UK OC OK? Interpreting optimal classification scores for the U.K. House of Commons

Arthur Spirling; Iain McLean

doi:10.1093/pan/mpl009

UK OC OK? Interpreting optimal classification scores for the U.K. House of Commons

Arthur Spirling, Iain McLean

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

86 Scopus citations

Abstract

Poole's (2000, Non-parametric unfolding of binary choice data. Political Analysis 8:211-37) nonparametric Optimal Classification procedure for binary data produces misleading rank orderings when applied to the modern House of Commons. With simulations and qualitative evidence, we show that the problem arises from the government-versus-opposition nature of British (Westminster) parliamentary politics and the strategic voting that is entailed therein. We suggest that political scientists think seriously about strategic voting in legislatures when interpreting results from such techniques.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	85-96
Number of pages	12
Journal	Political Analysis
Volume	15
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/pan/mpl009
State	Published - Dec 2007
Externally published	Yes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Sociology and Political Science
Political Science and International Relations

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10.1093/pan/mpl009

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title = "UK OC OK? Interpreting optimal classification scores for the U.K. House of Commons",

abstract = "Poole's (2000, Non-parametric unfolding of binary choice data. Political Analysis 8:211-37) nonparametric Optimal Classification procedure for binary data produces misleading rank orderings when applied to the modern House of Commons. With simulations and qualitative evidence, we show that the problem arises from the government-versus-opposition nature of British (Westminster) parliamentary politics and the strategic voting that is entailed therein. We suggest that political scientists think seriously about strategic voting in legislatures when interpreting results from such techniques.",

author = "Arthur Spirling and Iain McLean",

note = "Funding Information: Authors{\textquoteright} note: Financial and technical support from The Star Lab is gratefully acknowledged. We are very grateful to three anonymous referees for insightful comments on both content and structure. All errors and omissions remain ours and ours alone. 1The full list is available on application from the authors. Appendix C gives some replication information that readers may find helpful.",

year = "2007",

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N1 - Funding Information: Authors’ note: Financial and technical support from The Star Lab is gratefully acknowledged. We are very grateful to three anonymous referees for insightful comments on both content and structure. All errors and omissions remain ours and ours alone. 1The full list is available on application from the authors. Appendix C gives some replication information that readers may find helpful.

PY - 2007/12

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AB - Poole's (2000, Non-parametric unfolding of binary choice data. Political Analysis 8:211-37) nonparametric Optimal Classification procedure for binary data produces misleading rank orderings when applied to the modern House of Commons. With simulations and qualitative evidence, we show that the problem arises from the government-versus-opposition nature of British (Westminster) parliamentary politics and the strategic voting that is entailed therein. We suggest that political scientists think seriously about strategic voting in legislatures when interpreting results from such techniques.

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UK OC OK? Interpreting optimal classification scores for the U.K. House of Commons

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