Using the Comparative Agendas Project to examine interest group behavior
Abstract
The rapid expansion of the Comparative Agendas Project (CAP) has drastically increased data availability on the policy agendas of government outputs. These data are coded using a system to allow for valid comparisons in policy agendas across issues, time, and systems. However, less data are available for interest groups outputs, and that data have mostly been limited to the USA. In this paper, we propose methods for measuring the policy agendas of interest groups using the CAP system. Scholars can estimate the policy content of interest group activities by linking them to existing CAP datasets. These data can be used to compare the distribution of policy attention of interest groups and the institutions they attempt to influence. Because the CAP datasets are highly detailed and widely available, researchers can examine interest group activities at low costs. Furthermore, we discuss higher-cost methods of coding interest group policy outputs that may be of interest to scholars.
Publication Title
Interest Groups and Advocacy
Recommended Citation
Fagan, E., & Shannon, B. (2020). Using the Comparative Agendas Project to examine interest group behavior. Interest Groups and Advocacy, 9 (3), 361-372. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41309-020-00081-1
