Researchers wrongly assume ideology is bipolar and issue-based

Evidence

I developed the LWA Scale to test Shils’s (1954) hypothesis that Communist-types as well as fascist-types could be authoritarian. Accordingly, I tried hard to create this frame of reference for respondents by developing a preamble to the LWA Scale that reads: “In the items that follow, the ‘Establishment’ refers to the people in our country who have traditionally had the most power, the greatest control over the economy. That is, the wealthiest people, the large corporations and banks who are often called the RIGHT- WING forces in Canada. Whereas a ‘revolutionary movement’ denotes a LEFT-WING movement dedicated to overthrowing the Establishment, and taking away its power.” — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 1001 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Voter confusion about ideology stems from flawed dimensional assumptions, not ignorance; Dimensional bipolar models misrepresent how people actually evaluate political blocs. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2031; Research scales can be framed to test hypotheses about ideology — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 1001 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Research scales can be framed to test hypotheses about ideology #complicates (0.72) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 1001