Graduation Year
2025
Document Type
Senior Thesis
Degree
Bachelor of Arts
Primary Major
Political Science
Second Major
Psychology
Primary Minor
Cognitive & Experimental Science
Thesis Advisor
Alison Howard, MA
Abstract
The United States is a representative democracy and as such requires participation from its citizens to function; in order to participate, citizens need to have information. Trust in social institutions is often contingent on our knowledge about those institutions. For instance, increased trust in scientists, science, or both, can be affected by educational achievement and scientific knowledge (Yen & Zampelli, 2022). The relationship between trust and knowledge highlights how an understanding of concepts leads to higher receptivity (Yen & Zampelli, 2022). Research has also suggested political knowledge is a driving force of political participation and tolerance (Delli Carpini & Keeter, 1996). Based on past research, knowledge increases trust in social institutions. Thus, this study asks; How do varying levels of political knowledge impact people’s trust in the federal government? Participants in this study consisted of 67 individuals who are above the age of 18 and are eligible to vote in the U.S. Participants were asked to complete a survey consisting of questions derived from the Political Trustworthiness and Trust Scale (Hamm et al., 2019), which tests for trust in government ability, integrity, benevolence, and willingness to accept vulnerability. The United States Civics (History & Government) Questions for the Naturalization Test measures what participants know and understand about the structure of the U.S federal government. This study found no relationship between political knowledge and political trust. However, it was found that the political party affiliation of an individual and of the sitting President does impact levels of political trust.