Approaches to Studying Policy Representation. Issue 1 (February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Broockman, David E.
• Is Part Of: Legislative studies quarterly. Volume 41:Issue 1(2016:Feb.)
• Page Start: 181
• Page End: 215
• Publication Date: 2016-02
• Subjects: Legislative bodies -- Periodicals; Parlement; Procédure législative; Système parlementaire; Étude comparée (Descripteur de forme); Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 328
• DOI: 10.1111/lsq.12110
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0362-9805

Abstract

Abstract : Some studies of policy representation test hypotheses about the relationship between citizens' views and elites' positions on multiple issues by proceeding one issue at a time. Others summarize citizens' and elites' preferences with "ideology scores" and test hypotheses with these. I show that approach is flawed. It misinterprets citizens' ideology scores as summaries of policy preferences, but these scores actually measure ideological consistency across areas: how often citizens' ideal policies are liberal or conservative. Examples show how attending to this distinction overturns conventional wisdom: legislators appear similarly moderate as citizens, not more extreme; however, politically engaged citizens appear especially moderate.