Latent Structure Models for Ranking Data

In this paper several latent structure models for analyzing data that consist of complete or incomplete rankings are discussed. First, attention is given to some latent class extensions of the Bradley-Terry-Luce model for ranking data. Next, various latent class models based on log-linear modeling of ranking data are described. Within this latter family of latent class models, a main distinction is made between models based on the assumption of quasi-independence within the latent classes, and models in which some form of association between the ranking positions is allowed to exist within the classes. All models are applied to a real data set from a large scale cross-national survey on political values.