Distribution of Preference 

The distribution of preference map is designed to be a "snapshot" of the distribution of ideological sentiment in Ruritania. Ideological sentiment is measured by a battery of questions developed by the SRC's Trotter Poll organization. The ideological stands (across the top of the grid) vary from far left (01) to far right (20). The percentages (along the left side of the grid) reflect the percent of Ruritanians at the time of the survey who "fall" into the particular ideological space on the continuum. The red square in each column represents the percentage of the population who are currently holding opinions typical of that ideological position. Since Ruritania is a "new democracy", it is expected that there will be fluctuations as events and the campaign influence first-time voters. This fluctuation is demonstrated in the maps by the use of yellow to indicate the percentage in the previous poll. Over the course of the election, it should be expected that events and the election campaign could alter the distribution of preferences. The initial  distribution of preference is:

Left 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Right
8% * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 8%
7% * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 7%
6% * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 6%
5% * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 5%
4% * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 4%
3% * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 3%
2% * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *2%
1% * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * *1%
Left 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Right
(Note:  May not total 100% if responses are uncodeable or respondant refuses to answer)


Distribution of Preference Maps
Map #2
Map #3
Map #4
Map #5
Map #6






Fluctuations in the Distribution of Preferences 

While the distribution of preferences within any particular society will generally change slowly (assuming that public opinion reflects the cleavages in society and the political culture), there can be wide variations in the distribution of preferences between different societies! A society with very few social cleavages and a well-entrenched dominant political culture will generally have what is called a "unimodal" distribution of preferences. In this type of society, most citizens congregate around the center of the political spectrum:

Unimodal Distribution of Preferences

Stand 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
12% * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
11% * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
10% * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
9% * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
8% * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
7% * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
6% * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
5% * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Stand 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20