Kirby Goidel - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Kirby Goidel
The scientific debate on the impact of climate change on hurricane intensity/strength continues. ... more The scientific debate on the impact of climate change on hurricane intensity/strength continues. Regardless of its causes, the consequence of increasing hurricane intensity is undeniably immense among coastal residents. In this study, we investigate how various objective measures of hurricane strength affect people's perception of changing hurricane strength over time. We utilize original survey data to examine the relationship between perceived and actual shift in hurricane strength. In this article, hurricane strength is indicated as maximum wind speed at landfall, storm surge, and economic damage. We find that the characteristics of hurricane strength associated with the most recent landfall are much more closely associated with perceptions of changing hurricane strength than objectively measured trends. This result is consistent with availability bias, suggesting that perceptions are associated with most accessible and retrievable events. We also find that people's belief in climate change play a powerful role in one's perception of changing hurricane strength. Political predispositions are found to affect one's perceptions of changing hurricane strength. Compared to Democrats and Independents, Republicans are far less likely to believe that climate is changing and thus they tend to not believe that hurricanes are becoming stronger. Given that this study focuses on how physical characteristics of past hurricane events influence individual perceptions of hurricane strength shift, future research should focus on how expectations of future climate and weather-related events influence individual attitudes and behaviours.
Over the past several decades, the economic damage from flooding in the coastal areas has greatly... more Over the past several decades, the economic damage from flooding in the coastal areas has greatly increased due to rapid coastal development coupled with possible climate change impacts. One effective way to mitigate excessive economic losses from flooding is to purchase flood insurance. Only a minority of coastal residents however have taken this preventive measure. Using original survey data for all coastal counties of the United States Gulf Coast merged with contextual data, this study examines the effects of external influences and perceptions of flood-related risks on individuals' voluntary behaviors to purchase flood insurance. It is found that the estimated flood hazard conveyed through the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) flood maps, the intensities and consequences of past storms and flooding events, and perceived flood-related risks significantly affect individual's voluntary purchase of flood insurance. This behavior is also influenced by home ownership, trust in local government, education, and income. These findings have several important policy implications. First, FEMA's flood maps have been effective in conveying local flood risks to coastal residents, and correspondingly influencing their decisions to voluntarily seek flood insurance in the U.S. Gulf Coast. Flood maps therefore should be updated frequently to reflect timely and accurate information about flood hazards. Second, policy makers should design strategies to increase homeowners' trust in the local government, to better communicate flood risks with residents, to address the affordability issue for the low-income, and better inform less educated homeowners through various educational programs. Future studies should examine the voluntary flood insurance behavior across countries that are vulnerable to flooding.
Objectives. Few studies fully integrate the interactive effects of political, geographic, and med... more Objectives. Few studies fully integrate the interactive effects of political, geographic, and media contexts into studies of public opinion on immigration. We rectify this by utilizing the post-Katrina Latino immigrant migration to Louisiana as an opportunity for study of these relationships. Methods. We utilize survey data and content analysis of news coverage to examine the influence of news exposure on attitudes toward immigrants and immigration. Results. Exposure to immigration news influences the relative importance of immigration to other issues, self-reported personal contact with Spanish-speaking populations, and perceptions of the legal status of immigrant populations. Conclusions. Local news coverage of immigration increases awareness and concern about immigration and heightened news exposure increases perceptions about personal interactions with Spanish-speaking populations. Additionally, local news coverage of immigration influences the importance of key characteristics of immigrant populations, particularly whether immigrants are here illegally. Tone of coverage, as opposed to amount, exerts the more consistent effect on immigrationrelated attitudes.
Political Science Quarterly, 2013
... My education in state politics also owes much to the dedicated profes-sionals in the ‹eld, Ka... more ... My education in state politics also owes much to the dedicated profes-sionals in the ‹eld, Karl Kurtz, Jennie Drage Bowser, Brenda Erickson, Tim Storey, Brian Weberg (NCSL), Thom Little (SLF), the late Keon Chi,Julia Hurst (CSG), and Karina Davis, Texas Senate ...
Social Science Quarterly, 2014
ABSTRACT Objective In this article, we investigate the third-person effect within the context of ... more ABSTRACT Objective In this article, we investigate the third-person effect within the context of the decision by the New Orleans Times-Picayune in September 2012 to end daily print circulation in favor of a three-day-per-week publication schedule and online news offerings.Methods We utilize original survey data based on 1,043 telephone interviews with respondents living in the greater New Orleans area, including 530 landline respondents selected via random digit dialing and 513 respondents randomly selected from available cellular telephone blocks.ResultsWe find evidence of a third-person effect on judgments about changes at The Times-Picayune. New Orleans area residents worry that the decline of information will negatively affect the ability of others to keep up with the news. We also show that the effects are contingent upon physical location. The greater the distance from New Orleans, the more pronounced concerns are about the effect of the loss of this daily information source on others in the community.Conclusions To date, third-person effects have generally been studied within the context of enduring and established forms of communication, especially those viewed as having potential negative effects—politically biased messages, other forms of propaganda, and communication that could harm reputations. In this article, we extend this work to show third-person effects persist within the context of declining news coverage.
Southeastern Political Review, 1997
Southeastern Political Review, 1996
In the following analysis, we utilize district level data on voter turnout to examine the relatio... more In the following analysis, we utilize district level data on voter turnout to examine the relationship between political mobilization and voter turnout. The analysis improves on previous research in the following three ways: ( I ) we incorporate a dynamic element into our analysis allowing us to examine differences in turnout across election years; (2) we more closely examine the nonrecursive relationship between the closeness of an election and fluctuations in voter turnout; and (3) we relate our findings to the question of whether or not turnout makes a diflerence in electoral outcomes.
Southeastern Political Review, 1994
... this, a fairly substantial portion of the congressional elections literature has searched for... more ... this, a fairly substantial portion of the congressional elections literature has searched for factors that influence the decision of high quality, politically experienced candidates to run for political office (Jacobson and Kernel1 198 1 ; Bianco 1984; Bond, Covington, and Fleisher 1985 ...
The Social Science Journal, 2013
ABSTRACT While government agencies and health organizations have increased efforts to provide onl... more ABSTRACT While government agencies and health organizations have increased efforts to provide online information about health care quality and costs, we know little about whether individuals seek out or understand this information. Using results from a Louisiana telephone survey (N = 1030), we examine intent to use a website devoted to information about health care quality and costs and self-reported difficulty in finding this information. Intent to use a website is driven primarily by prior Internet use while difficulty in learning about health care quality is associated with greater choice in health care providers and dissatisfaction with current care.
The Social Science Journal, 2003
... Huddy and Terkildsen (1993a, p. 120), for example, state that while the candidate&#x2... more ... Huddy and Terkildsen (1993a, p. 120), for example, state that while the candidate's sex is politically important, it is “not necessarily the harbinger of electoral success or defeat.” But if the sex of the candidate has not been found to directly influence voting behavior, more recent ...
The Journal of Politics, 2008
The Journal of Politics, 1994
... Political sophistication was mea-sured as an index indicating whether respondents correctly i... more ... Political sophistication was mea-sured as an index indicating whether respondents correctly identified Dan Quayle, Margaret Thatcher, Mikhail Gorbachev, George Mitchell, William Rehnquist, Nelson Mandela, Tom Foley, which party ... 804 Robert K. Goidel and Todd G. Shields ...
State Politics & Policy Quarterly, 2001
ABSTRACT We compare spending in concurrent senate and gubernatorial elections to determine if cam... more ABSTRACT We compare spending in concurrent senate and gubernatorial elections to determine if campaign finance laws influence candidate campaign spending. We find that candidate-based public financing combined with spending limits influence candidate spending, but the effect is largely dependent on the level of the limits. We find that contribution limits do not influence candidate spending. If the goal of reform is to reduce candidate spending—or to affect electoral competition or voter turnout by reducing candidate spending—our results suggest that state public financing is more likely to be successful than contributions limits.
Social Science Quarterly, 2011
Objectives. Few studies fully integrate the interactive effects of political, geographic, and med... more Objectives. Few studies fully integrate the interactive effects of political, geographic, and media contexts into studies of public opinion on immigration. We rectify this by utilizing the post-Katrina Latino immigrant migration to Louisiana as an opportunity for study of these relationships. Methods. We utilize survey data and content analysis of news coverage to examine the influence of news exposure on attitudes toward immigrants and immigration. Results. Exposure to immigration news influences the relative importance of immigration to other issues, self-reported personal contact with Spanish-speaking populations, and perceptions of the legal status of immigrant populations. Conclusions. Local news coverage of immigration increases awareness and concern about immigration and heightened news exposure increases perceptions about personal interactions with Spanish-speaking populations. Additionally, local news coverage of immigration influences the importance of key characteristics of immigrant populations, particularly whether immigrants are here illegally. Tone of coverage, as opposed to amount, exerts the more consistent effect on immigrationrelated attitudes.
The scientific debate on the impact of climate change on hurricane intensity/strength continues. ... more The scientific debate on the impact of climate change on hurricane intensity/strength continues. Regardless of its causes, the consequence of increasing hurricane intensity is undeniably immense among coastal residents. In this study, we investigate how various objective measures of hurricane strength affect people's perception of changing hurricane strength over time. We utilize original survey data to examine the relationship between perceived and actual shift in hurricane strength. In this article, hurricane strength is indicated as maximum wind speed at landfall, storm surge, and economic damage. We find that the characteristics of hurricane strength associated with the most recent landfall are much more closely associated with perceptions of changing hurricane strength than objectively measured trends. This result is consistent with availability bias, suggesting that perceptions are associated with most accessible and retrievable events. We also find that people's belief in climate change play a powerful role in one's perception of changing hurricane strength. Political predispositions are found to affect one's perceptions of changing hurricane strength. Compared to Democrats and Independents, Republicans are far less likely to believe that climate is changing and thus they tend to not believe that hurricanes are becoming stronger. Given that this study focuses on how physical characteristics of past hurricane events influence individual perceptions of hurricane strength shift, future research should focus on how expectations of future climate and weather-related events influence individual attitudes and behaviours.
Over the past several decades, the economic damage from flooding in the coastal areas has greatly... more Over the past several decades, the economic damage from flooding in the coastal areas has greatly increased due to rapid coastal development coupled with possible climate change impacts. One effective way to mitigate excessive economic losses from flooding is to purchase flood insurance. Only a minority of coastal residents however have taken this preventive measure. Using original survey data for all coastal counties of the United States Gulf Coast merged with contextual data, this study examines the effects of external influences and perceptions of flood-related risks on individuals' voluntary behaviors to purchase flood insurance. It is found that the estimated flood hazard conveyed through the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) flood maps, the intensities and consequences of past storms and flooding events, and perceived flood-related risks significantly affect individual's voluntary purchase of flood insurance. This behavior is also influenced by home ownership, trust in local government, education, and income. These findings have several important policy implications. First, FEMA's flood maps have been effective in conveying local flood risks to coastal residents, and correspondingly influencing their decisions to voluntarily seek flood insurance in the U.S. Gulf Coast. Flood maps therefore should be updated frequently to reflect timely and accurate information about flood hazards. Second, policy makers should design strategies to increase homeowners' trust in the local government, to better communicate flood risks with residents, to address the affordability issue for the low-income, and better inform less educated homeowners through various educational programs. Future studies should examine the voluntary flood insurance behavior across countries that are vulnerable to flooding.
Objectives. Few studies fully integrate the interactive effects of political, geographic, and med... more Objectives. Few studies fully integrate the interactive effects of political, geographic, and media contexts into studies of public opinion on immigration. We rectify this by utilizing the post-Katrina Latino immigrant migration to Louisiana as an opportunity for study of these relationships. Methods. We utilize survey data and content analysis of news coverage to examine the influence of news exposure on attitudes toward immigrants and immigration. Results. Exposure to immigration news influences the relative importance of immigration to other issues, self-reported personal contact with Spanish-speaking populations, and perceptions of the legal status of immigrant populations. Conclusions. Local news coverage of immigration increases awareness and concern about immigration and heightened news exposure increases perceptions about personal interactions with Spanish-speaking populations. Additionally, local news coverage of immigration influences the importance of key characteristics of immigrant populations, particularly whether immigrants are here illegally. Tone of coverage, as opposed to amount, exerts the more consistent effect on immigrationrelated attitudes.
Political Science Quarterly, 2013
... My education in state politics also owes much to the dedicated profes-sionals in the ‹eld, Ka... more ... My education in state politics also owes much to the dedicated profes-sionals in the ‹eld, Karl Kurtz, Jennie Drage Bowser, Brenda Erickson, Tim Storey, Brian Weberg (NCSL), Thom Little (SLF), the late Keon Chi,Julia Hurst (CSG), and Karina Davis, Texas Senate ...
Social Science Quarterly, 2014
ABSTRACT Objective In this article, we investigate the third-person effect within the context of ... more ABSTRACT Objective In this article, we investigate the third-person effect within the context of the decision by the New Orleans Times-Picayune in September 2012 to end daily print circulation in favor of a three-day-per-week publication schedule and online news offerings.Methods We utilize original survey data based on 1,043 telephone interviews with respondents living in the greater New Orleans area, including 530 landline respondents selected via random digit dialing and 513 respondents randomly selected from available cellular telephone blocks.ResultsWe find evidence of a third-person effect on judgments about changes at The Times-Picayune. New Orleans area residents worry that the decline of information will negatively affect the ability of others to keep up with the news. We also show that the effects are contingent upon physical location. The greater the distance from New Orleans, the more pronounced concerns are about the effect of the loss of this daily information source on others in the community.Conclusions To date, third-person effects have generally been studied within the context of enduring and established forms of communication, especially those viewed as having potential negative effects—politically biased messages, other forms of propaganda, and communication that could harm reputations. In this article, we extend this work to show third-person effects persist within the context of declining news coverage.
Southeastern Political Review, 1997
Southeastern Political Review, 1996
In the following analysis, we utilize district level data on voter turnout to examine the relatio... more In the following analysis, we utilize district level data on voter turnout to examine the relationship between political mobilization and voter turnout. The analysis improves on previous research in the following three ways: ( I ) we incorporate a dynamic element into our analysis allowing us to examine differences in turnout across election years; (2) we more closely examine the nonrecursive relationship between the closeness of an election and fluctuations in voter turnout; and (3) we relate our findings to the question of whether or not turnout makes a diflerence in electoral outcomes.
Southeastern Political Review, 1994
... this, a fairly substantial portion of the congressional elections literature has searched for... more ... this, a fairly substantial portion of the congressional elections literature has searched for factors that influence the decision of high quality, politically experienced candidates to run for political office (Jacobson and Kernel1 198 1 ; Bianco 1984; Bond, Covington, and Fleisher 1985 ...
The Social Science Journal, 2013
ABSTRACT While government agencies and health organizations have increased efforts to provide onl... more ABSTRACT While government agencies and health organizations have increased efforts to provide online information about health care quality and costs, we know little about whether individuals seek out or understand this information. Using results from a Louisiana telephone survey (N = 1030), we examine intent to use a website devoted to information about health care quality and costs and self-reported difficulty in finding this information. Intent to use a website is driven primarily by prior Internet use while difficulty in learning about health care quality is associated with greater choice in health care providers and dissatisfaction with current care.
The Social Science Journal, 2003
... Huddy and Terkildsen (1993a, p. 120), for example, state that while the candidate&#x2... more ... Huddy and Terkildsen (1993a, p. 120), for example, state that while the candidate's sex is politically important, it is “not necessarily the harbinger of electoral success or defeat.” But if the sex of the candidate has not been found to directly influence voting behavior, more recent ...
The Journal of Politics, 2008
The Journal of Politics, 1994
... Political sophistication was mea-sured as an index indicating whether respondents correctly i... more ... Political sophistication was mea-sured as an index indicating whether respondents correctly identified Dan Quayle, Margaret Thatcher, Mikhail Gorbachev, George Mitchell, William Rehnquist, Nelson Mandela, Tom Foley, which party ... 804 Robert K. Goidel and Todd G. Shields ...
State Politics & Policy Quarterly, 2001
ABSTRACT We compare spending in concurrent senate and gubernatorial elections to determine if cam... more ABSTRACT We compare spending in concurrent senate and gubernatorial elections to determine if campaign finance laws influence candidate campaign spending. We find that candidate-based public financing combined with spending limits influence candidate spending, but the effect is largely dependent on the level of the limits. We find that contribution limits do not influence candidate spending. If the goal of reform is to reduce candidate spending—or to affect electoral competition or voter turnout by reducing candidate spending—our results suggest that state public financing is more likely to be successful than contributions limits.
Social Science Quarterly, 2011
Objectives. Few studies fully integrate the interactive effects of political, geographic, and med... more Objectives. Few studies fully integrate the interactive effects of political, geographic, and media contexts into studies of public opinion on immigration. We rectify this by utilizing the post-Katrina Latino immigrant migration to Louisiana as an opportunity for study of these relationships. Methods. We utilize survey data and content analysis of news coverage to examine the influence of news exposure on attitudes toward immigrants and immigration. Results. Exposure to immigration news influences the relative importance of immigration to other issues, self-reported personal contact with Spanish-speaking populations, and perceptions of the legal status of immigrant populations. Conclusions. Local news coverage of immigration increases awareness and concern about immigration and heightened news exposure increases perceptions about personal interactions with Spanish-speaking populations. Additionally, local news coverage of immigration influences the importance of key characteristics of immigrant populations, particularly whether immigrants are here illegally. Tone of coverage, as opposed to amount, exerts the more consistent effect on immigrationrelated attitudes.