Methodology and Data for Our New Analysis

Abstract

AbstractIn this chapter, we lay the groundwork for our own emperical study, based on data from the World Values Survey and the European Values Survey. We briefly summarise the key facts about these two global barometers, explain the empirical statistical methodology, in particular Promax factor analysis and our approach to testing significance levels in factor analysis, discuss the nature of parametric indicators, provide our readers with an insight into margins of error, and highlight the dimensions and variables from the World Values Survey and the European Values Survey that are used in our analysis. We then briefly discuss the cross-national data that we used to draw conclusions from the relationships between opinion structures and cross-national aggregate data. Finally we highlight the empirical research design.