Philip Chen, PhD

ABOUT ME

My research focuses broadly on political behavior, public

opinion, and political communication. Specifically, I'm

interested in how differences in voters' traits and identities
affect reactions to information from campaigns or the media.

My research examines individual differences in racial attitudes,

sexism, and personality traits (including the Big Five and the Dark

Triad), among other predispositions. I study how these

aspects of voters change their understanding of campaign

advertisements and media reports about politics.

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I am currently working on a project examining the role that social
identities play in shaping individual's beliefs about the federal court system.
We use a variety of survey and observational data to show that trust and legitimacy in the federal judiciary is contingent both on aspects of descriptive as well as substantive representation. We also investigate how anti-egalitarian attitudes (such as sexism and racial resentment) influence support for court decisions, perceptions of judicial bias, and trust in judges and the system.

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Other projects include work on the influence of gender and gender stereotypes on the psychology underlying perceptions of candidate competence, a project studying the differential effects of racial resentment and white identity on candidate evaluations, and an investigation of the underlying political and psychological causes of raced-gendered gaps in congressional fundraising.

 

I enjoy teaching course on a variety of topics in American politics. My classes combine contemporary readings with an eye towards practical skills. Depending on the course, my students can be found producing campaign materials for congressional candidates, composing fact sheets for local non-profits, debating the positive and negative consequences of political polarization, or even making paper airplanes to better understand hypothesis testing!

 

Outside of the classroom, I enjoy Ultimate Frisbee, golf, fishing, and playing with my daughter (Rosie) and dog (Hazel). If I'm not in my office, it's a good bet that I'm outside, hopefully doing something fun.

EDUCATION

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Racial Attitudes

Gender Stereotypes

Public Opinion

Political Behavior

Political Psychology

Political Communications

2009-2015

University of Minnesota

Ph.D. Political Science

2003-2006

Macalester College

B.A. Political Science summa cum laude

COURSES TAUGHT

Fake News, Conspiracy Theories, Social Media: The Changing Media Landscape (Senior Capstone)

Media and Politics

Polarization in America

Political Participation

Political Psychology of Identity

Political Psychology of Mass Behavior

Power and Politics in America: From the Halls of Congress to the West Wing

Race and Ethnicity in America

Research Methods in Political Science and Health

U.S. Federal Government and Politics

U.S. Parties, Groups, and Elections