"Publius"
nospam.comcast.net> wrote in message
news:Xns9B17122238341mpubliusnospamcomcas@69.16.185.250...> Sean wrote:
>
>> Some propositions are extreme, and some are more moderate.
>> That's how we can show you whether you lean towards extremism or
>> moderation on the Compass.
>
> You don't "show" anything until you've defined "extreme" and "moderation"
> is terms that are measurable, justified the metric, and then shown that
> the
> questionnaire items measure the metric.
>
>> Some of the propositions are intentionally vague. Their purpose is
>> to trigger buzzwords in the mind of the user, measuring feelings and
>> prejudices rather than detailed opinions on policy.
>
> Then it is not a tool for measurement of political opinions, but of the
> popularity of various prejudices.
>
>> Have you ever done an "apptitude test" or a pre-employment personality
>> test? Well I have, and the way such things work are in methodical,
>> rational, and intelligently created to produce measureable results
>> when the ANALYSIS of it is produced. IOW, such funny odd questions
>> actually can lead to very accurate results.
>>
>> The same goes for marketing surveys, and focus groups. It's a proven
>> scientific psychological valid approach. This "test" on the site is
>> just another example of what happenes every day in the real world of
>> business Publius.
>
> Every question item on such tests as the MMPI is carefully constructed and
> validated for correlation with the trait the question is intended to
> measure, before the question ever appears on the test. Are you claiming to
> have similarly vetted the questions on this test, analyzed them for
> ambiguities (which can lead to invalid results) etc.? Can you show the
> strength of the relationship between the question and the metric?
>
Not my problem. I'm not ur slave.
> If not, don't pretend this is a "scientific" test.
>
Publius, I won't pretend it is a "scientific" test, if you stop pretending
to be intelligent. OK?
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I started out my professional career as a minister of the Gospel, working
with transient men and women in a rescue mission setting and later as a
pastoral counselor. My right wing, conservative political and economic
stance began to shift over time as I continually dealt with folks who were
down and out and struggling to survive.I went back to school in a secular
university, adding social science to my theology training. My authoritarian
stance softened as I learned even more about the varied human condition and
the vast diversity of cultures world wide. What a revelation it was to plot
myself on your two axes and to realize in this graphic illustration, just
what these changes have done to me ! I have been thinking that I was
confused, but now I have a way to understand the shift, as well as a
historic and cultural context. I am standing with one foot in each of two
different ideological worlds. It is then no suprise to find myself almost
exactlly midpoint left/right and close to neutral on
authoritarian/libertarian.
You have done your homework. My experience validates your instrument. Thanks
so much for this resource !
- Robert M. Ridley, MA, MMin, Licensed Professional Counselor, Mental Health
Service Provider, USA
I teach Sociology and have been using your site as an extra credit option,
and am considering making it a requirement to complement some of the
material in class. The exercise has been most interesting for my students.
One continuing theme in their reactions is how they've never really thought
about where they stand, they've just gone along with Mom or Dad. This
exercise has resulted in my students thinking about politics and their place
in it. Thank you so much for developing this site and for keeping it up and
running - it's an invaluable tool for those of us in the social sciences.
Caralu Martin, M.A.
Chattanooga, TN
Your test is just fascinating and very effective with high school students.
I'm a teacher and I required my students to take the test last year. Then, I
passed along the site to other teachers who did the same. It is truly
wonderful to hear students, who at first come into the class with absolute
conviction that they support the ideas of candidates only heard about at
home, admit that they might have been narrow-minded and are now willing to
research and discuss other political views ! The political compass works
miracles for introducing a way to discover how an individual really feels
about various propositions.
Kelly Harrington M.S. Ed. Central New York
I was delighted to find out about The Political Compass and to introduce it
to my law students. I have found it a very good tool for them to clarify
their perspetives on ethical and policy matters. I commend you for creating
such a useful website.
Dr Malcolm Voyce, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
What a wonderful test and supporting materials ! Thank you.
John Hill, Professor of Law, Indiana University-Indianapolis USA
In this year of divisive political campaigns, slogans and mudslinging, here
is a little political test that is very enlightening. I found it very
interesting and well worth the 30 minutes it takes to complete the test and
read all of the material. Most important, it taught me some things about
myself that I was not aware.
Thomas D. Pearson, PhD, Entrpreneurial Economist, Huntsville, Alabama, USA
I teach social policy in a graduate program, and have my students each fall
take the Political Compass test as a springboard for discussion of political
ideology. Thanks for keeping the site up. It's a most useful learning tool.
- Judith Faust, School of Social Work , University of Arkansas ,USA
I just wanted to thank you for your remarkable work and web site. Many of us
here at the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University have taken
the test and it has sparked many fascinating conversations .Thank you again
for your tremendous work. Hopefully, such analysis can lead to real
understanding and political cooperation (I can dream can't I?)
- Karen Uminski Graduate School of Education, Harvard University, USA
This is an excellent revision of the Political Spectrum. As a retired
Political Science Professor I used a similar scale to compare political
systems.Thanks
- Hal Herbert , USA
I've found your test to be one of the most informative and well-written
political spectrums on the Internet. Keep up the good work.
- Keith Reifsnyder BS:MED, BA:MCT, BA:MJS (candidacy), PA, USA.
