Conceptualizing and Measuring Structural Overlap in the Political Attitudes and Orientations of Multidimensional Groups

Kennedy S. McClinton, Matthew Mettler and Jeffery J. Mondak

Social Science Quarterly, 2025, vol. 106, issue 3

Abstract: Objective We develop a conceptual framework to guide research on structural overlap in the political attitudes of multidimensional groups. The framework should help address questions regarding the existence of overlap in public opinion between multidimensional groups that share dimensional structure, the substantive content, trans‐situational consistency, and magnitude of structural overlap, and the consequences of unshared dimensionality. Methods Levels of structural overlap among four groups—Black women, Black men, White women, and White men—are examined using data from 10 measures of political attitudes recorded multiple times on the ANES or the GSS. Partial r values are used to compare levels of structural overlap between each group pair. Results Structural overlap emerges in 34 of 40 tests. Content centers on the racial dimension in 33 of these instances, signaling a high degree of trans‐situational consistency. The magnitude of structural overlap is high for all groups, but structural overlap is more pronounced among White women and White men than among Black women and Black men. Conclusions Findings demonstrate the utility of our conceptualization of structural overlap. The framework can be applied in inquiries concerning any multidimensional groups. This conceptualization complements theory‐driven research examining group effects from perspectives focused on intersectionality, cross‐pressures, and identity.

Date: 2025
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