David Doherty PhD Candidate - Political Science
		PhD Candidate University of Colorado (Expected Completion: May 2008) Fields of Specialization: American Politics, Political Methodology. Dissertation: "Perceived Motivations in the Political Arena" What do people want to drive political actors? What do they think actually does? My work leverages the power of experimental designs to gain insight into how a number of factors affect how people attribute motivations to political actors, as well as which motives are connected with overall evaluations of those actors and the institutions within which they operate. I find that some perceptions about motives are quite stable, while others depend heavily on other considerations such as party cues and whether or not behavior is considered within its institutional context. I also find that these factors affect which motives are seen as desirable. My results suggest that media reports and other political communications can influence citizens' interpretations of the behavior of political actors in important ways. This research is also important in that it improves our understanding of what underlies public distrust of government. It also offers insight into when and how people use shortcuts - such as beliefs about peoples' motives - in political judgments. (Advisor: Jennifer Wolak). B.A., Political Science, New College, Sarasota, FL (May 1999) Publications Doherty, David. 2008. "Presidential Rhetoric, Candidate Evaluations, and Party Identification: Can Parties 'Own' Values?" Political Research Quarterly. Awards and Fellowships Spring 2007 Center for the Advance of Research and Teaching in the Social Sciences (CARTSS) Scholars Grant "Deciding What is Fair" (Co-PI: Jennifer Wolak) Summer 2006 Department Summer Program Award Winter 2006 Alumni Teaching Fellowship, New College Summer 2005 Department Travel Grant Spring 2005 Department Travel Grant Summer 2004 Department Summer Program Award Email: david.doherty@colorado.edu