Volu m e I - Purdue University Calumet

variable value we are interested in, the testing value, as “1”, and all other values as “0” (Babbie, Halley, &
Zaino, 2007). The control variable RECATTEND, ordinal, will be transformed into two new interval
variables: ATTREG and ATTSOME. When transforming from RECATTEND to ATTREG, the value
“Regularly Attend” will be coded as “1” with everyone else coded “0”. Likewise, the variable ATTSOME
will transform RECATTEND, coding the value “Attend Sometimes” as “1”, the group of respondents being
tested, with everything else coded “0”. Dummy variables will also be created for the two nominal control
variables GENDER and RACE. “Male” is the value the study is interested in testing, therefore it will be
coded as “1” and “Female” coded “0”. In transforming RACE into a dummy variable that will test “Whites”,
that value will be labeled “1” with both “Blacks” and “Other” coded as “0”. Also, dummy variables recoded
from the “PARTYID” variable will be used. The two testing variables created will test specifically for
“Republican” and “Democrat”, leaving the value “Independent” alone, using it as a base for comparison. I
will likely not spend time addressing the findings we these two variables, as I would rather spend the course
of the regression analysis section addressing the more interesting items of gender, race, and church
attendance. The multiple regression analysis will combine the effects of each variable in the analysis,
allowing the research to include complete and accurate predictions of support for same-sex marriage, along
with separating the variables, allowing the analysis to show how each independent variable uniquely
contributes to the resulting dependent variable (Allison, 1999).
RESULTS
Generally, my hypothesis appears to be supported by the data as seen through the output of my
crosstabs table (Table C). The findings show that of all respondents interviewed by GSS, those expressing
the highest overall support are those currently attending or have attended graduate school with 68.4%
reported saying gays and lesbians have the right to marry. Also, while not as supportive of same-sex
marriage as graduate students, those attending college or who have obtained an undergraduate degree are
more likely than those with less education to support this right (50.5% support, 47.8% opposed). The
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