A comparative study of the respective voting patterns of Virginia High School students and adults in the 1956 presidential election

The data revealed, first of all, that in most districts both adults and students tended to vote for the same candidate. This tendency was strongly indicated by the positive correlation of .83 between pupils' and adults' voting throughout the State. Such a finding gave rise to speculation to the effect that the community environment had influenced pupils' political thinking to considerable extent. However, upon closer examination, it was noted that, in most cases, the students not only tended to vote for the candidate receiving the most adult votes, but also that they did so in greater proportions than was the case respecting their elders. This observation seemed supported by Table XIII which, indicates significant differences between adults' and students' votes in all of the districts except three. Thus, the data indicate that the two populations were distinct and separate, a view which is supported by the findings given in Table XIV; also, by the computation and interpretation of t, which indicates further the separateness of the two populations.

In the light of these findings, it appears unlikely that an adult election could be predicted by an earlier student election. The results of the study indicate that considerable influence upon students' voting is exerted by stimuli other than those present in their contacts with adults who actually vote in elections. Thus, the inference could be drawn that courses in school, in which political discussions are held, tend to play important parts in determining the political thinking of students; also, that they are perhaps less prone to adopt unquestioningly the views of their forbears than are adults belonging to their communities at large.

It is recommended that a study be made of the Presidential Election in 1960, similar to this, in order to provide further insights concerning the effects of school studies and other influences upon adolescents' political views.