Question-Order Effects in the Evaluation of Political Institutions in Decentralized Polities

Abstract

Abstract This research studies question-order effects in the evaluation of political institutions in socially heterogeneous regions within decentralized countries. Split-ballot experiments were embedded in 3 representative surveys fielded in the Spanish region of Catalonia. Significant consistency effects were spotted in all samples. Respondents who first evaluated the relatively less valued institutions of one governmental level assessed less favorably the relatively better rated institutions of the other level. Clear evidence of the reverse effect was present only in 1 of the experiments. In addition, heterogeneous question-order effects emerged among the 2 distinct national communities coexisting in Catalonia. The article suggests a mechanism beneath this sort of question-order effects and further proposes and empirically tests a remedial solution.