Surveying individual political elites: a comparative three-country study

Stefaan Walgrave () and Jeroen K. Joly ()
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Stefaan Walgrave: Universiteit Antwerpen
Jeroen K. Joly: Ghent University

Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, 2018, vol. 52, issue 5, No 16, 2237 pages

Abstract: Abstract This study examines and discusses survey strategies among political elites at different government levels in three countries; Belgium, Canada and Israel. More specifically, we discuss recruitment strategies that produce high response levels among hard to reach target populations in different political and cultural environments. Next, we also examine which political elites are most likely to engage in survey research and which ones are hardest to target. We find that (former) top elites (e.g. members of the executive, different types of leadership) are less likely to participate while regional politicians tend to be more likely to participate in this type of research. Finally, we analyze item non-response and find that the right mix of closed (survey) and open (interview-like) questions decreases item non-response. Moreover, after having established trust and rapport, respondents—even high profile elites—will provide answers to relatively personal and intrusive questions. While item non-response remains low in all three countries throughout the survey, there is a noticeable difference between Belgium and Canada on one hand, and Israel on the other, with markedly higher item non-response in the latter.

Keywords: Political elites; Survey; Interviews; Participation; Non-response (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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DOI: 10.1007/s11135-017-0658-5

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