A SECOND LOOK AT POPULAR SUPPORT FOR THE MORAL MAJORITY IN 1980: A SECOND LOOK

In: Social science quarterly, Band 68, Heft 1, S. 167-169

Abstract

THE OPERATIONALIZATIONS CHOSEN BY WILCOX FOR THE INDEPENDENT VARIABLES ARE CONCEDED TO PRODUCE AN APPARENT IMPROVEMENT IN THE PREDICTIVE POWER OF THE MODEL OF SUPPORT FOR THE MORAL MAJORITY, BUT THE CONCLUSIONS OF THE ORIGINAL BUELL-SIGELMAN STUDY REMAIN UNCHALLENGED. FOR THE DEPENDENT VARIABLE, WILCOX'S PROCEDURE FOR CORRECTING RESPONDENTS' THERMOMETER RATINGS IS NOT NECESSARILY AN IMPROVEMENT, BUT SHIFTS THE FOCUS OF THE ANALYSIS FROM AFFECT TO RELATIVE AFFECT.