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A Scale for the Measurement of Attitude toward Candidates for Elective Governmental Office

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2013

Herman C. Beyle
Affiliation:
Syracuse University

Extract

The approach of another presidential campaign should bring with it a renewal of plans for the study of the election process by a number of students of parties and of public opinion. An important instrument for use in any such investigation would be a scale for the measurement of attitude toward candidates for elective governmental office. The writer considers it timely, therefore, to release for possible use a candidate scale which has undergone considerable testing during the past four years. The psychophysical methods adapted to the use of scale construction by Professor Thurstone have been employed in the production of this scale.

Type
Political Methodology
Copyright
Copyright © American Political Science Association 1932

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References

1 See pp. 539-541 below.

2 Thurstone, L. L., “Attitudes Can Be Measured,” 33 American Journal of Sociology, 544545 (19271928)Google Scholar. See also Thurstone, L. L. and Chave, E. J., The Measurement of Attitude (Chicago, 1929), pp. 2223Google Scholar.

3 See L. L. Thurstone and E. J. Chave, The Measurement of Attitude.

4 Attitude s Can Be Measured,” 33 American Journal of Sociology, 549551 (19271928)Google Scholar.

5 Thurstone, L. L. and Chave, E. J., The Measurement of Attitude, pp. 4556Google Scholar.

6 The coëfficient of this correlation and succeeding ones is carried out to four places only for the purpose of differentiating them.

7 Of course, complete refusal of interview occurred also, but mostly for reasons that would exist whether or not a scale were used.

8 The following illustrates the possible arrangement of voting squares and scale statements on a candidate scale prepared as a blanket ballot:

9 Statements 3, 6, 29, and 40.

10 For further caution, see p. 544 below.

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