A study of the dimensionality of political participation, using Dutch longitudinal survey data (Barnes, S. H., Kaase, M., et al, Political Action: Mass Participation in Five Western Democracies, Beverly Hills, Calif: Sage, 1979). Political participation is defined as the set of activities of private citizens aimed at influencing the preparation, realization, &/or implementation of public policy. Using nonmetric multidimensional scaling, electoral, conventional, & unconventional or protest participation were distinguished. It was shown that both conventional & unconventional participation are cumulative rather than mutually exclusive methods of influencing the policy-making process. The findings indicated a high degree of political stability in the 1970s. 3 Tables, 3 Figures, 27 References. Modified HA
