Political Behaviour/Sociology

F01(a) - LGBTQ+ Voices and Public Opinion / Perspectives LGBTQ+ et opinion publique

Date: Jun 3 | Time: 08:30am to 10:00am | Location:

Chair/Président/Présidente : Emmanuel Choquette (Université de Sherbrooke)

Discussant/Commentateur/Commentatrice : Michael Wigginton (Carleton University)

Can AI Reduce Prejudice at Scale?: Charles Crabtree (Dartmouth College), John Holbein (Uiversity of Virginia), Mitchell Bosley (University of Toronto), Semra Sevi (University of Toronto)
Abstract: This study investigates the potential of artificial intelligence to facilitate conversations that mitigate prejudice, particularly towards transgender individuals. Previous research indicates that personalized, face-to-face interactions with outgroup members can significantly influence public attitudes. However, the scalability of this approach is hindered by the logistical and financial challenges associated with training human conversation facilitators. To overcome these limitations, we propose a novel method utilizing a GPT-powered chatbot to conduct personalized conversations tailored to the moral concerns of participants, as assessed by the Moral Foundations Questionnaire. We conduct an online survey experiment with a sample of approximately 2,500 respondents, designed to reflect a nationally representative demographic in the United States. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups: one engages in a morality-driven conversation with the chatbot about transgender rights, while the other serves as a control group with no conversation. Following the intervention, all respondents provide their levels of support for transgender rights using a validated set of questions. This research contributes methodologically by providing insights into the feasibility of scaling personal conversations through generative AI. Substantively, it advances the understanding of outgroup attitudes and specifically addresses the dynamics of prejudice against transgender individuals.

Pride and prejudice: An experimental design to assess the influence of sporting events on political attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community.: Noah Vanderhoeven (Western University), Amanda Friesen (Western University)
Abstract: Sport fandom creates strong psychological connections, feelings of inclusion and provide boosts to self-esteem and social identity (Jacobson, 1979). Increasingly, men’s professional teams have been engaging in Pride events related to LGBTQ+ visibility and rights, yet little scholarly attention has been paid to these efforts. I hypothesize that those exposed to an LGBTQ+ treatment will have positive changes in their post-treatment evaluations of members of the LGBTQ+ community when compared to those who received the control. I also hypothesize that those exposed to the LGBTQ+ treatment will be more supportive of LGBTQ+ policy initiatives than those exposed to the control condition. Furthermore, I hypothesize that conservative participants who receive the LGBTQ+ treatment will be more likely to express disinterest in attending the treatment event and have negative changes in their attachment to their listed sport teams. This paper uses a survey experiment to evaluate these hypotheses using average treatment effects.

Accounting for the Decline in Support for LGBTQ2S+ Rights in Canada: Quinn Albaugh (Queen's University), Elizabeth Baisley (Queen's University), J. Scott Matthews (Memorial University)
Abstract: For the past three decades, scholars have focused on explaining increased support for LGBTQ2S+ rights. However, we are entering a new era: recent surveys show public opinion moving in the opposite direction in many countries, including Canada. What accounts for this decline in support for LGBTQ2S+ rights? Current theories, such as generational replacement—or the idea that public opinion will liberalize as younger, more tolerant people become adults and as older, less tolerant generations die—cannot explain increased opposition. We examine public opinion trends in Canada, an unlikely case for increased opposition. We use data from the Ipsos Pride Surveys (2013-2024) and the AmericasBarometer surveys (2010-2023). Our analysis will examine whether opposition is increasing (1) generally in the population, (2) among particular demographic groups, and/or (3) within parties as they polarize. This paper lays the groundwork for additional research on increasing opposition to LGBTQ2S+ rights.