Below you can find the questionnaire that is used to generate assertions relevant to controversial issues and variables that can be used to describe stakeholders.

The questionnaire was used for all of the sixteen issues. References indicate that the field contains a different value for each of the issues. While we give an example, you can find all values here.

Instructions

We want to better understand commonly known controversial and complex issues such as immigration and same-sex marriage. For each issue, we provide a brief description and example assertions supporting some of the many positions on the issue. Your task is to provide us at least five additional relevant assertions. The assertions must be expressions that one can agree or disagree with. They can be claims, beliefs, opinions, reasons, arguments, or any statement that can be used to inform or support one's position on the issue. The assertions do not have to be reflective of your own opinions. In fact we would prefer a diverse set of assertions corresponding to a diverse set of positions on the issue. The assertions can be about a sub-issue or an aspect of the issue.

The assertions should:

• support a position that is relevant to the issue.
• cover a diverse set of positions on the issue. (Avoid claims that rephrase the same argument in slightly different ways.)
• be formulated in a way that a third person can agree or contradict the assertion.
• be self contained and understandable without additional context. (Do not use 'it', 'she/her' or 'he/him/his' etc. to refer to an issue, a person or something else that is not directly mentioned in your assertion.)
• be precise. (Avoid vague formulations such as maybe, perhaps, presumably or possibly.)

The assertions should NOT:

• be a simple expression of agreeing/supporting or disagreeing/rejecting the overall issue.
• contain multiple positions (e.g. migrants are friendly and hardworking).
• contain expressions of personal perspective (e.g. I don't like immigrants).
• be the same as any of the provided examples; or simple negations or other variants of a provided example.

Additional notes:

• You do not have to agree with a assertion yourself. Include the assertion if you think many people think that assertion is valid.
• One way to come up with assertions is to think about the issue from the perspective of the economy, morality, fairness, constitutionality, law and order, security, health, culture, etc. You are not restricted to them.

Issue: Issue (e.g. US Immigration)

Description: Description (e.g. This issue is about whether immigration into the USA should be elevated or lowered. This includes immigration of certain groups (e.g. refugees, highly skilled workers) and certain measures to enforce immigration laws.)

Example Assertions:

1. Example 1 (e.g. Migrants have a positive impact on the economy.)
2. Example 2 (e.g. Immigrants are needed to make up for aging populations.)
3. Example 3 (e.g. States must be responsible to their own citizens first.)
4. Example 4 (e.g. Immigration changes national identity.)

Q1: True or False: Issue Question (e.g. This issue is only about illegal immigration.)

○ true

○ false

Q2: Choose the assertion which meets the format requirements:

○ Format Option A (e.g. I think Multiculturalism is desirable.)

○ Format Option B (e.g. Multiculturalism is desirable.)

If unsure, consult the 'Should' and 'Should Not' guidelines.

Q3: Enter assertion 1 about Issue (e.g. US Immigration):_____________________________

Q4: Enter assertion 2about Issue (e.g. US Immigration):_____________________________

Q5: Enter assertion 3 about Issue (e.g. US Immigration):_____________________________

Q6: Enter assertion 4 about Issue (e.g. US Immigration):_____________________________

Q7: Enter assertion 5 about Issue (e.g. US Immigration):_____________________________