'Neither agree, nor disagree': a critical analysis of the middle answer category in Voting Advice Applications. (7th January 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Baka, Aphrodite; Figgou, Lia; Triga, Vasiliki
• Is Part Of: International journal of electronic governance. Volume 5:Number 3/4(2012)
• Page Start: 244
• Page End: 263
• Publication Date: 2013-01-07
• Subjects: VAAs -- voting advice applications -- VAA design -- methodological design -- middle point answers -- Likert scale -- social psychology -- e–democracy -- electoral behaviour -- electoral impact -- election campaigning -- internet -- voting aid applications -- electronic democracy -- electoral campaigns -- Helpmevote -- Greece -- local elections; Internet in public administration -- Periodicals; Electronic government information -- Periodicals; Political participation -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; 352.3802854678
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1742-7509

Abstract

This paper explores the meanings attributed to the middle category of a 5–point Likert scale that is commonly used by Voting Advice Applications (VAAs). Data was collected from 71 users of the VAA 'Helpmevote' (October 2010 for the Greek local elections), who were asked to justify their middle point answers. According to thematic analysis of the participants' answers, the middle points were used to convey lack of knowledge, but also dilemmas and rejection of the items' assumptions. Such findings address methodological issues related to the design of VAAs and set some goals for their future design.