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)