Reasons for Participation in Household Surveys in the Arab Gulf Countries, Qatar

Abstract

Participation in public opinion surveys in the State of Qatar is voluntary, and respondents are not offered incentives for participating. Nevertheless, rates of participation in face-to-face surveys conducted by the Social and Economic Survey Research Institute (SESRI) of Qatar University remain at levels that far exceed those observed in Western and even other Middle East contexts. This study aims to understand why Qatari citizens participate in household surveys conducted in the country. Using data from a 2015 survey of 823 Qatari households, we examine the reasons underlying individuals’ decisions about participation in surveys.