Multi-Item Scale:
Item Text:
a) You feel that you understand the most important political issues of this country. [Ich glaube, dass ich die wichtigsten politischen Themen in diesem Land verstehe.]
Different Answer Format Tested:
Ja
Findings:
14 respondents “strongly agree“ or “somewhat agree“ with this statement, while only two respondents
(ID 01, 07) “strongly disagree” or “somewhat disagree”.
Those who agree with the statement believe they are sufficiently informed on most important political matters to be able, for example, to discuss them competently:
Both respondents who disagree with the item (ID 01, 07) explain that they have no interest in political matters and often find them to be too complex to talk about.
The respondents were also asked how they understood the answer option „weder noch” (“neither agree nor disagree”). Seven respondents think it is a sort of evasive option for those respondents who don’t care about the topic, do not have an opinion on it or cannot decide. Hence, they view it as a kind of “don’t know”-category. The remaining respondents interpret “weder noch” as “teils/teils” (“partially agree/partially disagree”), that is, as the answer option that those respondents would pick who partially agree and disagree with the statement. Two respondents (ID 05, 06) explicitly state that they would prefer the phrasing “teils/teils”, because “weder noch” would not fit in this context: “Weder noch is not correct here. Maybe partially understand? It is partially correct or I partially agree, something like that would be nice here. I know what ‘weder noch’ is supposed to mean, but it just does not sound right here.” (ID 06).
Those who agree with the statement believe they are sufficiently informed on most important political matters to be able, for example, to discuss them competently:
- “I believe that when it comes to most topics, or those topics that are most important to me, I know what I am talking about. For example, the refugee crisis or the emission scandal. I have my own opinion on those topics and would be able to discuss them.” (ID 04)
- “After all, I have been following political events for 55 years, reading the newspaper. I understand domestic policy with ease, and am also well informed on foreign policy. It is also my ambition to be able to understand this.”
Both respondents who disagree with the item (ID 01, 07) explain that they have no interest in political matters and often find them to be too complex to talk about.
The respondents were also asked how they understood the answer option „weder noch” (“neither agree nor disagree”). Seven respondents think it is a sort of evasive option for those respondents who don’t care about the topic, do not have an opinion on it or cannot decide. Hence, they view it as a kind of “don’t know”-category. The remaining respondents interpret “weder noch” as “teils/teils” (“partially agree/partially disagree”), that is, as the answer option that those respondents would pick who partially agree and disagree with the statement. Two respondents (ID 05, 06) explicitly state that they would prefer the phrasing “teils/teils”, because “weder noch” would not fit in this context: “Weder noch is not correct here. Maybe partially understand? It is partially correct or I partially agree, something like that would be nice here. I know what ‘weder noch’ is supposed to mean, but it just does not sound right here.” (ID 06).
Recommendations:
No changes recommended.