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Measuring Representation: Perils of the Correlation Coefficient
Abstract
Most empirical research on representation has used correlational measures. The larger the correlation between representatives' and constituents' views, the stronger the bonds between them are thought to be. Unfortunately, correlations incorporate not only the strength of a relationship, but also the diversity of the sampled constituencies. When constituencies are very different from each other on an issue dimension, large correlations will result even when voters are not particularly sensitive to that dimension. Large correlations can occur when representatives are distant from their constituents; small correlations can happen when they are near. Correlations should be abandoned in the study of representation.
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Cited by
Preacher, K. J., & Kelley, K. (2011) · Psychological Methods · doi:10.1037/a0022658 · Cited by 3,060
Congruence between Citizens and Policymakers in Two Visions of Liberal Democracy
Huber, J. D., & Powell, G. B. (1994) · World Politics · doi:10.2307/2950684 · Cited by 680
Kitschelt, H., Hawkins, K. A., Luna, J. P., Rosas, G., & Zechmeister, E. J. (2010) · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511750311 · Cited by 559
Leapfrog Representation and Extremism: A Study of American Voters and Their Members in Congress
BAFUMI, J., & HERRON, M. C. (2010) · American Political Science Review · doi:10.1017/s0003055410000316 · Cited by 545
Bias in Perceptions of Public Opinion among Political Elites
BROOCKMAN, D. E., & SKOVRON, C. (2018) · American Political Science Review · doi:10.1017/s0003055418000011 · Cited by 503
Metadata
- Authors
- Achen, C. H.
- Venue
- American Journal of Political Science
- Publisher
- JSTOR
- Published
- 1977-11
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 805
- ISSN
- 0092-5853 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2323383658
- Cited by
- 358
- References
- 0
- FWCI
- 59.32
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
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