Anchoring the experts: Using vignettes to compare party ideology across countries. (23rd October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bakker, Ryan; Edwards, Erica; Jolly, Seth; Polk, Jonathan; Rovny, Jan; Steenbergen, Marco
• Is Part Of: Research & politics. Volume 1:Number 3(2014)
• Publication Date: 2014-10-23
• Subjects: European parties -- expert surveys -- vignettes; Political science -- Periodicals; 320.05
• DOI: 10.1177/2053168014553502
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2053-1680

Abstract

Expert surveys are a valuable, commonly used instrument to measure party positions. Some critics question the cross-national comparability of these measures, though, suggesting that experts may lack a common anchor for fundamental concepts such as economic left–right. Using anchoring vignettes in the 2010 Chapel Hill Expert Survey, we examine the extent of cross-national difference in expert ideological placements. We find limited evidence of cross-national differences; on the whole, our findings further establish expert surveys as a rigorous instrument for measuring party positions in a cross-national context.