Measuring normative endorsement of inclusive principles under ceiling effects: Evidence from Kazakhstan

Type of the article: Research ArticleAbstractThis study examines how survey-based endorsement of inclusive principles can be measured when highly approved items produce ceiling effects. It develops a compact formative instrument covering equal starting opportunities, civic interethnic inclusion, universal application of law, and social guarantees. The analysis uses unweighted data from a nationwide descriptive survey sample of 3,123 adults in Kazakhstan, collected through computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) from May 10 to June 5, 2025, across 17 regions and the three cities of republican significance with territorial stratification and quota controls. Soft endorsement reaches 95.4% for equal opportunities and 94.1% for civic interethnic inclusion, while 62.7% rate both core principles as mandatory. Four profiles distinguish dual mandatory, equal-opportunity-only, interethnic-inclusion-only, and no mandatory endorsement. Group differences are small, and the indices show weak but consistent positive associations with perceived institutional and socioeconomic cleavages. The instrument provides a compact baseline for monitoring the intensity and cross-domain consistency of normative endorsement. It measures declarative legitimating standards, not realized inclusion, discrimination, institutional effectiveness, or policy performance.AcknowledgmentsThis research was funded by the Committee of Science of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan under Scientific Program No. BR24993150, “Organisation of Psychological and Pedagogical Support for Pre-vocational Training of Students with Disabilities,” and Scientific Program No. BR24993269, “Evolution and Transformation of Value Orientations in Kazakhstani Society During the Independence Period.” The survey fieldwork, data preparation, and statistical analysis reported in this article were conducted and funded within Scientific Program No. BR24993269.