معرفی
Spencer Goidel serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Auburn University, where he conducts research at the intersection of public opinion, voting behavior, elections, and political communication. His scholarly work investigates how political institutions, objective conditions, subjective evaluations, media, and communication technologies shape American voter behavior and attitudes.
Dr. Goidel earned his PhD from Texas A&M University's Department of Political Science and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. His academic journey has positioned him as a specialist in contemporary American political behavior with particular focus on partisan realignment dynamics.
His research portfolio reveals a strong thematic focus on nostalgia in politics, candidate proliferation effects, corporate political activity, and the relationship between identity politics and voting behavior. Recent publications demonstrate his expertise in analyzing how an abundance of electoral choices affects voter turnout, the connection between nostalgia and authoritarian tendencies, and how racial resentment and hostile sexism influence perceptions of corporate political engagement. His work often employs sophisticated survey methodology to unpack complex relationships between political attitudes and voting behavior.
Goidel's scholarly output has appeared in prominent political science journals including American Politics Research, Business and Politics, and Research & Politics. His research on choice overload in crowded primary elections and the demobilizing effects of candidate abundance represents a significant contribution to electoral studies. His 2024 work examining whether nostalgia represents longing for the 'good old days' or for a more racist and sexist past has generated considerable scholarly discussion.
As an educator, Goidel teaches courses on American Government, Political Participation, State and Local Politics, and Campaigns and Elections. He maintains regular office hours (Monday and Wednesday, 12:00-2:00 pm) and is accessible to students via his university email and phone number. His media presence demonstrates his commitment to public scholarship, with frequent contributions to major news outlets analyzing contemporary political phenomena, particularly regarding Trump-era politics, polling methodology, and electoral dynamics.
