Response Item Network (ResIN): A network-based approach to explore attitude systems

Belief network analysis (BNA) refers to a new class of methods designed to detect and outline structural organizations of complex attitude systems. BNA can be used to analyze attitude-structures of “fuzzy” concepts such as ideologies, worldviews, and norm systems and yield insights into a wide range of pressing societal issues. The present manuscript introduces the Response-Item Network (or ResIN) as a new methodological approach that advances BNA in at least two important ways.First, ResIN allows for the detection of attitude asymmetries between different groups, improving the applicability and validity of BNA in research contexts that focus on intergroup differences and/or relationships. Second, ResIN’s networks include a spatial component that is directly connected to item response theory (IRT). This allows for access to latent space information in which each attitude (i.e. each response option across items in a survey) is positioned in relation to the core dimension(s) of group structure, revealing non-linearities and allowing for a more contextual and holistic interpretation of the attitudes network. To evaluate the effectiveness of ResIN, the method was applied to both simulated and real data, and results were compared to existing methods of BNA and IRT. For example, when used to analyze partisan belief-networks in the US-American political context, ResIN was able to reliably distinguish Democrat and Republican attitudes, even in highly asymmetrical attitude systems. The results of this study demonstrate the utility of ResIN as a powerful tool for the analysis of complex attitude systems and contribute to the advancement of BNA.