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F. David Levenbach

"People who like this sort of thing will find this the sort of thing they like." (Lincoln)

POSC 3003 Political analysis

Research on "political tolerance," really commitment to democratic procedures illustrates how choices in measurement can affect results:

Responses indicative of "political tolerance," National Opinion Research Center surveys, 1977, 1978

	"Stouffer" item	"Content-controlled" item re least-liked group
Should a communist be allowed to speak?	63%
Should an atheist be allowed to speak??	65%
Members of the ____ should be allowed to make a speech in this city		50%
Should a communist be allowed to teach?	40%
Should an atheist be allowed to teach	40%
Members of the ____ should be allowed to teach in public schools		19%

Source: J.L. Sullivan et al. An alternative conceptualization of political tolerance: Illusory increases 1950s-1970s, American political science review 73: 781-94 (1979).