The Effect of Survey Methods on the Postmaterialism Index

Abstract

This article reports on a meta-analysis of 99 German population surveys from the GESIS Data Archive, all containing the postmaterialism question. Using multi-level modelling, it can be shown that the share of postmaterialists significantly varies between the surveys when controlling for respondents‘ year of birth and survey year. These differences can partly be attributed to varying forms of data collection. In particular the ALLBUS and Eurobarometer surveys differ strongly. In addition, house effects and an effect of quota sampling can be found.