On the Appeal of Rizzo and Longstreth

Abstract

To investigate the construct “liberalism-conservatism” on several issues and in two samples, student and middle-aged Rizzo and Longstreth supporters were asked to answer a questionnaire about the college environment. On at least 15 of 16 questions and in both samples, the Longstreth supporters answered more “liberally” than the Rizzo supporters. The Longstreth supporters also were more “liberal” than the Rizzo supporters in their presidential preferences in 1968 and 1972. The students were more “liberal” about the college environment than the adults, both among the Rizzo and Longstreth supporters. These data support the interpretation of “liberalism-conservatism” as a personal orientation toward social and political issues.