Political System Change and Electoral Behavior: An Analysis of the 1991 National Assembly Elections

Shyu Huo-yan of Academia Sinica, and Prof. Chen Ming-Tong of the Graduate Institute of San Min Chu I at NTU. Data for this project was gathered through a survey of the 1991 National Assembly elections.

The primary purpose of the project was to gain a better understanding of the historical background of this election, what factors influenced voter turnout, and why certain candidates were favored. Our research covered several different but related topics. First, we investigated the relationship between the socio-economic background of voters and their party affiliations, including an analysis of class characteristics and group identity.

We also investigated the origins of party preference and the role that the images and identities of parties played in influencing this preference. In addition, we analyzed the relationship between ethnic and national identities and voting behavior. This was accomplished by measuring the extent to which voters identified with either \'Taiwanese\' or \'Chinese\' ethnic identity and the extent to which voters supported either Taiwanese independence or Chinese reunification.

Finally, our study asked questions regarding voting behavior, including questions about (1) the reasons for voting and nonvoting (2) the process of deciding how to vote, and (3) the origins of voting orientation. Our research methodology utilized a multiple-stage sampling technique that incorporated the principles of probabilities proportional to size (PPS), stratified sampling, and systematic sampling. We designed our questionnaire to include both structured and open-ended questions.

The questionnaire asked voters questions regarding their views on the political positions of the candidates, their opinions towards issues of independence and reunification, and the reasons why some of them cast invalid ballots.