Ben Gaskins

Ben Gaskins is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Lewis & Clark College. He teaches courses in American and Comparative Politics, including classes on religion and politics, public opinion, political parties and interest groups, and the presidency. His research seeks to better understand the role of religion in structuring political attitudes, knowledge, and behavior.

Academic Credentials

BA in Political Science and Music, Furman University (2006)
M.S. in Political Science, Florida State University (2008)
PhD in Political Science, Florida State University (2011)

Teaching

Spring 2022

POLS 103 : Intro to American Politics

MWF 9:10 am - 10:10 am 

The politics of the founding period; interactions within and among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches; the federal division of institutionalized powers; public opinion, interest groups, and political parties; the policy process in areas such as defense, welfare, civil rights and liberties, and international affairs.

Prerequisites: None

Requirements: None

POLS 252 : Public Opinion and Survey Research

MWF 11:30 am - 12:30 pm

The role of public opinion in the American political process; the problem of identifying the public and the extent to which this public exercises political authority; techniques of researching public opinion. Political socialization, formation of attitudes, group differences, mass opinion, elite opinion, direct action. Research design, data collection, scaling, analysis, and interpretation of data in the context of research on polling.

Prerequisites: None

Requirements: Sophomore standing required

Research

Gaskins, Ben, Jason Barabas, and Jennifer Jerit. 2020. “Qualitative Quotes: The Prevalence and Effects of Survey Respondent Exemplars in Political News Coverage.” The International Journal of Press/Politics 25(1): 96–114.

Gaskins, Ben, Todd Lochner, Ellen Seljan, Katie Kowal, Zane Dundon, & Maya Gold. 2019. “From the FEC to the Ballot Box: Voter Accountability for Campaign Finance Law Violations.” American Politics Research 47(5): 1000–1035.

Gaskins, Ben. 2019. “The Effects of Religious Attendance and Evangelical Identification on Media Perception and Political Knowledge.” Politics & Religion 12(2): 346–384.

Clifford, Scott & Ben Gaskins. 2016. “Trust Me, I Believe in God: Candidate Religiousness as a Signal of Trustworthiness.” American Politics Research 44(6) 1066–1097.

Beard, T. Randolph, Robert B. Ekelund Jr., George S. Ford, Ben Gaskins, & Robert D. Tollison. 2013. “Secularism, Religion, and Political Choice in the United States.” Politics & Religion 6(4): 753 – 777.

Gaskins, Ben, Matt Golder, & David Siegel. 2013. “Religious Participation and Economic Conservatism.” American Journal of Political Science 57(4): 823-840.

Gaskins, Ben, Matt Golder, & David Siegel. 2013. “Religious Participation, Social Conservatism, and Human Development.” Journal of Politics 75(4): 1125-1141.

Gaskins, Benjamin and Jennifer Jerit. 2012. “Internet News: Is it a Replacement for Traditional Media Outlets?” 2012. The International Journal of Press/Politics 17(2): 190-213.