Those Darn Facts: Liberal professor shocked to discover Tea Party smarter than average.

Cultural Cognition Project ^ | 10/15/2013 | Dan Kahan

[Beave Meister]

Dan Kahan, the Elizabeth K. Dollard Professor of Law and Professor of Psychology at Yale Law School was curious about the relationship between ”science comprehension“ and political outlooks. His findings shocked him: tea party supporters are actually more scientifically literate than the non-tea party population

I’ve got to confess, though, I found this result surprising. As I pushed the button to run the analysis on my computer, I fully expected I’d be shown a modest negative correlation between identifying with the Tea Party and science comprehension.

But then again, I don’t know a single person who identifies with the Tea Party. All my impressions come from watching cable tv — & I don’t watch Fox News very often — and reading the “paper” (New York Times daily, plus a variety of politics-focused internet sites like Huffington Post & Politico).

I’m a little embarrassed, but mainly I’m just glad that I no longer hold this particular mistaken view.

[Beave Meister]

The average Teaparty member is way smarter than the average liberal professor

[jimfree]

BTTT.

[albie]

And at least 1/2 of the Tea Party members I’ve met are war vets. From WW11 to Iraq.

They fought and put their lives on the line so that Professor Doucebag Weenie could have a cushy college gig and be a stupid ass day in and day but be confused with someone who’s intelligent.

[Paladin2]

This guy is apparently paid to study gnats' differences in correlations of political outlooks with whatever other personal characteristics he is interested in.

I suggest that he study the science comprehension of EBT users, Medicaid users, people who vote for DWS, etc.

[oh8eleven]

Yale professor Dan Kahan ... "I don’t know a single person who identifies with the Tea Party."

[frogjerk]

I’m a little embarrassed, but mainly I’m just glad that I no longer hold this particular mistaken view.

Good for him. A little humility goes a long way.

[Hardraade]

Very few of these people would even make it to Mensa.

I know very few who wouldn’t.

[COBOL2Java]

Kind of reminds me of the liberal from New York City, as I recall, who couldn't understand how Ronald Reagan could have been elected, since no one he knew voted for him.

(may have been a different Republican victory)

[central_va]

Amazes me how susceptible to propaganda the presumptive “knowledge” class has become. They have no intellectual curiosity what so ever, at least towards politics. They are like children. The MSM manipulates and distorts, and academia laps it up..

[KosmicKitty]

But then again, I don’t know a single person who identifies with the Tea Party.

Sounds like that woman who didn't know anyone who voted for Nixon.

Guess the dude's a bit to insulated to make a fair judgement of reality.

[cripplecreek]

This tea partier has had the science channel on all morning. This morning I watched a show about the science behind the engineering of the Eiffel Tower. Last night it was shows about space physics and gravity.

That sort of thing interests me.

[MrB]

I fully expected I’d be shown a modest negative correlation between identifying with the Tea Party and science comprehension.

That's because you've convinced yourself, ie, drank the koolaid, that liberals are inherently smarter because... because they're liberals.

[KosmicKitty]

to = too

kk<— posting before coffee. Bad kitty

[stormhill]

Not to worry, professor; only a matter of days before your colleagues apply Global Warming statistical methodology to prove Tea Partiers are dumber than a bag of hammers.

[i_robot73]

I doubt his reading habits will change after noting the source of his ‘confusion’ (NY Times, Politico, Huffington...non-Fox). Call me impressed when we starting thinking about 2nd A, ‘global warming’, ‘the poor’, etc. objectively.

[gattaca]

This board never fails to make me laugh.

[KosmicKitty]

On our road trips, we listen to Dan Carlin's hardcore history podcasts, http://www.dancarlin.com/disp.php/hharchive. I highly recommend them if you like history as well as science.

[jboot]

I find the notion that "religious people/conservatives/Tea Partiers must be ignorant fools" to be offensive on its face.

I may think that progs are evil, but I'd never accuse them of being ignorant fools. Their serfs in the Free Sh*t Army are as ignorant as the day is long, but the progs themselves are not.

[MrB]

I suggest that he study the science comprehension of EBT users, Medicaid users, people who vote for DWS, etc

Indeed. The left's "mascot" base is something they really should be proud of.

[cripplecreek]

Science and history are my favorites balanced with diversions like sports and a handful of dramas on TV.