifan D. H; 2004; Religious marketing: reflections from the other side of politics; Journal of Public Affairs; 4, 3, 317S-341; Henry Stewart Publications
5. Wood, Richard L; 1999; Religious Culture and Political Action; Sociological Theory; 17, 3, 307-332; American Sociological Association; University of New Mexico