Events Attributes

IDEA Event Attributes Descriptions

The 5 IDEA event attributes (locus, affect, mechanism, injury and damage) are classified under the three dimensions of Locus of Action, comprised of domain and affect, Mechanism of Action, comprised of mechanism, and Outcomes of Action, comprised of Injury and Damage.

Variable Name*
Description

Domain
Domain identifies the locus of an event form's activity with respect to existing institutions, norms and practices. A direct action event form always takes place beyond or outside of the existing institutional boundaries. All external attacks, nonviolent and violent, as well as non-institutionalized internal challenges and extra-constitutional repression are considered direct action. All covert events are also considered direct action. In contrast, routine action event forms, including all institutionally sanctioned violence, occur in arenas of explicit or tacit agreement to the procedures, norms and rules among the parties to the interaction, and where the outcomes are specified a priori.
Direct action: used for events that take place in
A) situations of acute conflict; and these reported events are
B) engaging---i.e., a risk and/or sanction is/are associated with the action; and
C) they are manifest in unilaterally-initiated methods of struggle; and
D) work through indeterminate processes where the outcomes are not prescribed by an existing procedure, norm or accord.
Routine action; used for events that fall within the bounds of "normal" routine
A) includes politics that do not require the active participation of other parties; virtually all persuasive communication activity that is passive or one way in nature (as opposed to active engagement and associated costs entailed in direct action) is considered unilateral political action; OR
B) situations in which parties interact on a reciprocal basis; also includes most rule-governed, juridical, or similarly normatively regulated processes in which there is at least a tacit compliance with the process by all parties to the conflict; includes "peaceful" arrests, incarcerations, and detentions---when resistance exists, an arrest becomes a capture (direct action).
Domain Scaling :
-2 = clearly or, by definition, direct action
-1 = likely to be direct action
0 = N/A
+1 = likely to be routine action
+2 = clearly or, by definition, routine action

Affect
Affect identifies the extent to which friendliness (positive affect) or hostility (negative affect) for the target of the event by the source that is associated with the event form. The sense of positive affect may entail an altruistic action by the source actor, or it may simply imply a lack of maliciousness, whereas the sense of a negative affect is antagonistic toward the target of the event form. The (positive or negative) affect may be evident either implicitly or explicitly, the latter is typically definitional or bound to the common sense meaning of the event form; for example, an assassination carries with it a clear expression of hostility, and a protest suicide embodies a sense of positive affect with respect to the protagonist.
Affect Scaling :
-2 = extreme hostility or intense negative affect conveyed
-1 = hostility or negative affect conveyed
0 = mixed affect, both positive and negative
+1 = friendliness or positive affect conveyed
+ 2 = extreme friendliness or intense positive affect conveyed

Mechanism
Mechanism reflects the way in which an event form works to effect or resist change. The mechanisms are indicated along a continuum of positive-oriented promises, praise and rewards and the negative-oriented blame, threats and sanctions. On the positive interest side, promises are verbal statements that claim a positive interest will be offered or given in the future. Praise is a verbal statement that conveys a positive interest now. A reward is the actual conveyance of a positive, tangible interest. On the negative interest side, blame is a verbal statement that conveys a negative interest now. A threat is a verbal statement that claims a negative interest or cost that will be imposed in the future, or will continue unless some demand is met. Sanctions refer to the actual imposition of costs associated with an event form.
Mechanism Scaling :
-3 = Sanctions, the actual imposition of a negative interest or cost –these costs negatively affect either symbolic or material interests, and the outcomes may be nonviolent or violent, including death – note that these outcomes are assessed separately in the outcomes dimension indicators
-2 = Threats, verbal claims that a negative interest or cost will be imposed in the future, OR will continue, unless some demand is met
-1 = Blame, verbal statements of resistance or opposition that convey a negative interest
N/A
-1 = Praise, verbal statements that convey a positive interest
+2 = Promise, verbal statements that offer a future positive interest
+3 = Reward, the actual (nonverbal) conveyance of a positive, tangible interest

Injury
Injury identifies the level of physical or psychological trauma or injury likely to be associated with an event form. A minor injury is always temporary and reversible, and is not imminently life threatening. A major injury is either long-term or irreversible in its effects, or is imminently life threatening. The level of death simply indicates an all but certain death associated with the use of an event from.
Injury Scaling :
-3 = all but certain death or fatal injury
-2 = major injury, with costs that are likely to be either long-term OR irreversible OR imminently life threatening
-1 = minor injury, with costs likely to be temporary AND reversible AND not imminently life-threatening
0 = no injury

Damage
Damage identifies the level of material damage or destruction associated with an event form. Minor damage is always temporary AND reversible, AND is never imminently catastrophic. Major damage is either long-term OR irreversible in its effects, OR is imminently catastrophic, requiring reconstruction during which time there will be a significant disruption of routine activities.
Damage Scaling :
-3 = catastrophic destruction, with damage likely to have long-term implications
-2 = total destruction, with damage likely to be either long-term OR irreparable damage
-1 = minor destruction, with damage likely to be temporary AND repairable
0 = no damage

* Domain dimension (bi-directional ranging from contentious to routine action), Mechanism dimension (bi-directional ranging from coercive to accommodative action), Outcomes Dimension (focusing on physical injuries & material damage)

Variable Name*	Description
Domain	Domain identifies the locus of an event form's activity with respect to existing institutions, norms and practices. A direct action event form always takes place beyond or outside of the existing institutional boundaries. All external attacks, nonviolent and violent, as well as non-institutionalized internal challenges and extra-constitutional repression are considered direct action. All covert events are also considered direct action. In contrast, routine action event forms, including all institutionally sanctioned violence, occur in arenas of explicit or tacit agreement to the procedures, norms and rules among the parties to the interaction, and where the outcomes are specified a priori. Direct action: used for events that take place in A) situations of acute conflict; and these reported events are B) engaging---i.e., a risk and/or sanction is/are associated with the action; and C) they are manifest in unilaterally-initiated methods of struggle; and D) work through indeterminate processes where the outcomes are not prescribed by an existing procedure, norm or accord. Routine action; used for events that fall within the bounds of "normal" routine A) includes politics that do not require the active participation of other parties; virtually all persuasive communication activity that is passive or one way in nature (as opposed to active engagement and associated costs entailed in direct action) is considered unilateral political action; OR B) situations in which parties interact on a reciprocal basis; also includes most rule-governed, juridical, or similarly normatively regulated processes in which there is at least a tacit compliance with the process by all parties to the conflict; includes "peaceful" arrests, incarcerations, and detentions---when resistance exists, an arrest becomes a capture (direct action). Domain Scaling : -2 = clearly or, by definition, direct action -1 = likely to be direct action 0 = N/A +1 = likely to be routine action +2 = clearly or, by definition, routine action
Affect	Affect identifies the extent to which friendliness (positive affect) or hostility (negative affect) for the target of the event by the source that is associated with the event form. The sense of positive affect may entail an altruistic action by the source actor, or it may simply imply a lack of maliciousness, whereas the sense of a negative affect is antagonistic toward the target of the event form. The (positive or negative) affect may be evident either implicitly or explicitly, the latter is typically definitional or bound to the common sense meaning of the event form; for example, an assassination carries with it a clear expression of hostility, and a protest suicide embodies a sense of positive affect with respect to the protagonist. Affect Scaling : -2 = extreme hostility or intense negative affect conveyed -1 = hostility or negative affect conveyed 0 = mixed affect, both positive and negative +1 = friendliness or positive affect conveyed + 2 = extreme friendliness or intense positive affect conveyed
Mechanism	Mechanism reflects the way in which an event form works to effect or resist change. The mechanisms are indicated along a continuum of positive-oriented promises, praise and rewards and the negative-oriented blame, threats and sanctions. On the positive interest side, promises are verbal statements that claim a positive interest will be offered or given in the future. Praise is a verbal statement that conveys a positive interest now. A reward is the actual conveyance of a positive, tangible interest. On the negative interest side, blame is a verbal statement that conveys a negative interest now. A threat is a verbal statement that claims a negative interest or cost that will be imposed in the future, or will continue unless some demand is met. Sanctions refer to the actual imposition of costs associated with an event form. Mechanism Scaling : -3 = Sanctions, the actual imposition of a negative interest or cost –these costs negatively affect either symbolic or material interests, and the outcomes may be nonviolent or violent, including death – note that these outcomes are assessed separately in the outcomes dimension indicators -2 = Threats, verbal claims that a negative interest or cost will be imposed in the future, OR will continue, unless some demand is met -1 = Blame, verbal statements of resistance or opposition that convey a negative interest N/A -1 = Praise, verbal statements that convey a positive interest +2 = Promise, verbal statements that offer a future positive interest +3 = Reward, the actual (nonverbal) conveyance of a positive, tangible interest
Injury	Injury identifies the level of physical or psychological trauma or injury likely to be associated with an event form. A minor injury is always temporary and reversible, and is not imminently life threatening. A major injury is either long-term or irreversible in its effects, or is imminently life threatening. The level of death simply indicates an all but certain death associated with the use of an event from. Injury Scaling : -3 = all but certain death or fatal injury -2 = major injury, with costs that are likely to be either long-term OR irreversible OR imminently life threatening -1 = minor injury, with costs likely to be temporary AND reversible AND not imminently life-threatening 0 = no injury
Damage	Damage identifies the level of material damage or destruction associated with an event form. Minor damage is always temporary AND reversible, AND is never imminently catastrophic. Major damage is either long-term OR irreversible in its effects, OR is imminently catastrophic, requiring reconstruction during which time there will be a significant disruption of routine activities. Damage Scaling : -3 = catastrophic destruction, with damage likely to have long-term implications -2 = total destruction, with damage likely to be either long-term OR irreparable damage -1 = minor destruction, with damage likely to be temporary AND repairable 0 = no damage