About 4Quads

The 4Quads Political Ideology Diagnostic Tool is an instrument based on extensive research, carefully crafted, and adapted from the work of Professor Barry Clark of the University of Colorado, Boulder. As Dr. Clark describes in his book, Political Economy: A Comparative Approach, 3rd Edition, the ideologies are represented in a two-by-two matrix: the upper-right quadrant (which combines a preference for individualism and hierarchy) is broadly reflective of a classical liberal ideological orientation. In a similar fashion, the upper-left quadrant (which combines a preference for individualism and egalitarianism) captures a modern liberal orientation. The lower-right quadrant (which combines a preference for community and hierarchy) is broadly reflective of a conservative ideological orientation. Finally, the lower-left quadrant (which combines a preference for community and egalitarianism) provides a radical/social-democratic orientation. The 4Quad Diagnostic exposes a scatter plot of ideological positions of respondents.

The four-quadrant ideology approach rejects the more conventional left-right constraint as it situates respondents in a larger multidimensional political space and allows them to consider their relative position within it.

Respondents answer questions on different matters of public policy, with four possible answers for each question. The possible answers represent the four ideological positions. Participants indicate how strongly they agree with each answer they choose, from a lot to not at all. After participants take the 4Quads Diagnostic online, they see a four-quadrant screen with each of the four ideological positions.  Respondents’ answers are plotted on the screen to show their ideological positions.  In a group setting, a facilitator is able to show both the group responses to each question and then a composite of all the responses. The 4Quads Diagnostic is designed to provide anonymity for the individual, while still allowing for group discussions to build upon the collective distribution by probing a group about its “center of gravity” within the framework.