Research suggests that people are motivated to move to communities where their political beliefs and values are aligned with those around them. This process is called ideological migration.
People in the U.S. tend to have strong convictions about abortion. In the upcoming election, several states will be voting on policies related to abortion, whether that be to expand or restrict access.
Harper Miller is a psychology student who works with Assistant Professor John Blanchar in UMD's Social and Political Psychology (S&PP) Lab. They have been working on a project related to abortion policy and ideological migration.
"We’re interested in understanding what impact, if any, abortion and state abortion policies will have on where people decide to live in the coming years," she says.
Harper explains her research.
How did you become interested in this particular research topic?
After I began working as a research assistant for Dr. Blanchar last fall, he introduced me to his research on ideological migration and suggested the phenomenon may have significant implications when considered in the context of a polarizing issue like abortion. As a dual psychology and women, gender, and sexuality studies major, I’m interested in how identity, prejudice, and social institutions relate to group membership and social segregation. A research topic examining how state abortion policies may predict geographic patterns of political polarization seemed a great way to
fuse these interests.
What got you interested in working in the Social and Political Psychology Lab?
I first became interested in working with Dr. Blanchar while taking his PSY 3021 Experimental Design and Methodology course. He introduced himself and his research interests, which include but are not limited to, the psychological underpinnings of political polarization, the moralization of politics, and political homophily. I’ve long been interested in the intersection of politics and social psychology and am fascinated by what drives ideological identification. Dr. Blanchar’s lab seemed like a perfect fit.
Why do you think it's important for undergraduates to do research?
For students considering graduate school, participating in undergraduate research is a great way to prepare and begin honing the skills necessary for graduate school. Programs like the University of Minnesota’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) help familiarize students with the research process, including vital components like how to propose a research project, how to submit a research application to their institution’s IRB, how to conduct research with appropriate research methods, how to analyze findings, and how to communicate those findings to a range of audiences.
Moreover, undergraduate research presents students with one-on-one opportunities to engage with and learn from faculty. For students who don’t have graduate school in their plans, undergraduate research remains a valuable experience, helping them prepare for their careers by refining essential professional skills such as communication, collaboration, critical analysis, and problem-solving.