Understanding the Sensitivity of Party Identification Questions in Polarized African Contexts.
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| Title: | Understanding the Sensitivity of Party Identification Questions in Polarized African Contexts. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Davis, Justine M. (AUTHOR), Wilfahrt, Martha (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Political Behavior. Jun2026, Vol. 48 Issue 2, p997-1022. 26p. |
| Subjects: | Partisanship, Self-censorship, Data quality, Sub-Saharan Africans, Political participation, Questionnaires, Polarization (Social sciences) |
| Geographic Terms: | Africa, Côte d'Ivoire |
| Abstract: | The global rise of political polarization has generated new insights into how polarization affects political behavior. But political polarization may also shape the dynamics of researching such behavior in the first place. This paper argues that in polarized contexts, asking about party identification (PID) during academic surveys can be highly sensitive. We demonstrate this in sub-Saharan Africa, using three forms of evidence. First, a survey of enumerators in Côte d'Ivoire shows that over 50% feel uncomfortable asking about PID, linking their discomfort to the polarized political climate. Enumerators also believe that such questions reduce honest responses and influence the research encounter itself. Second, data from the Afrobarometer reveals that respondents in polarized countries often self-censor on PID questions more than on traditionally sensitive topics like clientelism, violence, or identity. Finally, interviews and focus groups with Ivorian citizens support these findings, highlighting the sensitivity around PID. These results emphasize that in politically polarized environments, partisanship questions may be uniquely sensitive and impact data quality and the research experience in addition to holding ramifications for political behavior. We conclude with a discussion of implications for survey design and analysis as well as a general call for political scientists to consider what is sensitive, in what context, and for whom when designing surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Political Behavior is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Header | DbId: pbh DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection An: 194697487 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Understanding the Sensitivity of Party Identification Questions in Polarized African Contexts. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Davis%2C+Justine+M%2E%22">Davis, Justine M.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wilfahrt%2C+Martha%22">Wilfahrt, Martha</searchLink> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Political+Behavior%22">Political Behavior</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 48 Issue 2, p997-1022. 26p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Partisanship%22">Partisanship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self-censorship%22">Self-censorship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+quality%22">Data quality</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sub-Saharan+Africans%22">Sub-Saharan Africans</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Political+participation%22">Political participation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Questionnaires%22">Questionnaires</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Polarization+%28Social+sciences%29%22">Polarization (Social sciences)</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Africa%22">Africa</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Côte+d'Ivoire%22">Côte d'Ivoire</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: The global rise of political polarization has generated new insights into how polarization affects political behavior. But political polarization may also shape the dynamics of researching such behavior in the first place. This paper argues that in polarized contexts, asking about party identification (PID) during academic surveys can be highly sensitive. We demonstrate this in sub-Saharan Africa, using three forms of evidence. First, a survey of enumerators in Côte d'Ivoire shows that over 50% feel uncomfortable asking about PID, linking their discomfort to the polarized political climate. Enumerators also believe that such questions reduce honest responses and influence the research encounter itself. Second, data from the Afrobarometer reveals that respondents in polarized countries often self-censor on PID questions more than on traditionally sensitive topics like clientelism, violence, or identity. Finally, interviews and focus groups with Ivorian citizens support these findings, highlighting the sensitivity around PID. These results emphasize that in politically polarized environments, partisanship questions may be uniquely sensitive and impact data quality and the research experience in addition to holding ramifications for political behavior. We conclude with a discussion of implications for survey design and analysis as well as a general call for political scientists to consider what is sensitive, in what context, and for whom when designing surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Political Behavior is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=194697487 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1007/s11109-025-10058-y Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 26 StartPage: 997 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Partisanship Type: general – SubjectFull: Self-censorship Type: general – SubjectFull: Data quality Type: general – SubjectFull: Sub-Saharan Africans Type: general – SubjectFull: Political participation Type: general – SubjectFull: Questionnaires Type: general – SubjectFull: Polarization (Social sciences) Type: general – SubjectFull: Africa Type: general – SubjectFull: Côte d'Ivoire Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Understanding the Sensitivity of Party Identification Questions in Polarized African Contexts. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Davis, Justine M. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Wilfahrt, Martha IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 06 Text: Jun2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 01909320 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 48 – Type: issue Value: 2 Titles: – TitleFull: Political Behavior Type: main |
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