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The present article discusses the value of anonymous political discussions for everyone who is interested in public opinion, researchers, politicians and journalists. Anonymity is stated to be an essential component, since a lot of disadvantages of conventional opinion polls expose rather the opinion of the masses, rather than that of the public, and are thus less relevant. Compared with a hare freezing in the spotlight, many respondents to political surveys repeat loudly expressed opinions. The authors claim that polls should be connected to moments of informing of the public, and discussing with them, following the alternative of "deliberative polling" described by Fishkin. References. O. van Zijl

It is often suggested that the nationalization of local elections has increased. As a result, a hypothesis could be that the mutual differences between policy programs of local divisions of the same national party decrease. In this contribution, we focus on the local election of October 8th 2006 in order to analyze these mutual differences. The aim of this contribution is to measure the homogeneity or heterogeneity of the policy positions of the local divisions of national political parties, on a range of substantive issues on which they have the freedom to differ. Therefore, we compare the opinions of local party agents within the different party families. We use the results of a survey among the representatives of the local departments of the different political parties in the run-up to the local elections. Our research shows that, regarding to the selected questions, in general the local divisions speak with one voice. Our analysis does not indicate that there is a large mixture of visions between divisions of the same national party. Besides, this analysis shows that in general, the size of the municipality can seldom be used in indicating the relative disagreement within political families. This level of agreement is the largest within the green party & the smallest within the liberal family. Those are also the two parties of which the local agents say that the influence of supra-local party levels is small, compared to representatives of other political families. Tables. Adapted from the source document.

The central aim in our NWO 'Comprehensible Language' project (2012-2016) was to investigate to what extent Voting Advice Applications (VAAs) intentionally and unintentionally affect political knowledge and political attitudes. In this article, we present an overview of four years of research. First, we investigated reasons for use of VAAs, distinguishing three types of users: checkers (well-informed, enjoying to check the VAA), seekers (looking for political information to base their vote on) and doubters (looking for information but cynical about politics). The proportions of these groups differ for first vs. second order elections. Second, we investigated whether VAAs increase users' political knowledge. We found that users report an increase of internal efficacy due to their VAA use, but we did not find an increase in actual political knowledge. Third, a field experiment showed systematic effects of framing variation on the answers to VAA assertions, which might suggest different underlying knowledge representations. Finally, think aloud research showed that users experience considerable problems with understanding the assertions semantically and pragmatically, as well as with interpreting the results screen. Additionally, we found that users view the result screen as an end point rather than as a starting point for deliberation. We discuss some implications for theory and practice.

To investigate the attitudes of Flemish secondary school students toward politics, interview data were collected (N = 242 Ms & 130 Fs, aged 12-14) in 1981, using the method employed in a French study by Annick Percheron (L'Univers politique des enfants [The Political Environment of Children], Paris, 1974). Analysis of the data reveals that most of the children bear considerable hostility toward the political system. When asked to explain their attitudes toward 18 political concepts (eg, "democracy," "communism") most of the Rs gave equally negative opinions for theories on both ends of the political spectrum. Reactions toward specific politicians were even more negative. Little difference was noted between the attitudes or knowledge of boys & girls. UMc Rs had the highest level of knowledge, while Wc Rs had the lowest. Surprisingly, Wc Rs showed hostility toward unions & tended to have conservative political opinions. 9 Tables, 4 Figures. Modified HA.

A review of opinion polls & studies investigates the Belgian citizen's political knowledge as a function of individual & personally relevant decision making. Categories of political information include political parties, power relations, special interest groups, competency of elected officials, institutions, corporations, & policy making. While knowledge of political figures with high public profiles is strong, it is found that knowledge of political issues & less important material is lacking in general, with many citizens ignorant of basic political information. 17 Tables, 2 Graphs. Adapted from the source document.

Four articles on political participation of political scientists, a matter that is not as simple as it seems. The article starts with an introduction, stating that political sciences cover a much larger field than party politics, and that one of the objects of a political scientist is the division between opinions and engagement on the one hand, and scientific analysis on the other. The articles are 1) on the difference between affiliation to a political party and governmental responsibilities, against a background of deontological argumentation (Van Praag); 2) the same subject as before, but within a pragmatic context (Van Aelst); 3) practical political expertise as enrichment for education and research (Koole); 4) neutrality, objectivity and engagement in co-habitation of political science and party politics (Bake). References. O. van Zijl

Findings are presented from a survey of political scientists (N = 221) who graduated from 6 Dutch Us in 1984-1986. It is shown that their unemployment rates are lower than for social scientists in general. The labor market is weakest in international relations, & strongest in public policy & in methodology. Growth in employment since 1974 occurred primarily in the private sector. Training is appropriately related to practical skills required for jobs for the 16.5% of graduates who were hired in jobs specifically meant for political scientists. Opinions of Rs about good & bad aspects of their U training are also noted. 10 Tables. Modified HA

From the outset, the Belgian press has been a political press. The evolution of each opinion trend in Belgian newspapers since 1950 is analyzed. 5 main trends can be distinguished: the catholic, the liberal, the socialist, the communist, & the 'neutral' trend. Each of these is examined & newspapers which reflect the various trends are reviewed. The sales history of these newspapers is considered. It is almost impossible to verify the total circulation of the French newspapers & the circulation figures of the Flemish newspapers were exaggerated. The relationship between the number of readers of political newspapers & the number of voters for the corresponding political parties was examined & the disproportion between these is noted. 15 Tables. I. Verluyten.

The relation between political scientists and the media is fragile; from both sides opportunism can have a major influence. Both political scientists as well as politicians should thus reflect on the role both parties can and want to assume. The symposium presents 2 contributions coming from both sides, offering analysis and insight. The first article by Dave Sinardet discusses important aspects of the role political scientists can play in the media. He states that it is the responsibility of social scientists to participate in the public debate and to adjust form, style and use of language of the media in order to shape a public opinion. The second article by the editor of a Belgium newspaper incites political scientists to closer examine their wishes and aspirations regarding their role in the media. O. van Zijl