The Associative Dimension of Issue Ownership

2012/06/05 by Stefaan Walgrave, S. Walgrave, J. Lefevere +3 · 311 citations
Business, Management and Accounting · Mathematics · Psychology · Social Sciences · #Associative property #Competence (human resources) #Dimension (graph theory) #Electoral Systems and Political Participation #Law #Mathematics #Political Influence and Corporate Strategies #Political science #Psychology #Pure mathematics #Social Media and Politics #Social psychology #Voting

paper · open access · doi:10.1093/poq/nfs023

published in Public Opinion Quarterly 76(4), 771-782 (Oxford University Press)

openalex publication_date 2012/06/05 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/06

Abstract

Issue ownership is commonly conceptualized as multidimensional, consisting of a “competence” dimension and an “associative” dimension. Because existing operationalizations of issue ownership tap only the former dimension, we focus on associative issue ownership: the spontaneous identification between specific issues and specific parties in the minds of voters. Survey evidence from Belgium shows that the associative dimension of issue ownership can be measured, that it differs from competence issue ownership, and that it is an independent determinant of voting behavior.

Citations

• Framing, Agenda Setting, and Priming: The Evolution of Three Media Effects Models
• Riding the Wave and Claiming Ownership Over Issues: The Joint Effects of Advertising and News Coverage in Campaigns

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