Testing the Stability of an Acquiescence Style Factor Behind Two Interrelated Substantive Variables in a Panel Design

Abstract

This article addresses the question of to what extent one type of response style, called acquiescence (or agreeing response bias), is stable over time. A structural equation modeling approach is applied to measure the stability of one acquiescence factor behind two concepts among the same respondents for a 4-year period. The data used are representative population surveys in 1995 and 1999 from the Belgian Election Study in which balanced sets of items are used for measuring two interrelated constructs: perceived ethnic threat and distrust in politics. This study provides empirical support that acquiescence is stable and consistent for a 4-year period.