The study says they consider socially conservative and authoritarian attitudes to be 'right wing', but given Labour's history with e.g. anti terrorism laws, it is quite clear that Labour would fall into the right wing category. So, no, this study doesn't say Labour voters are more intelligent than Tories.
Secondly, this study uses self reported racism. It cannot be used to make generalisations about the existence of racist views, only people's willingness to report them- rather than saying that more intelligent people are less racist and therefore left wing, a better conclusion might be that more intelligent people are better able to hide their racism and therefore the study perceives them as left wing.
From the study: "Parental socioeconomic status for participants during childhood, as well as participants’ personal socioeconomic status and education level in adulthood, were obtained in both the NCDS and the BCS. Parental and personal socioeconomic status were rated on 4-point (BCS) and 6-point (NCDS) scales based on social prestige of occupation. If a participant’s father was unemployed, the mother’s occupation was utilized; unemployed participants reported their most recent employment status. In both studies, participants’ level of education was rated on a 6-point scale ranging from 0, no education, to 5, postgraduate."
Is it just me, or is the methodology here (especially the underlined bits) really fucking dodgy.
Secondly, this study uses self reported racism. It cannot be used to make generalisations about the existence of racist views, only people's willingness to report them- rather than saying that more intelligent people are less racist and therefore left wing, a better conclusion might be that more intelligent people are better able to hide their racism and therefore the study perceives them as left wing.
From the study:
"Parental socioeconomic status for participants during childhood, as well as participants’ personal socioeconomic status and education level in adulthood, were obtained in both the NCDS and the BCS. Parental and personal socioeconomic status were rated on 4-point (BCS) and 6-point (NCDS) scales based on social prestige of occupation. If a participant’s father was unemployed, the mother’s occupation was utilized; unemployed participants reported their most recent employment status. In both studies, participants’ level of education was rated on a 6-point scale ranging from 0, no education, to 5, postgraduate."
Is it just me, or is the methodology here (especially the underlined bits) really fucking dodgy.
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