Eurobarometer Data Service

Strength of Party Attachment

Attitudes towards Europe 1962

Which political party is closest to your personal preference?

European Communities Study 1970

As for yourself, is there any political party which you feel closer to among the present parties? (IF "YES") Do you feel deeply attached to this party or only a little?

Eurobarometer 4 to 9

Do you feel affinities with any particular party? (IF YES) Do you feel yourself very involved with this party, fairly involved, or merely a sympathizer?

Eurobarometer 10 ff.

Do you consider yourself to be close to any particular party? If so, do you feel yourself to be very close to this party, fairly close or merely a sympathizer?

Please notice that there is a difference between the question wording in different countries. Whereas the English versions - and derived field questionnaires - ask an absolute question (are you close to a party?), the French versions - and derived field questionnaires - ask a relative question (are you closer to one party than to the others?).
For details see:
- Richard Sinnott (1995): Variations in the Measurement of Party Attachment in Eurobarometer Surveys. An Interpretation, Test and Some Implications. CEEPA Working Papers on European Economic and Public Affairs. Paper No. 11. 
also published in: British Journal of Political Science, Vol. 28, 1998, pp. 627-50 (Party Attachment in Europe: Methodological Critique and Substantive Implications)
- Richard Katz (1985): Measuring Party Identification with Eurobarometer Data: A Warning Note. In: West European Politics, Vol. 8, pp. 104-108.
- Hermann Schmitt (1989): On Party Attachment in Western Europe and the Utility of Eurobarometer Data. In: West European Politics. Vol. 12, pp. 122-139.

ZA Study Number Eurobarometer Fieldwork Month Fieldwork Year Question Number Variable Name (1)
0078 Att.tw.Europe 1-3 1962 Q.24  V171
0626 ECS70 2-3 1970   V96/V97
0988 4 10-11 1975 Q.255 V138
0989 5 5-6 1976 Q.238 V147
0990 6 11 1976 Q.234 V156
0993 9 5-6 1978 Q.123 V20
0994 10 10-11 1978 Q.140 V37
1036 11 4 1979 Q.217 V89
1037 12 10 1979 Q.133 V34
1038 13 4 1980 Q.149 V56
1206 15 4 1981 Q.145 V33
1207 16 10-11 1981 Q.256 (2) V71
1208 17 3-4 1982 Q.219 V141
1209 18 10 1982 Q.251 V52
1318 19 3-4 1983 Q.333 V214
1319 20 10 1983 Q.257 V435
1320 21 3-4 1984 Q.335 V168
1321 22 10-11 1984 Q.257 V162
1541 23 3-4 1985 Q.257 V141
1542 24 10-11 1985 Q.248 V58
1543 25 3-4 1986 Q.257 V280
1544 26 10-11 1986 Q.356 V196
1712 27 4 1987 Q.358 V364
1713 28 10-11 1987 Q.359 V461
1714 29 3-4 1988 Q.359 V418
1715 30 10-11 1988 Q.478 V677
1750 31 3-4 1989 Q.478 V476
1751 31A 7 1989 Q.378 V651
1752 32 10-11 1989 D.2 V1294
1753 33 3-4 1990 D.2 V216
1960 34.0 10-11 1990 D.2 V281
1962 34.2 10-11 1990 D.2 V475
2031 35.0 3 1991 D.2 V233
2081 36 10-11 1991 D.2 V395
2141 37.0 3-4 1992 D.2 V604
2294 38.0 9-10 1992 D.2 V707
2346 39.0 3-4 1993 D.2 V673
2459 40 10-11 1993 D.2 V547
2490 41.0 4-5 1994 D.2 V421
2491 41.1 6-7 1994 D.2A/B (3) V299/V300
2563 42 11-12 1994 D.2 V460
2828 44.2bis 2 1996 D.2  
4231 62.2 11-12 2004 QD15 (4)  

(1) Please note that the variable names refer to the final ICPSR/ZA codebook editions, if available.

(2) Respondent was first asked for closeness to which party: "Generally speaking, do you feel closer to any of the Parties on this list than
to the others? If so, which one?" followed by the (quasi) trend question: "Do you consider yourself to be very close to this party, fairly close
or merely a sympathizer? 

(3) Followed by the additional question (if "merely a sympathizer" or "close to no party"): "Do you consider yourself a little closer to one of
the political parties than the others?" 

(4) Question: "Do you feel close to any particular party?" (YES/NO)