Spatial and Cognitive Models in Political Science:

A Methodological Review and Analysis of Expert Survey Data

Abstract

Spatial analysis and modeling have played significant roles in the empirical analysis for political science. This paper first reviews the development and application of the spatial analysis in political cognition from methodological point of view. The emphasis is laid on the multidimensional scaling technique and its extensions. Then, one of the recent developments in special analysis, Bayesian K-INDSCAL, which is a multidimensional scaling with both individual and group differences, is applied to the Japanese expert survey data on party policies. Three latent-classes have been identified, with related but heterogeneous spatial representations. Individual differences in terms of dimensional weight have also been identified. Implications and future directions of spatial analysis in political science are discussed.