Meaning: Formative multi-item index measuring the extent of people's cognitive mobilization over the domains of informational connectedness, perceived stimulation and emancipative values [(InfCon + PerSti + EVI) / 3 calculated at the individual level and then aggregated to the country level].
Source: Index invented by Welzel, based on data from the World Values Surveys, all countries from rounds five and six.
Scaling: Multi-point index with original scores on each of the multiple items rescaled from minimum 0 to maximum 1, with proper fractions for intermediate positions, and then averaged over the three measures. Components load on the same dimension at the individual level, with pretty similar loadings, and their combination produces a highly reliable overall index (alpha above .80). Country scores are population averages (arithmetic mean) on the 0-1 index.
Remarks: Individual-level scores are normally distributed around the mean in each national sample.
Type of variable: Continuous
Last updated by source: 2014-03-01