We recently included several winning Top Question Tuesday survey questions on a recent interactive survey. Stay tuned to the blog as we’ll be reporting the results of these questions here over the next several weeks!

One question included on this survey asked where people believed ideology originates. When asked whether a better predictor of people’s ideology and voting habts was their parents and immediate family or encounters with other people and ideas outside of their immediate family, 48% of those surveyed believe that ideology of parents and immediate family while 42% believed it came from encounters with people and ideas outside of immediate family.

Groups that were more likely to believe ideology of parents and immediate family was the stronger predictor include First Globals™ (those 18-29, at 55%), those with a college degree or higher (49%), those who live in the suburbs (49%), those who are married (49%), those who are conservative (51%) and very conservative (56%), and Republicans (53%).
Conversely, those more likely to believe that encounters with other people and ideas outside of the immediate family are the stronger predictor of ideology and voting habits include those over 65 (48%), those in civil unions or domestic partnerships (48%), progressives (47%), liberals (45%), moderates (47%), Democrats (45%) and independents (44%).

Do you believe that immediate family or other influences play a stronger role in where our ideology and voting patterns originate? Why?

Katy Uncategorized first globals, ideology, media, Top Question Tuesday, zogby