Work

Ideologists, Non-Ideologists and the Construct Validity of One-Dimensional Measures of Political Ideology

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Previous research has shown that a large part of the population lacks a coherent system of political beliefs (Converse, 1964). Yet, studies in social and political psychology often examine the relationship between ideology and political attitudes/behavior on the basis of a one-dimensional self-placement liberal-conservative or left-right ideology scale that assumes that all of the participants have a coherent ideology. In the current paper we suggest a simple method by which ‘non-ideologists’ could be identified in studies that are based on a one-dimensional ideology scales, and demonstrate that excluding them from the analysis. improves the validity of our conclusions regarding the role of ideology in political psychology. We conclude with a discussion of the pros and the cons of such exclusion.

Source: Social Indicators Research

DOI: 10.1007/s11205-025-03716-5

Authors: Yoav Ganzach, Yaacov Schul

Institutions: Tel Aviv University, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Language: English

Topic: Electoral Systems and Political Participation

Subfield: Political Science and International Relations

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,290

Funder: Tel Aviv University