Variables - Overview

Issue Self-Positioning

Quick Info
Datasets: cses ess eb ees wvs

Variable description

This item asks respondents about their own position on an issue. It can be used to measure the spread of opinions among the electorate (see measure Standard Deviation), or to put respondents into relation to the party system and their perception of party positions.

Self-placement items are widely available in a wide range of surveys. Most commonly, they ask respondents about their left-right position, but other issue dimensions are also possible.

Datasets & Variants

CSES

LEFT-RIGHT - SELF

E3020

Scale: 0 (Left) - 10 (Right)

Wording: Where would you place yourself on this scale?


European Social Survey

Placement on the left right scale

lrscale

Scale: 0 (Left) - 10 (Right)

Wording: In politics people sometimes talk of “left ́ and “right ́. Using this card, where would you place yourself on this scale, where 0 means the left and 10 means the right?


Eurobarometer

Personal left right

Scale: 1 (Left) - 10 (Right)

Wording: In political matters people talk of “the left” and “the right”. How would you place your views on this scale?"


EES

Personal left right

Scale: 0 (Left) - 10 (Right)

Wording: In political matters people talk of “the left” and “the right”. What is your position? Please indicate your views using any number on an 11-point-scale. On this scale, where 0 means “left” and 10 means “right,” which number best describes your position?


World Value Survey

Self positioning in political scale

Scale: 0 (Left) - 10 (Right)

Wording: In political matters, people talk of “the left” and “the right.” How would you place your views on this scale, generally speaking?


Measures

Measures that rely on these items:

MeasurePolarization
Party-System Compactnessideological
SDideological