Populism Over Time:Comparing the 2008 and

2010 CCES

Kirk Hawkins, J.

Quin Monson and

Erin Wells

Question Wording • POP1 (2008): Politics is ultimately a struggle between good

and evil.– POP1 (2010): In politics today there is a battle between

good and evil.• POP2: The politicians in Congress need to follow the will of

the people.• POP3: The power of a few special interests prevents our

country from making progress.• POP4: The people, and not politicians, should make our

most important policy decisions.• SD1: What people call ‘compromise’ in politics is really just

selling out on one’s principles.

Comparison of Means of Populism Questions

Question 2008 2010 p-value

POP1: Politics is a Battle Between Good and Evil 0.52 0.61 0.00

POP2: Congress Should Follow Will of the People 0.77 0.80 0.06

POP3: Special Interests Prevent Progress 0.72 0.76 0.00

POP4: The People Should Make Decisions 0.66 0.69 0.13

SD1: Compromise is Selling Out 0.54 0.57 0.03

Factor Analysis 2008

Question Factor 1 Factor 2 Factor 3 Factor 4 Uniqueness

POP1: Good and Evil 0.30 0.20 0.43 -0.00 0.69

POP2: Will of the People 0.68 0.09 0.08 0.01 0.52

POP3: Special Interests 0.42 -0.08 0.15 0.08 0.79

POP4: People Make Decisions 0.68 0.11 0.14 -0.01 0.51

SD1: Compromise is Selling Out 0.38 0.29 0.40 0.01 0.61

ISSUE1: Pro-Abortion 0.08 0.52 0.13 -0.05 0.70

ISSUE2: Jobs over Environment -0.10 -0.53 -0.17 -0.01 0.68

ISSUE3: Oppose Affirmative Action -0.14 -0.54 -0.06 -0.02 0.69

Eigenvalue 1.95 0.71 0.15 0.01

Factor Analysis 2010

Question Factor 1 Factor 2 Factor 3 Uniqueness

POP1: Good and Evil 0.39 0.19 0.36 0.69

POP2: Will of the People 0.67 0.11 0.07 0.53

POP3: Special Interests 0.33 -0.31 0.07 0.79

POP4: People Make Decisions 0.64 0.17 0.11 0.55

SD1: Compromise is Selling Out 0.42 0.24 0.34 0.65

ISSUE1: Pro-Abortion -0.14 -0.50 -0.18 0.70

ISSUE2: Jobs over Environment 0.19 0.56 0.10 0.64

ISSUE3: Oppose Affirmative Action 0.28 0.45 0.03 0.72

Eigenvalue 1.99 0.62 0.11

ADDITION

Factor Analysis 2008 (with weights)

Question Factor 1 Factor 2 Factor 3 Factor 4 Uniqueness

POP1: Good and Evil 0.27 -0.14 0.51 -0.01 0.65

POP2: Will of the People 0.74 -0.03 0.12 -0.02 0.44

POP3: Special Interests 0.49 0.13 0.19 -0.12 0.70

POP4: People Make Decisions 0.73 -0.10 0.14 0.03 0.44

SD1: Compromise is Selling Out 0.35 -0.19 0.51 -0.01 0.58

ISSUE1: Pro-Abortion 0.02 -0.46 0.19 0.10 0.75

ISSUE2: Jobs over Environment -0.02 0.45 -0.24 0.03 0.74

ISSUE3: Oppose Affirmative Action -0.18 0.47 -0.10 0.04 0.74

Eigenvalue 1.99 0.74 0.21 0.02

Factor Analysis 2010 (with weights)

Question Factor 1 Factor 2 Factor 3 Uniqueness

POP1: Good and Evil 0.35 0.15 0.34 0.74

POP2: Will of the People 0.72 0.08 0.02 0.48

POP3: Special Interests 0.51 -0.25 -0.02 0.68

POP4: People Make Decisions 0.64 0.18 0.18 0.52

SD1: Compromise is Selling Out 0.39 0.23 0.31 0.70

ISSUE1: Pro-Abortion -0.05 -0.46 -0.18 0.75

ISSUE2: Jobs over Environment 0.10 0.56 0.11 0.66

ISSUE3: Oppose Affirmative Action 0.19 0.45 -0.04 0.76

Eigenvalue 1.80 0.76 0.13

Factor Analysis 2008 ( PCF without weights)

Question Factor 1 Factor 2 Uniqueness

POP1: Good and Evil 0.50 0.34 0.63

POP2: Will of the People 0.78 0.07 0.39

POP3: Special Interests 0.65 -0.17 0.55

POP4: People Make Decisions 0.78 0.11 0.38

SD1: Compromise is Selling Out 0.56 0.42 0.51

ISSUE1: Pro-Abortion 0.03 0.73 0.46

ISSUE2: Jobs over Environment -0.08 -0.73 0.46

ISSUE3: Oppose Affirmative Action -0.09 -0.70 0.50

Eigenvalue 2.66 1.47

Factor Analysis 2010 (PCF without weights)

Question Factor 1 Factor 2 Uniqueness

POP1: Good and Evil 0.58 0.26 0.59

POP2: Will of the People 0.77 0.09 0.40

POP3: Special Interests 0.56 -0.54 0.40

POP4: People Make Decisions 0.74 0.17 0.43

SD1: Compromise is Selling Out 0.60 0.31 0.54

ISSUE1: Pro-Abortion -0.14 -0.70 0.49

ISSUE2: Jobs over Environment 0.18 0.73 0.44

ISSUE3: Oppose Affirmative Action 0.28 0.58 0.58

Eigenvalue 2.72 1.40

Factor Analysis 2008 (PCF with weights)

Question Factor 1 Factor 2 Uniqueness

POP1: Good and Evil 0.48 0.42 0.66

POP2: Will of the People 0.82 0.02 0.36

POP3: Special Interests 0.71 -0.14 0.40

POP4: People Make Decisions 0.80 0.10 0.39

SD1: Compromise is Selling Out 0.56 0.44 0.59

ISSUE1: Pro-Abortion -0.03 0.71 0.52

ISSUE2: Jobs over Environment 0.00 -0.72 0.42

ISSUE3: Oppose Affirmative Action -0.14 -0.62 0.63

Eigenvalue 2.66 1.50

Factor Analysis 2010 (PCF with weights)

Question Factor 1 Factor 2 Uniqueness

POP1: Good and Evil 0.52 0.26 0.69

POP2: Will of the People 0.80 0.06 0.36

POP3: Special Interests 0.67 -0.39 0.40

POP4: People Make Decisions 0.75 0.22 0.39

SD1: Compromise is Selling Out 0.54 0.34 0.59

ISSUE1: Pro-Abortion -0.03 -0.70 0.52

ISSUE2: Jobs over Environment 0.07 0.76 0.42

ISSUE3: Oppose Affirmative Action 0.16 0.59 0.63

Eigenvalue 2.51 1.53