Teachers Have Little Effect

On Student Political Views

An article of faith among conservative critics of American universities has been that liberal professors politically indoctrinate their students.

The York Times, 11/03/08

But there is a problem with that belief -- a belief that has prompted much rhetoric and a variety of efforts to eliminate "the liberal influence" in universities.

Three sets of researchers recently found that professors have virtually no impact on the political views and ideology of their students. The research includes:

A study of nearly 7,000 students at 38 institutions published in the current "PS: Political Science and Politics," the journal of the American Political Science Association.

A separate study to run in the April 2009 edition reaches similar conclusions.

Jeremy D. Mayer, who did extensive research on faculty and students, and one of the authors of the book, Closed Minds? Politics and Ideology in American Universities, says, “It is really hard to change the mind of anyone over 15."

The authors of Closed Minds? say that, "parents and family are the most important influence,” followed by the news media and peers. “Professors are among the least influential.”

Mayer concludes that the notion that students are induced to move leftward “is a fantasy.”

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