PUBLIC OPINION SURVEYS IN JAPAN

Abstract

This article examines, from secondary sources, various aspects of public opinion surveys in Japan. During the 1975 to 1990 period, there was an increase in the number of surveys and there were some similarities and some differences in their topics. The use of the Basic Residents Registers as a sampling frame has increased. The plurality of the surveys drew their samples from a single city. The proportion of mail surveys increased; whereas personal interviews and drop-off self-administered surveys decreased. Response rates for all major questionnaire administration methods decreased. Despite the decline, the median response rate was 75.2 percent during this period. Response rates were examined more closely using the rates of the National Life Survey for 1975, 1980, 1985, and 1990. The following trends were noted: (a) response rates of urban areas declined more sharply than those of rural areas; (b) overall response rates of males were about 10 percentage points lower than those of females; (c) response rates of females in their twenties had the steepest decline; and (d) refusals almost doubled. Some of the reasons for these changes are discussed and it is noted that the decreasing response rates probably reflect changes in lifestyles and attitudes towards surveys.