SapplyValues Results Explained: Three Axes, Not One Label

What does SapplyValues measure?

SapplyValues combines a version of the Sapply political questionnaire with an interface based on 8values. Its result has a left/right coordinate, an authority/liberty coordinate and a separate progressive/conservative score. It is not the Political Compass website or an eight-value profile. This guide explains the published implementation; it does not reproduce its questions or calculate a score from your 12 axes answers.

Read the compass and the separate cultural axis

The horizontal coordinate runs from left to right; the vertical coordinate runs from libertarian to authoritarian. The separate scale runs from conservative to progressive. Treat the first as an economic orientation, the second as an orientation toward authority, and the third as a cultural orientation within this questionnaire. Read the labels on your saved image rather than assuming that higher always means the same direction on every test.

What does a number near zero mean?

In the published code, each answered item contributes its response multiplied by an axis weight. The total is divided by the sum of absolute weights for answered items and multiplied by ten. This produces coordinates on a −10 to +10 scale. Zero is the midpoint of that calculation, not a measured population average. The display is not a percentile or a probability of belonging to a party.

Why skipping and neutral answers are different

The scoring code excludes a skipped response from both the weighted total and the possible-weight denominator. A neutral response contributes zero but still counts in the denominator. Consequently, two people can reach a similar displayed number with different amounts of answered information. Keep a note of uncertainty or skipped topics rather than treating a result with limited answers as equally informative.

An example: separate authority from cultural change

Imagine two invented profiles with the same economic and authority coordinates, but opposite cultural scores. Their dots would occupy the same compass location, while their separate cultural bars would differ. Calling both people the same thing from the quadrant alone would hide this distinction. This example illustrates the display, not a prediction about real voters. For your own result, write one policy example that supports each axis and one that complicates it.

SapplyValues vs Political Compass and 12 axes

Choose SapplyValues when you want to discuss a compact coordinate profile with an additional cultural dimension. Choose 12 axes when you want separate topic scores such as welfare, civil liberties, global relations and technology. Similar words across tests do not establish equal units or item weights. You cannot convert a SapplyValues coordinate into a 12 axes percentage, or use agreement between two websites as proof that either result is scientifically accurate.

FAQ: Does my quadrant tell me which ideology I am?

A quadrant is a broad location in a particular display. It does not determine party membership, issue priorities, nationality or a complete ideology. Before adopting a label, compare its concrete policy commitments with your actual beliefs. Use the ideology guide below as a vocabulary aid, while keeping disagreements and mixed positions visible.

FAQ: Why did a retake move my dot?

Review the site version, how you interpreted ambiguous wording, whether you skipped different statements and whether your views changed. A small movement alone cannot tell you which explanation applies. Record the date and your reasons for uncertain answers. Avoid taking the test repeatedly until it produces a desired label; that makes the comparison less useful for reflection.

FAQ: What should I check before sharing a result?

SapplyValues result links can contain the three scores as URL parameters. Share only what you are comfortable making visible, and inspect the link before posting it. Its homepage also describes analytics and choices about recording results or demographic information; review the current notice on the destination. Our outgoing test link contains no answers or scores from your 12 axes session.

Explore the twelve axes