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Measuring Interest Group Influence Using Quantitative Text Analysis

Author

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  • Heike Klüver

    (University of Mannheim, Germany, hkluever@mail.uni-mannheim.de)

Abstract

The analysis of interest group influence is crucial in order to explain policy outcomes and to assess the democratic legitimacy of the European Union. However, owing to methodological difficulties in operationalizing influence, only few have studied it. This article therefore proposes a new approach to the measurement of influence, drawing on quantitative text analysis. By comparing interest groups’ policy positions with the final policy output, one can draw conclusions about the winners and losers of the decision-making process. In order to examine the applicability of text analysis, a case study is presented comparing hand-coding, WORDSCORES and Wordfish . The results correlate highly and text analysis proves to be a powerful tool to measure interest groups’ policy positions, paving the way for the large-scale analysis of interest group influence.

Suggested Citation

  • Heike Klüver, 2009. "Measuring Interest Group Influence Using Quantitative Text Analysis," European Union Politics, , vol. 10(4), pages 535-549, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:eeupol:v:10:y:2009:i:4:p:535-549
    DOI: 10.1177/1465116509346782
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Woll, Cornelia, 2007. "Leading the Dance? Power and Political Resources of Business Lobbyists," Journal of Public Policy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 27(1), pages 57-78, May.
    2. Laver, Michael & Benoit, Kenneth & Garry, John, 2003. "Extracting Policy Positions from Political Texts Using Words as Data," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 97(2), pages 311-331, May.
    3. Kenneth Benoit & Michael Laver & Christine Arnold & Paul Pennings & Madeleine O. Hosli, 2005. "Measuring National Delegate Positions at the Convention on the Future of Europe Using Computerized Word Scoring," European Union Politics, , vol. 6(3), pages 291-313, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Auffenberg, Jennie & Marcinkiewicz, Kamil, 2013. "Wer gestaltet, wer verwaltet Reformen im öffentlichen Dienst? Ein Methodenvergleich zur Analyse von Arbeitsbeziehungen in Reformprozessen anhand der Polizei Brandenburg," TranState Working Papers 170, University of Bremen, Collaborative Research Center 597: Transformations of the State.
    2. Marcinkiewicz, Kamil & Auffenberg, Jennie & Kittel, Bernhard, 2012. "Politikpositionen im Reformprozess des öffentlichen Dienstes: Zur Übertragbarkeit der quantitativen Textanalyse," TranState Working Papers 162, University of Bremen, Collaborative Research Center 597: Transformations of the State.
    3. Attila Kovács, 2013. "New Ways for Companies to Develop Effective Lobbying Strategies in the European Parliament A case study in the field of the Common Agricultural Policy," Proceedings of FIKUSZ '13, in: Pál Michelberger (ed.),Proceedings of FIKUSZ '13, pages 77-96, Óbuda University, Keleti Faculty of Business and Management.

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