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GENERAL ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE WELFARE STATE: THE CONCEPT AND FEATURES OF MEASUREMENT

stmm. 2022 (3): 5-24

DOI https://doi.org/10.15407/sociology2022.03.005

SERHII DEMBITSKYI, Doctor of Sciences in Sociology, Deputy Director, Institute of Sociology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (12, Shovkovychna St., Kyiv, 01021)

sociotest.solutions@gmail.com

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7958-3557

The article is devoted to the results of the development of a sociological test “GSR-5”, designed to measure general attitudes towards the welfare state.

A theoretical analysis of the measurement of attitudes towards the welfare state in modern Western societies has been carried out. It is concluded that the entire set of relevant studies can be divided into two categories - a priori (transition from the concept to existing measurements) and a posteriori (focusing on the existing experience of empirical research). At the same time, insufficient attention was revealed to general attitudes towards the state (as a background or stereotypical attitude).

The sociological test is proposed based on five indicators in relation to the state: assessment of effectiveness, assessment of the future, assessment of living conditions, assessment of historical achievements and assessment of current events.

For the purpose of further empirical validation, the sociological test was included in four large-scale cross-sectional studies using different methods (CAWI, F2F, self-completion, CATI). Based on the obtained results, the factor, criterion and construct validity of the test was checked.

The ideal types approach was used to categorize respondents’ attitudes based on their individual responses. As a result, 5 social groups were identified in terms of their attitude to their own state: expressively negative, moderately negative, intermediate, moderately positive and expressively positive.

In general, based on the analysis, a conclusion was made about the possibility of using the sociological test “GSR-5” in sociological research.

Keywords: attitudes towards the welfare state, sociological test, validation.

References

Golovakha, Ye., Kostenko, N., Makeev, S. (Eds.) (2014). [In Russian]. Society without trust. Kyiv: Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. [=Головаха 2014]

Dembitskyi, S. (2019). [In Ukrainian]. Political Culture of Ukrainian Society: Tendencies of Development in Terms of New Challenges. Kyiv: Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. [=Дембіцький 2019]

Dembitskyi, S. (2019). [In Ukrainian]. Development of sociological tests: methodology and practical applications. Kyiv: Institute of Sociology, the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. [=Дембіцький 2019]

Dembitskyi, S. (2020). [In Ukrainian]. The civilizational subjectivity of Ukraine from the point of view of societal values: the state of mass consciousness. In: Ukraine as a civilizational subject of history and modernity (pp. 195–207). Kyiv: Nika Tsentr. [=Дембіцький 2020]

State classifier of social standards and regulations (2002). [In Ukrainian]. Retrieved from: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/rada/show/v0293203-02#Text

RESEARCH (2022). [In Ukrainian]. Retrieved from: https://ratinggroup.ua/research/ukraine/ Law of Ukraine Basics of the legislation of Ukraine on health care (1993). [In Ukrainian]. Retrieved from: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2801-12#Text

Law of Ukraine On Social Services (2019). [In Ukrainian]. Retrieved from: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2671-19#Text

Constitution of Ukraine (1996). [In Ukrainian]. Retrieved from: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/254%D0%BA/96-%D0%B2%D1%80#Text

Fundamentals of the legislation of Ukraine on mandatory state social insurance (1998). [In Ukrainian]. Retrieved from: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/16/98-%D0%B2%D1%80#Text

Simonchuk, O., Makeev, S. (2020). [In Ukrainian]. The current social-class structure of Ukraine as a factor of civilizational subjectivity: a comparative perspective. In: Ukraine as a civilizational subject of history and modernity (pp. 208–220). Kyiv: Nika Tsentr. [=Симончук 2020]

Simonchuk, O. (2019). Social classes in modern societies: the heuristic potential of class analysis. [In Ukrainian]. Kyiv: Institute of Sociology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. [=Симончук 2019]

Phillips, L., Jorgensen, M.W. (2008). [In Russian]. Discourse Analysis as Theory and Method. Kharkiv: Humanitarian Center. [=Филлипс 2019]

Andress, H.J., Heien, T. (2001). Four worlds of welfare state attitudes? A comparison of Germany, Norway, and the United States. European Sociological Review, 17 (4), 337–356.

Andress, H.J., Heien, T. (2001). Four worlds of welfare state attitudes? A comparison of Germany, Norway, and the United States. European Sociological Review, 17 (4), 337–356.

Bean, C., Papadakis, E. (1998). A comparison of mass attitudes towards the welfare state in different institutional regimes, 1985–1990. International Journal of Public Opinion Research, 10 (3), 211–236.

Eger, M.A., Breznau, N. (2017). Immigration and the welfare state: A cross-regional analysis of European welfare attitudes. International Journal of Comparative Sociology, 58 (5), 440–463.

Ervasti, H., Andersen, J.G., Ringdal, K. (Eds.). (2012). The future of the welfare state: Social policy attitudes and social capital in Europe. S.l.: Edward Elgar Publishing.

Esping-Andersen, G. (2006). Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism. The welfare state reader, 434–454.

Goerres, A., Prinzen, K. (2012). Can we improve the measurement of attitudes towards the welfare state? A constructive critique of survey instruments with evidence from focus groups. Social Indicators Research, 109 (3), 515–534.

Goossen, M. (2020). The gender gap in welfare state attitudes in Europe: The role of unpaid labour and family policy. Journal of European Social Policy, 30 (4), 452–466.

Hasenfeld, Y., Rafferty, J.A. (1989). The determinants of public attitudes toward the welfare state. Social Forces, 67 (4), 1027–1048.

Heywood, A. (2017). Political ideologies: An introduction. London: Macmillan International Higher Education.

Hjerm, M., Schnabel, A. (2012). How much heterogeneity can the welfare state endure? The influence of heterogeneity on attitudes to the welfare state. Nations and Nationalism, 18 (2), 346–369.

Introduction. Ervasti, H., Andersen, J.G., Ringdal, K. (Eds.) (2012). The future of the welfare state: Social policy attitudes and social capital in Europe. S.l.: Edward Elgar Publishing.

Jary, D., Jary, J. (1991). HarperCollins dictionary of sociology. S.l.: HarperPerennial.

Kumlin, S. (2007). The welfare state: Values, policy preferences, and performance evaluations. In: The Oxford handbook of political behavior. S.l.

Naumann, E., Buss, C., Bähr, J. (2016). How unemployment experience affects support for the welfare state: a real panel approach. European Sociological Review, 32 (1), 81–92.

Roosma, F., Gelissen, J., Van Oorschot, W. (2013). The multidimensionality of welfare state attitudes: A European cross-national study. Social indicators research, 113 (1), 235–255.

Roosma, F., Van Oorschot, W., Gelissen, J. (2014). The preferred role and perceived performance of the welfare state: European welfare attitudes from a multidimensional perspective. Social science research, 44, 200–210.

Taylor-Gooby, P., Chung, H., Leruth, B. (2018). The contribution of deliberative forums to studying welfare state attitudes: A United Kingdom study. Social Policy & Administration, 52 (4), 914–927.

Zimmermann, K., Heuer, J. O., Mau, S. (2018). Changing preferences towards redistribution: How deliberation shapes welfare attitudes. Social Policy & Administration, 52 (5), 969–982.

Received 10.08.2022

GENERAL ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE WELFARE STATE: THE CONCEPT AND FEATURES OF MEASUREMENT

stmm. 2022 (3): 5-24

DOI https://doi.org/10.15407/sociology2022.03.005

SERHII DEMBITSKYI, Doctor of Sciences in Sociology, Deputy Director, Institute of Sociology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (12, Shovkovychna St., Kyiv, 01021)

sociotest.solutions@gmail.com

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7958-3557

The article is devoted to the results of the development of a sociological test “GSR-5”, designed to measure general attitudes towards the welfare state.

A theoretical analysis of the measurement of attitudes towards the welfare state in modern Western societies has been carried out. It is concluded that the entire set of relevant studies can be divided into two categories - a priori (transition from the concept to existing measurements) and a posteriori (focusing on the existing experience of empirical research). At the same time, insufficient attention was revealed to general attitudes towards the state (as a background or stereotypical attitude).

The sociological test is proposed based on five indicators in relation to the state: assessment of effectiveness, assessment of the future, assessment of living conditions, assessment of historical achievements and assessment of current events.

For the purpose of further empirical validation, the sociological test was included in four large-scale cross-sectional studies using different methods (CAWI, F2F, self-completion, CATI). Based on the obtained results, the factor, criterion and construct validity of the test was checked.

The ideal types approach was used to categorize respondents’ attitudes based on their individual responses. As a result, 5 social groups were identified in terms of their attitude to their own state: expressively negative, moderately negative, intermediate, moderately positive and expressively positive.

In general, based on the analysis, a conclusion was made about the possibility of using the sociological test “GSR-5” in sociological research.

Keywords: attitudes towards the welfare state, sociological test, validation.

References

Golovakha, Ye., Kostenko, N., Makeev, S. (Eds.) (2014). [In Russian]. Society without trust. Kyiv: Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. [=Головаха 2014]

Dembitskyi, S. (2019). [In Ukrainian]. Political Culture of Ukrainian Society: Tendencies of Development in Terms of New Challenges. Kyiv: Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. [=Дембіцький 2019]

Dembitskyi, S. (2019). [In Ukrainian]. Development of sociological tests: methodology and practical applications. Kyiv: Institute of Sociology, the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. [=Дембіцький 2019]

Dembitskyi, S. (2020). [In Ukrainian]. The civilizational subjectivity of Ukraine from the point of view of societal values: the state of mass consciousness. In: Ukraine as a civilizational subject of history and modernity (pp. 195–207). Kyiv: Nika Tsentr. [=Дембіцький 2020]

State classifier of social standards and regulations (2002). [In Ukrainian]. Retrieved from: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/rada/show/v0293203-02#Text

RESEARCH (2022). [In Ukrainian]. Retrieved from: https://ratinggroup.ua/research/ukraine/ Law of Ukraine Basics of the legislation of Ukraine on health care (1993). [In Ukrainian]. Retrieved from: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2801-12#Text

Law of Ukraine On Social Services (2019). [In Ukrainian]. Retrieved from: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2671-19#Text

Constitution of Ukraine (1996). [In Ukrainian]. Retrieved from: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/254%D0%BA/96-%D0%B2%D1%80#Text

Fundamentals of the legislation of Ukraine on mandatory state social insurance (1998). [In Ukrainian]. Retrieved from: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/16/98-%D0%B2%D1%80#Text

Simonchuk, O., Makeev, S. (2020). [In Ukrainian]. The current social-class structure of Ukraine as a factor of civilizational subjectivity: a comparative perspective. In: Ukraine as a civilizational subject of history and modernity (pp. 208–220). Kyiv: Nika Tsentr. [=Симончук 2020]

Simonchuk, O. (2019). Social classes in modern societies: the heuristic potential of class analysis. [In Ukrainian]. Kyiv: Institute of Sociology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. [=Симончук 2019]

Phillips, L., Jorgensen, M.W. (2008). [In Russian]. Discourse Analysis as Theory and Method. Kharkiv: Humanitarian Center. [=Филлипс 2019]

Andress, H.J., Heien, T. (2001). Four worlds of welfare state attitudes? A comparison of Germany, Norway, and the United States. European Sociological Review, 17 (4), 337–356.

Andress, H.J., Heien, T. (2001). Four worlds of welfare state attitudes? A comparison of Germany, Norway, and the United States. European Sociological Review, 17 (4), 337–356.

Bean, C., Papadakis, E. (1998). A comparison of mass attitudes towards the welfare state in different institutional regimes, 1985–1990. International Journal of Public Opinion Research, 10 (3), 211–236.

Eger, M.A., Breznau, N. (2017). Immigration and the welfare state: A cross-regional analysis of European welfare attitudes. International Journal of Comparative Sociology, 58 (5), 440–463.

Ervasti, H., Andersen, J.G., Ringdal, K. (Eds.). (2012). The future of the welfare state: Social policy attitudes and social capital in Europe. S.l.: Edward Elgar Publishing.

Esping-Andersen, G. (2006). Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism. The welfare state reader, 434–454.

Goerres, A., Prinzen, K. (2012). Can we improve the measurement of attitudes towards the welfare state? A constructive critique of survey instruments with evidence from focus groups. Social Indicators Research, 109 (3), 515–534.

Goossen, M. (2020). The gender gap in welfare state attitudes in Europe: The role of unpaid labour and family policy. Journal of European Social Policy, 30 (4), 452–466.

Hasenfeld, Y., Rafferty, J.A. (1989). The determinants of public attitudes toward the welfare state. Social Forces, 67 (4), 1027–1048.

Heywood, A. (2017). Political ideologies: An introduction. London: Macmillan International Higher Education.

Hjerm, M., Schnabel, A. (2012). How much heterogeneity can the welfare state endure? The influence of heterogeneity on attitudes to the welfare state. Nations and Nationalism, 18 (2), 346–369.

Introduction. Ervasti, H., Andersen, J.G., Ringdal, K. (Eds.) (2012). The future of the welfare state: Social policy attitudes and social capital in Europe. S.l.: Edward Elgar Publishing.

Jary, D., Jary, J. (1991). HarperCollins dictionary of sociology. S.l.: HarperPerennial.

Kumlin, S. (2007). The welfare state: Values, policy preferences, and performance evaluations. In: The Oxford handbook of political behavior. S.l.

Naumann, E., Buss, C., Bähr, J. (2016). How unemployment experience affects support for the welfare state: a real panel approach. European Sociological Review, 32 (1), 81–92.

Roosma, F., Gelissen, J., Van Oorschot, W. (2013). The multidimensionality of welfare state attitudes: A European cross-national study. Social indicators research, 113 (1), 235–255.

Roosma, F., Van Oorschot, W., Gelissen, J. (2014). The preferred role and perceived performance of the welfare state: European welfare attitudes from a multidimensional perspective. Social science research, 44, 200–210.

Taylor-Gooby, P., Chung, H., Leruth, B. (2018). The contribution of deliberative forums to studying welfare state attitudes: A United Kingdom study. Social Policy & Administration, 52 (4), 914–927.

Zimmermann, K., Heuer, J. O., Mau, S. (2018). Changing preferences towards redistribution: How deliberation shapes welfare attitudes. Social Policy & Administration, 52 (5), 969–982.

Received 10.08.2022

LATEST PRINTED ISSUE

LATEST FREELY ACCESSIBLE MATERIALS

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