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Democracy & measurement

Self-contained introduction

DemocracyPublic opinionResearch methods

Democratic support, concepts & measurement

Everyone Says Democracy

Everyone says “democracy.” What are they agreeing to?

Read the same survey answer through very different political lives. Decide what counts as democratic support, design a better measure and see which claims your evidence can carry.

How it runsSolo simulation
Time to planSelf-paced inquiry · timing not yet measured
What you produceResearch brief, measurement choices and revisions
Just exploring Written notes optionalFor class Required responses

The same political choices in both routes. You can switch inside without starting over. For class asks you to complete any missing required responses. Save a report in either route; your instructor decides what to accept.

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Bright cut-paper shapes, a ballot box and a megaphone surround the words Everyone Says Democracy.
POSSIBLE STATESTopic: Democracy & measurement

What you can explore

  • Separate support for a word from support for particular democratic practices.
  • Evaluate the relationship between a concept and its indicators.
  • Revise an explanation when new comparisons challenge it.

What the model leaves open

Simulation cases and controlled comparisons support reasoning practice. They are not representative estimates of public opinion.

AFTERWARD, THINK ABOUT

What would the same survey response fail to distinguish?

Teaching this activity Debrief, assessment & assignment draft

Bring it back to the room

  • What would the same survey response fail to distinguish?
  • Which observation would make you revise your interpretation?

What to assess

Reward a clearly defined concept, justified indicators and attention to alternative interpretations.

Read the complete teaching guide →

Syllabus description, rubric & printable companion →

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Syllabus description & discussion prompts
Syllabus description
Read the same survey answer through very different political lives. Decide what counts as democratic support, design a better measure and see which claims your evidence can carry. Students produce research brief, measurement choices and revisions.
Questions for a discussion board or class debrief
  1. What would the same survey response fail to distinguish?
  2. Which observation would make you revise your interpretation?
Open printable teaching companion →