Vol.
1 • July 2012 • ISSN 2094-9634 Advancing Social Science Research
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.7828/assr.v1i1.181
Political Attitude as a Determinant
of Political Behavior in Local Elections
among College of Arts and Sciences Students
of Liceo De Cagayan University
OLIVER N. PLAZA II
ANDREW ANTHONY V. BERNIDO
GIOVANI S. DARIMBANG
CANE SYBELLE J. SAGRADO
JOSEPH ARIES F. SEÑARA
JOVELIN V. SUMBILON
MIKE CLEO S. VALMORES
Abstract - This study aimed to assess the attitudes and behavior of
Liceo de Cagayan University College of Arts and Sciences toward local
elections as determinants of political culture. Employing the descriptive
research design, it aimed to determine the (1) respondents’ level of
political attitude toward local elections in terms of knowledge about
electoral process, knowledge about local elections, and the view of self
(role) in the local election; (2) respondents’ level of political behavior
toward local elections in terms of interest in local elections, likelihood
of participation in local elections, and likelihood of influence in local
elections; and (3) the significant relationship between the respondents’
attitude and behavior towards local elections. Through simple non-
systematic random sampling, the 15 target sample size was obtained
out of 113 students. A researcher-made instrument which was pre-
tested to establish validity and reliability was used to gather the needed
data. To determine the respondents’ level of political attitude and the
respondents’ level of political culture, the percentage was used. Lastly,
to establish the relationship between the respondents’ level of political
attitude and level of political culture, the Pearson Product Moment
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Correlation was applied. The study discovered that respondents
have high knowledge about electoral process, and knowledge about
local elections. They rated themselves as having a high role (self-
role) in the local election. In terms of interest in local elections, the
respondents have high likelihood of participation in local election,
and likelihood of influence in local elections. From the findings, it can
be said that most of the students of the College of Arts and Sciences
are highly knowledgeable in terms of the electoral process in the local
elections and also consider themselves as important actor who play a
significant role in the electoral process. The students would have likely
participated in the May 10, 2010 Elections and might have influenced
others or the electoral contest. Thus, they are highly political and
participative “political man”.
Keywords - Political attitude, political behavior, local elections
INTRODUCTION
The great political philosopher Aristotle engraved in the minds of
mankind the striking notion that they are by nature political animal.
Man cannot escape and avoid political systems and processes, albeit
must inevitably dwell and deal with them.
In a democratic society, the people are allowed to participate
in governance. Through the mechanisms of political consultation,
political participation, political equality, and respect for majority and
minority rights, the people are given enough chance to get involved in
politics and in public affairs.
Central to democratic system is the conduct of elections. It is
considered as “a device for filling an office through choices made by a
designated body of people: the electorate (Heywood, 1997).
During the 2010 national and local Philippine elections, the young
Filipinos all over the country who were qualified to vote were eager
to participate in the political exercise. Election is one of the many acts
of being political. Through election, the young Filipinos are given
the right to express their sentiments and show their relation with the
political system and its institutions.
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The College of Arts and Sciences of Liceo de Cagayan University
has new student voters who participated in the 2010 elections by
virtue of age and citizenship. Legally, all eighteen years old Filipinos
are eligible to vote and be voted upon. However, questions arise as
what kind of voters these students were and what were their political
attitude and behavior.
Are students passive, active, or submissive to the prevailing electoral
practices, systems, and traditions? How do they view themselves
as new participants in the electoral dynamics? Are they apathetic,
sympathetic, indifferent, or not really interested in the election?
To find answers to these questions, hence, this study was conducted.
FRAMEWORK
This research was anchored on the concept of political culture by
Gabriel A. Almond and Sydney Verba (1980); Gabriel Almond and
Powel (1963); and Robert A. Dahl’s typology of political men and
women in Modern Political Analysis (1991).
A. Almond’s Classifications of Political Culture:
Gabriel Almond in his book, the Civic Culture (1963), defined
political culture as about attitudes, beliefs, and values of the people
towards politics. Almond stressed more theoretically that political
culture is that set of attitudes within which a political system works
(1980). Political culture refers to “the specifically political orientations—
attitudes towards the political system and its various parts, and
attitudes toward the role of the self in the system.”
The first major cross-sectional study of political cultures introduced
the term participants, parochials, and subjects to characterize citizen
differences in awareness of political process and of their potential
influence (Almond & Powel, 1963). Participants develop an awareness
of the input process of the society, those which facilitate their own
involvement in politics. They also develop attitudes that encourage
their use of opportunities for participation.
On the other hand, subjects are those citizens who become part of the
national political system and perceive its impact, or potential impact,
on their lives. But their view of their own role in politics remains that
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of subjects, affected by governmental action, but not active in shaping
it. Parochials are those citizens who have little or no awareness of the
political system. They have no perception of their possible influence or
obligation regarding it.
For Almond, there are three components that constitute politics:
the Input which refers to demands and supports towards the political
system; the Political System, which is referred to as the mechanism
that converts the Inputs into authoritative decisions or policies, like
the parliament, judiciary, etc.; and the Output, which refers to the
decisions and policies.
Almond suggested that political culture couldn’t be created
overnight but it is molded through a long period of political orientation
and socialization. Hence, the major factors that would shape political
culture include the countries geographical location, history, economy,
society, culture, religion, and politics. Race, tribe, caste, and ethnicity
also are influences in the case of certain countries like India where
caste is very important and in Africa where race is important.
With this claim, Almond suggested a scheme to make political
culture operate. Thus, there are three different types of orientations:
cognitive, which refers to knowledge and information about politics;
affective, which refers to how individuals hold some feelings and
emotions about politics, whether positive or negative; and evaluation,
the capacity of the individuals to carefully assess the positive and
negative features of the political system.
Likewise, Almond suggested the following typology:
1. Parochial. There are no orientations towards all components of
politics --- input, output, political system, and self-role. This exists in a
traditional society. People are unaware of politics. They do not have a
secular understanding of the world, and there are no well differentiated
political structures.
2. Subject. There are some orientations towards output and political
system. People know about decision-making mechanism. There is a
political awareness but no confidence to air political views, thus there
is an absence of participatory norms. The first priority is obedience ---
one must obey the law and submit oneself to the authority of law. Here,
certain differentiated political structures emerge. This type exists in
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totalitarian states of communist. Almond and Verba (1963) suggested
that a ‘subject or ‘passive’ culture fits in an authoritarian regime.
3. Participant. There are orientations towards all four components
of politics --- input, output, political system, and self-role. Here,
emphasis is on the role of the self. This encourages more and more
participation, but no guarantee of stability. Participation is the highest
value. There is an ability to criticize the authority and hold positive
orientation towards action. Almond and Verba (1963) suggested that a
participatory political culture fits in a liberal democratic regime.
On the other hand, Dahl stressed the following typology of political
man:
1. Apolitical. It refers to people who show low interest in political
matters. They are less concern and informed about politics. They are
seen as not active in public affairs. In the electoral exercise, they do not
vote in national elections and/or abstain from other kinds of political
activity. They are seen to less likely get involved in politics because of
the following:
a. They place a low value on the rewards expected from political
involvement relative to the rewards they expect from other
kinds of activity.
b. They think that there is no significant difference in the
alternatives before them and what they do will not matter.
c. They think that they will do will not matter because they cannot
change the outcome anyway.
d. They believe that the outcome will be relatively satisfactory to
them without their involvement.
e. They think that their knowledge is too limited for them to be
effective.
f. They think that there are great obstacles preventing them to
participate.
2. The Political. It refers to people who are much more interested,
concerned, informed, and active in political affairs. The following are
the reasons for their active participation in politics:
a. They value the rewards that they will gain.
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b. They think that the alternatives are important.
c. They are confident that they can help to change the outcome.
d. They believe that the outcome will be unsatisfactory if they will
not participate.
e. They think that they have enough knowledge or skill that bears
on the issue at hand.
f. They believe that they can overcome the fewer obstacles to
participation.
3. The Influence Seekers. It refers to people who seek to influence
the government vigorously than others. They seek to exert influence
over the policies, rules, and decisions enforced by the government.
They are seen to have more political resources, skills, and incentives
than others. They think that participation is easier and less costly.
They also perceived that rewards are greater and the penalties fewer.
Moreover, the Influence seekers are motivated by the following:
a. They seek to influence the government for the general good.
b. They seek to influence the government for their self-interest.
c. They seek to influence the government because they are driven
by needs, wishes, desires, and motives of which they are not
fully aware of.
4. The Powerful. It refers to people who are different from power
seekers because the latter fail to gain power. Thus, the powerful are
those who are able to gain power.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The study determined (1) the level of political attitude among
CAS students towards local elections in terms of knowledge about
electoral process; about local elections; and view of self (role) in the
local election; (2) the level of political behavior among CAS students
towards local elections in terms of interest in local elections, likelihood
of participation in local election, and likelihood of influence in local
elections; and (3) the significant relationship between political attitude
and behavior among CAS students of LDCU towards local elections.
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METHODS
This research employed the descriptive research design as it sought
to describe the level of political orientation, and awareness of political
issues among students of the College of Arts and Sciences. Descriptive
research design describes the characteristic of the individual situation
when certain phenomena occurred (Padua, 2000). It establishes
existing conditions and relationship between two or more variables of
observable situations.
Respondents
The respondents consisted of one hundred and thirteen (113)
students of the College of Arts and Sciences. They were enrolled in the
following courses: (1) Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, (2) Bachelor
of Arts in Mass Communication, (3) Bachelor of Arts in English, (4)
Bachelor of Arts in Economics, (5) Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, (6)
Bachelor of Arts in Biology, and (7) Bachelor of Arts in International
Studies.
Sampling Procedure
Through simple non-systematic random sampling, the fifteen (15)
target sample size was obtained. Using the data and documents available
in each of the program department, specifically, the enrollment and
student folders used for monitoring them, the researchers collected the
names of the students who are 18 years old or above as long as he/she is
a college student of the university and is enrolled in the College of Arts
and Sciences department. The fifteen (15) names were then randomly
picked by the researchers so that all students had the opportunity to be
chosen as respondents. After the names were selected, the researchers
then requested their participation to be part of the study.
Instrumentation
A researcher-made instrument was used to gather the needed data.
The questions in the instrument were based on reviewed literature. The
research instrument consisted of two parts. The first part determined
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Advancing Social Science Research
the political behavior of the respondents while second part determined
on the political attitude of the students.
Validity and Reliability
The instrument’s was pre-tested to establish validity and reliability
(see attached appendices for sample). In pre-testing, one class was
chosen as pre-test group. The class was composed of twenty three
(23) students. The researchers distributed the questionnaires to the
students. The students were then asked to answer the questionnaires.
The researchers took note of the comments, criticisms, and suggestions
of the students. The accomplished questionnaires were then sent to
the statistician for the statistical treatment. When the instrument was
found valid and reliable, it was finally administered to the actual
respondents.
Data Gathering Procedure
During data gathering, the researchers visited classes to identify
the respondents who were then given the questionnaires to be
accomplished. The questionnaires were then retrieved. The obtained
data was submitted to the university statistician for statistical analysis.
Statistical Techniques
To determine the respondents’ level of political attitude, the
percentage was used. The same statistical tool was also used to
determine the respondents’ level of political culture. Lastly, to establish
the relationship between the respondents’ level of political attitude
and level of political culture, the Pearson Product Moment Correlation
was applied.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The level of political attitude among CAS students towards local
elections in terms of knowledge about electoral process; about local
elections; and view of self (role) in the local election
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Table 1. Level of Political Attitude Among CAS Students
towards Local Elections in terms of Knowledge of Electoral Process,
Local Elections, and View of Self (Role) in the Local Election
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT FREQUENCY PERCENT
ELECTORAL PROCESS
Average 8 7.1
High 105 92.9
Total 113 100.0
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT FREQUENCY PERCENT
LOCAL ELECTIONS
Average 17 15.0
High 96 85.0
Total 113 100.0
VIEW OF SELF (ROLE) IN FREQUENCY PERCENT
THE LOCAL ELECTION
Average 1 0.9
High 112 99.1
Total 113 100.0
Table 1 shows the respondents’ level of political attitude towards
local elections in terms of knowledge about electoral process, and local
elections and view of self (role) in the local election.
As shown on the table, the majority of the respondents are highly
knowledgeable about electoral process (92.9%) and the local elections
(85%). Considering that the respondents are under the College of Arts
and Sciences, they are all well-informed about the electoral process
and their participation in the local election since it is discussed and
also taught in their major subjects.
Colby (2008) attributes the high knowledge of individuals, especially
the higher education students, about politics to the claim that education
improves political understanding and engagement. Indeed, there is a
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Advancing Social Science Research
positive, reinforcing relationship between educational attainment and
political knowledge and information.
In terms of the view of self (role) in the local election, most of the
respondents (99.1%) were highly aware of their role in the local election.
They consider themselves important actors in the local election, and
they are highly influential in local election.
According to Sullivan and Rosin (2008), learning about politics
must be made as an integral part of College education. College Liberal
Arts students must possess adequate knowledge of politics for them to
be considered fully educated.
The level of political behavior among CAS students towards
local elections in terms of interest in local elections; likelihood of
participation in local election; and likelihood of influence in local
elections.
Table 2. Level of Political Behavior among CAS
Students towards Local Elections in terms of Interest in Local
Elections, Likelihood of Participation in Local Election; and
Likelihood of Influence in Local Elections
INTEREST IN LOCAL FREQUENCY PERCENT
ELECTIONS
Average 11 9.7
High 102 90.3
Total 113 100.0
LIKELIHOOD OF FREQUENCY PERCENT
PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL
ELECTION
Average 11 9.7
High 102 90.3
Total 113 100.0
LIKELIHOOD OF INFLUENCE FREQUENCY PERCENT
IN LOCAL ELECTIONS
Average 18 15.9
High 95 84.1
Total 113 100.0
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Table 2 shows the respondents’ level of political behavior among
CAS students towards local elections in terms of interest in local
elections, likelihood of participation in local election, and likelihood of
influence in local elections.
As shown in the table, most of the respondents were highly
interested in local elections (90.3%) and were most likely to participate
in the local elections (90.3%). This shows that the respondents are
aware of their right to vote and they know that they have a role to play
when it comes to choosing their local leaders. In terms of the likelihood
of influencing in the local elections, majority of them (84.1%) believed
that their participation could influence the local elections.
The respondents of the study probably belong to “low level”
community because they tend to have better political participation.
According to a study, involving local people within Tambon
Administration in Chiang Mai Province, people living in low-level
community had better political participation than those in high-level
community. However, the people living in low-level community had
no intention to actively participate in politics except in local elections.
The significant relationship between political attitude and
behavior among CAS students of LDCU towards local elections
Table 3. Test of Significant Relationship between
Political Attitude and Behavior Among CAS Students of LDCU
Towards Local Elections
Interest In Local Elections Likelihood Of Participa- Likelihood Of Influence In
tion In Local Elections Local Elections
Corr. Prob. Rel. Ho: Corr. Prob. Rel. Ho: Corr. Prob. Rel. Ho:
Knowledge Low /
about Elec- .2585 .006 Slight R -.0906 .340 Negl. NR .0684 .471 Negl. NR
toral Process
Knowledge Low /
about Local .1123 .236 Negli- NR .1124 .236 Negl. NR .2227 .018 Slight R
Elections gible
View of Self
(Role) in the Low / Low /
Local Elec- .2897 .002 Slight R -.0310 .744 Negl. NR .2171 .021 Slight R
tion
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Table 3 shows the test of relationship between the respondents’
political attitude and behavior towards local elections.
As shown in the table, among the variables correlated, only the
following were shown to have low/slight relationship: knowledge
about electoral process and interest in local election, view of self (role)
in the local election and interest in local election, knowledge about
local election and likelihood of influence in local election, and view of
self in local election and likelihood of influence in local election.
The findings disclose that the students are active participants or
participative actors in local elections. This trait is highly expected of
those were in the Liberal Arts. According to Sullivan and Rosin (2008),
a good liberal education should provide students with the intellectual
capacity to make sense of their environment and to locate themselves
within the complex influences of their time and place. Learning
about political institutions, issues, contexts, and practices should be
an integral part of that enterprise. College graduates cannot make
sense of their environment and their place in it if they are politically
ignorant, unskilled, and lacking in a sense of civic agency, the sense
that they can work with others to solve problems that concern them –
in their communities, workplaces, or elsewhere. In this sense, a basic
understanding of the political and policy contexts in which people live
and work is an essential dimension of liberal learning, and students
are not well educated if they fail to develop that understanding. The
knowledge and ideas that would sink into the consciousness of the
students would basically influence their likelihood to participate in
the local election.
CONCLUSIONS
The claims of Gabriel Almond (1963) in his book, the Civic Culture
seems to be true in this study for this shows that from the findings,
it can be said that the majority of the respondents were in the high
level and few in the average. The students enrolled in the Liberal
Arts are highly knowledgeable and are well educated to develop the
understanding needed for local elections and on the electoral process
and have high awareness of their significant role in the elections.
Such level of knowledge and awareness will most likely be translated
into high level of participation in the local election. They will become
44
active participants or participative actors in local election which highly
expected of them. We also conclude that with this research study we
were able to come up with the right data’s needed, for us to know the
level of participation for new voters. And that this study would help
other researchers at enhancing the level of political orientation to and
awareness of political issues not only among Political Science students
but also from other departments or colleges.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the findings and conclusion of the study, the following
recommendations should be considered:
1. The College of Arts and Science should enrich the syllabus of the
Soc. Sci. 3, which deals with the Philippine constitution, to emphasize
the importance of participation in local elections.
2. The Commission on Election, to which is mandated to disseminate
information on elections should expand its voter’s education program.
3. The Student Body Organization, which also has a role in educating
the student, should conduct an information drive on election to help
the local government and the college in educating the students.
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