Episode 15

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Published on:

13th Aug 2024

15: In Our Feelings with Camille Burge-Hicks

Public opinion polling has historically underrepresented Black Americans and other minority groups, leading to skewed perceptions of national sentiment. Emotional responses to political issues and candidates play a crucial role in shaping voter behavior, yet are often overlooked in traditional survey methods. 

Dr. Camille Burge-Hicks, Associate Professor of Political Science at Villanova University, discusses the evolution of political polling and its impact on Black communities. She shares insights on the importance of qualitative research in understanding voter motivations, the need to update outdated survey measures, and the potential for emotional factors to influence voters. The conversation also touches on the challenges of accurately representing diverse populations in polls and the responsibility of both pollsters and the public in interpreting survey results. 

 

Resources 

Polling and the Public by Herbert Asher

Historic Firsts by Evelyn Simien

The Philadelphia Negro by W.E.B. Du Bois and Isabel Eaton

National Survey of Black Americans

National Black Election Study

National Black Politics Study

Collaborative Multi-Racial Post-Election Study (CMPS) 

Data Black Public Opinion Polls

 

Our Guest 

Dr. Camille Burge-Hicks is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science at Villanova University. Her research focuses on political psychology, race and ethnicity in American politics, and the role of emotions in shaping political behavior. Dr. Burge-Hicks is particularly interested in exploring how group identities and emotional experiences influence public opinion and political decision-making among Black Americans and other minority groups. Her forthcoming book, Fired Up, Ready to Go: Pride, Shame, and Anger in Black Politics, examines the intersection of emotions and racial identity in political engagement.

 

Your Host 

Farrah Bostic is the founder and Head of Research & Strategy at The Difference Engine, a strategic insights consultancy. With over 20 years of experience turning audience insights into effective strategies for B2B and B2C companies, Farrah helps business leaders make big decisions across various industries. Learn more at thedifferenceengine.co and connect with Farrah on LinkedIn.

 

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About the Podcast

Cross Tabs
People • Data • Power
Our world is governed by numbers — surveys, polling, algorithms, and data.

On Cross Tabs, we bring you the stories behind these numbers. This podcast is your introduction to the people, perspectives, and agendas that shape our reality, and call it “public opinion”.

We invite experts to discuss pressing issues and walk us through their methods. You’ll hear about the issues that matter from some of the brightest thinkers in policy and politics, tech and business.

Join us and you’ll learn about how polling works — or doesn’t work — and how research can be manipulated to advance a political agenda. Discover the history of topics in the news and hear insights on culture and society.

And learn what’s really at risk in the race to influence and optimize, well, everything.

The show is hosted by Farrah Bostic, founder of The Difference Engine, where she works as a qualitative researcher and strategist working outside The Beltway to understand what drives business leaders, experts, and people like you so we can all make better decisions.