Process Performance and Political Trust: Structural Models

Abstract

In the preceding chapter, it was found that we can sensibly distinguish sets of items that individually relate to different underlying beliefs. These have been called: ‘perceptions of public probity, ‘perceptions of the process performance of MPs’, and ‘political trust’. Because these sets of items relate consistently relate to distinct beliefs, these three beliefs can sensibly be operationalised as three variables. However, the structural (‘causal’) connections between these variables are not presently known. Thus, for example, it is not known whether it is more helpful to view perceived public probity as a cause or consequence of political trust. It may be that citizens decide whether they trust those operating within public life, and condition their perceptions of public probity based upon that trust decision. Conversely, it may be the case that perceptions of public probity are more helpfully viewed as causally prior. Similarly, it is also unknown whether perception of public probity, in general, can most helpfully be viewed as a cause or consequence of perceptions of the process performance of MPs. Indeed, legislators in general, including MPs in the UK system, enjoy a degree of visibility that is not afforded to many others working within public life. It thus may be the case that perceptions of the process performance of MPs cause more general public probity perceptions.