Author(s): Taya Jeppesen
Mentor(s): Garret Strosser, Julie Johnson-Pynn
Institution SUU
Past research has shown that trust in government institutions and religious institutions have a hydraulic relationship. High belief or trust in one may lower belief or trust in another. Utah has a high number of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS). This high number of LDS members often influences the government policies and political attitudes in the state. Research on this population regarding this relationship has not yet been studied. This study will use a mixed methods approach to best understand this relationship. Participants will take a pre and post test to score them on religiosity. A manipulation of perception of government control is present in between the pre and post test to see this relationship. The manipulation presented to participants is a question asking them to share a time when the government had control or lacked control. It is predicted that participants that are placed in the high government authority condition will score lower on religiosity in the post test. It is also predicted that participants placed in the lack of government authority condition will score higher on religiosity in the post test. Qualitative data will be collected as well using open ended questions to better understand this relationship. This study is important because it will illuminate how people's religiosity will be affected by their perception of government control. This study will also fill a gap in research by completing research on a population that has not yet been studied in this area.