Research Design: How Identity, Trust, and Threat Perceptions Shape Taiwan's Defense Willingness

Will Taiwanese citizens stand up to defend their country if China launches an invasion? This study examines how national identity, institutional trust, and threat framing causally shape Taiwanese citizens' willingness to defend their country. To address gaps in existing research that relies on correlations, single-item measures, and designs vulnerable to social desirability bias, the study employs a mixed-methods approach centered on a randomized survey experiment. Adults in Taiwan are assigned to one of three conflict scenarios representing a full-scale invasion, a Taiwan-initiated conflict following a declaration of independence, or a limited blockade. The five-section survey instrument measures identity, trust, perceived threat, and defense willingness using multi-item indices, paired with qualitative explanations that clarify respondent reasoning.