Estimating the Political Center from Aggregate Data: An Item Response Theory Alternative to the Stimson Dyad Ratios Algorithm

This article provides an algorithm to produce a time-series estimate of the political center (or median voter) from aggregate survey data, even when the same questions are not asked in most years. This is compared to the existing Stimson dyad ratios approach, which has been applied to various questi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Political analysis 2014, Vol.22 (1), p.115-129
Main Author: McGann, Anthony J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aggregate Data
Algorithms
Central tendencies
Computer Software
Conservatism
Dyadic relations
Dyads
Estimation
Item response theory
Liberalism
Modeling
Parametric models
Political analysis
Political Science
Public Opinion
Public opinion surveys
Ratios
Test bias
Time series
United Kingdom
Voter behavior
Voters
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Summary:This article provides an algorithm to produce a time-series estimate of the political center (or median voter) from aggregate survey data, even when the same questions are not asked in most years. This is compared to the existing Stimson dyad ratios approach, which has been applied to various questions in political science. Unlike the dyad ratios approach, the model developed here is derived from an explicit model of individual behavior—the widely used item response theory model. I compare the results of both techniques using the data on public opinion from the United Kingdom from 1947 to 2005 from Bartle, Dellepiane-Avellaneda, and Stimson. Measures of overall model fit are provided, as well as techniques for testing model's assumptions and the fit of individual items. Full code is provided for estimation with free software WinBUGS and JAGS.
ISSN:1047-1987
1476-4989
DOI:10.1093/pan/mpt022