BANDWAGONING AND UNDERDOGING ON NORTH-AMERICAN FREE TRADE: A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL PANEL STUDY OF OPINION MOVEMENT

A quasi-experimental panel methodology is used to measure opinion movements of student groups on North-American Free Trade. It is found that stimulation with regard to majority trends in public opinion produces both bandwagon and underdog effects on individual opinions. After controlling for various non causal factors, these effects are attributed partly to the stimuli and partly to mechanisms by which individuals try to maintain internal consistency in their opinion structure. Attention is given to the methodology of opinion movement measurement.