How to measure attitudes towards politicians? Russian-language questionnaires for measuring political trust and political cynicism

Abstract

Political trust and political cynicism are the key indicators of the attitudes towards political systems. According to previous studies trust in politicians results from the attribution of positive action and communal qualities to them, whereas cynicism towards politicians – from attribution of negative action and communal qualities. The current study aimed to design a tool for measuring political trust and cynicism in Russian-speaking samples. The study included 1316 participants. The first stage of the study required the participants to complete questionnaires for measuring political trust and cynicism; the second stage offered the shortened versions of the respective methodologies, as well as tests measuring social trust, social cynicism, trust in institutions, system justification, political efficacy, and willingness to participate in different forms of political behavior. According to the results the four-factor structure of the questionnaires united with a common factor showed good fit with the data and worked equally for different sex and age groups. Political trust and cynicism were differently associated with readiness to engage in political behavior. The results of the study are discussed; however, further examination is required.