Methodology

Questionnaire design

The smartwielen questionnaire has been designed by a combined project team of the University of Luxemburg, the Zentrum fir politesch Bildung and the LISER. In order to guarantee for a comprehensive, significant, valid and politically neutral questionnaire, the team consulted with a large number of interest groups and civil society organizations, as well as journalists from multiple media organizations. Additionally, a workshop was organised for young people to make suggestions for questions. At the end of January 2019, a customized website was put online, allowing everyone interested to submit question suggestions. Below you will find a detailed description of the questionnaire design approach.

Questionnaire design (PDF, only available in French)

Matching

In order to match the answers/political positions of candidates and voters, smartwielen applies an algorithm based on the Euclidean Distance. Below you find a detailed description of the matching-algorithm.

Positional matching methodology (PDF, only available in French)

smartspider and smartmap

In order to calculate positions of candidates and voters on the six axes of the smartspider graphs and within the two-dimensional political space of the smartmap, smartwielen applies a common and simple calculation method. Below you will find a detailed description of those as well as the complete assignment of statements to the dimensions of the smartspider and the smartmap.