The Stability of Ideological Attachments Beyond Liberal and Conservative


SPSA 2026

Andrew Trexler
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Christopher Johnston
Duke University

The 7-Point Scale


Where would you place yourself on this scale?

  1. Very liberal
  2. Liberal
  3. Somewhat liberal
  4. Middle of the road
  5. Somewhat conservative
  6. Conservative
  7. Very conservative

Known Issues


  • Many struggle to place themselves on this scale
  • Economic versus social dimensions
  • Policy preferences versus social identity
  • Roughly 1 in 4 select the middle category
  • Not clear that their attitudes are actually moderate

Trexler and Johnston (2025)

Trexler and Johnston (2025)


Which of the following describes your beliefs and attitudes? Please check all that apply.

  • Liberal
  • Progressive
  • Green
  • Environmentalist
  • Socialist
  • Communist
  • Cosmopolitan
  • Conservative
  • Traditional
  • Libertarian
  • Nationalist
  • Populist
  • Fascist
  • Communitarian

Trexler and Johnston (2025)

2024 Cooperative Election Study


  • Take advantage of the two-period survey design
  • Test the stability of the measure
  • Test the inclusion of an explicit “none of these” option
  • More credible point estimates weighted on observables

Design


  • Pre-election CES module: original question format, most important identity, and 4-item strength of identity battery
  • Post-election randomize to same question format (control) or with explicit “none of these” option (treatment)
  • Pre/post control group tests stability over time
  • Post-election randomization tests effect of explicit “none” option

Results

Pre-election Identification

Pre-election Most Important Identities

Stability Over Time

Probability of Re-selection