Back to History

Fields Changed

Registration

Field Before After
Abstract This pre-analysis plan outlines the design and proposed analysis of a survey experiment embedded in a multi-country study examining citizen discontent with political systems across six Latin American countries. This large-scale study combines original survey data with the most up-to-date national household surveys conducted by the National Statistics Offices of each country. The experiment described in this pre-analysis plan is embedded in all the surveys. It is designed to investigate the effects of two key factors: (i) security concerns and (ii) economic expectations and anxiety on different expressions of political discontent. Respondents are randomly assigned to receive one of three questionnaire versions, where the order of the modules varies. One version presents a module on perceptions of security first, followed by outcome measures. The second version presents questions on economic anxiety and expectations first, followed by outcomes. The third version asks outcome-related questions first, followed by the treatment modules. Key outcomes include general sentiments of discontent, such as anti-establishment attitudes, trust in institutions, and support for democratic principles, along with expressions of discontent through exit (e.g., opting out of public services) and voice (e.g., protests). The findings aim to shed light on the sources of citizen discontent and inform debates on how two core problems in Latin America—insecurity and economic volatility—shape public perceptions of and relationships with political systems. This pre-analysis plan outlines the design and proposed analysis of a survey experiment embedded in a multi-country study examining citizen discontent with political systems across seven Latin American countries. This large-scale study combines original survey data with the most up-to-date national household surveys conducted by the National Statistics Offices of each country. The experiment described in this pre-analysis plan is embedded in all the surveys. It is designed to investigate the effects of two key factors: (i) security concerns and (ii) economic expectations and anxiety on different expressions of political discontent. Respondents are randomly assigned to receive one of three questionnaire versions, where the order of the modules varies. One version presents a module on perceptions of security first, followed by outcome measures. The second version presents questions on economic anxiety and expectations first, followed by outcomes. The third version asks outcome-related questions first, followed by the treatment modules. Key outcomes include general sentiments of discontent, such as anti-establishment attitudes, trust in institutions, and support for democratic principles, along with expressions of discontent through exit (e.g., opting out of public services) and voice (e.g., protests). The findings aim to shed light on the sources of citizen discontent and inform debates on how two core problems in Latin America—insecurity and economic volatility—shape public perceptions of and relationships with political systems.
Last Published January 17, 2025 06:52 AM September 09, 2025 10:18 AM
Back to top