Language Effects in Surveys

The research project Language Effects in Surveys addresses issues of survey item comparability and measurement equivalence in comparative survey research. The application of language technology - coupled with vast amounts of geo-coded online data – allows us to explore meaning and usage of important concepts across different languages and cultures to an extent that is unparalleled in the field of comparative survey research.

Using techniques from NLP, the project seeks to identify and possibly control for linguistic and cultural discrepancies in cross-cultural surveys that affect response patterns in survey items that are central to comparative politics and comparative public opinion.