Public Opinion Research Center Research Articles

Жизненные цели и стратегии россиян: контекст пассионарности

This article is dedicated to analyzing the transformation of Russians’ life values and attitudes during the course of the last decade. Examined are “activist” (passionate) and “passive” (laymen) models of mentality, as well as their development. The criteria which enable us to relate to one model or the other are defined by an inclination towards an outward or inward control locus, self sufficiency or dependence on the government, struggling or adapting to external circumstances. Using such an approach as a basis enables us to separate those who are “passionate” (who consistently identify themselves with “activist” type attitudes), “laymen” (who prefer “passive” attitudes) and those who belong to an intermediate group (with mixed attitudes). Analyzed are the peculiarities of how “passionaries” and “laymen” view the situation in the country, together with prospects for its development; the position these groups occupy within our society’s social structure; the characteristics they demonstrate when it comes to setting and achieving life goals; the potential for their adaptation during a period of crisis. The empirical basis for the study are all-Russian representative surveys conducted by the Institute of Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IS RAS) and the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM), which took place in 2005. It is shown that activist/passionary values are associated with higher social status and financial success, a high level of life aspirations, a rational approach towards setting life goals, as well as the strategies for their achievement, and mastering life planning practices. A conclusion is drawn that “passionaries” are better integrated into social reality than most, and they are capable of partaking in the development of society, particularly during a period of crisis.

Attitudes towards Minorities in Post‐communist and Democratic Poland

AbstractThe political transformation of Eastern European countries heralded many fundamental economic, social, and cultural changes. One aspect of democracy – cultural democracy – focuses on the situation of minority groups. The treatment of minorities, while largely determined by law and actions of the government, is also influenced by the attitudes and opinions held by the citizens. This article analyses opinion polls conducted between 1994 and 2014 on attitudes towards ethnic and national minorities in Poland. The data comes from the Public Opinion Research Center (Centrum Badania Opinii Społecznej – CBOS) and was published solely in the Polish language. This analysis is situated within Poland's shifting political, social, and cultural contexts, and emphasizes current legislation concerning minorities in Poland.

Quality of urban life in Poland

This article discusses two issues, namely standard of living and quality of life in Polish cities. It should, however, be stated that quality of urban life has not been explicitly defined and methods for measuring its level are disputable. Interdisciplinary research conducted globally has contributed to the development of a number of indexes measuring standard and quality of life in urban areas. These indexes are used for preparing the rankings of urban life quality. The main aim of this article is to identify where, on the map of Poland, cities are more and where they are less “friendly” to social issues. Subject to analysis will be the following aspects: housing, income, work, community, education, environment, civil society, health, satisfaction with life, and security. This paper uses information included in Diagnoza Spoleczna [The Social Diagnosis] (for the years 2000-2013), the results of a survey conducted by a weekly magazine, “Polityka” [The Politics], and data published by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development as well as the Public Opinion Research Centre (CBOS).

Anti-EU and Anti-LGBT Attitudes in Poland: Considering Quantitative and Qualitative Evidence

Abstract The purpose of this study is to investigate anti-EU and anti- LGBT attitudes in Poland on the basis of quantitative evidence (statistical data) and qualitative evidence (discourse analysis of statements expressed on the Internet). As Euroscepticism seems to frequently appear in conjunction with prejudice against LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual or transgender) persons, the task of this article is to find out whether they may have a common foundation and what it may be. A possible answer, as the article argues, is that both attitudes could be considered symptoms of a deeper, more wide-ranging and fundamental problem-a fear, tension, or anxiety caused by social change, especially the fragmentation of dominant collective (national) identity. The case for such an interpretation of the situation is first made on the basis of existing academic literature and statistical data provided by Eurobarometer and the Polish Public Opinion Research Centre (Centrum Badania Opinii Społecznej, CBOS). However, as the text further argues, such quantitative methods have their limitations and should be supported and illustrated with qualitative studies. The article thus proposes an alternative discourse-oriented approach, namely critical discourse analysis (CDA). This approach is used to conduct an introductory, presentational analysis of some examples of anti-EU and anti-LGBT discourse found on the Internet. This analysis shows that sexual minorities represent values so strange and foreign to Polish conservatives that they can only be conceptualized as something imposed by the power which is both new and distant-by Brussels. And the other way round, the European Union’s liberalism and espousal of human rights, including women’s and LGBT rights, makes it impossible for the conservative parts of the Polish society to accept a “European identity”. This means that Euroscepticism and LGBT prejudice are not just occasionally, coincidentally connected expressions of an underlying resistance to change, but that a closer relationship exists between them. Namely, the conservative reluctance or hostility towards both the EU and LGBT is caused by their incompatibility with the patriotic and religious national identity construction.

Polscy konsumenci wobec globalizacji konsumpcji

Przedsiębiorstwa, które chcą zyskać odbiorców swoich produktów we współczesnym świecie, powinny przygotowywać globalne strategie marketingowe. Wynika to z faktu, że w dobie globalizacji konsumenci mają ułatwiony kontakt między sobą dzięki narzędziom multimedialnym (w tym głównie dzięki Internetowi), co prowadzi do przenikania się kultur, a tym samym wzorców i zachowań konsumpcyjnych. Konsumenci dokonujący podobnych zakupów tworzą grupy skupione wokół wspólnych interesów, doświadczeń i potrzeb. Wymiana doświadczeń między konsumentami przyczynia się do upowszechniania zwyczajów nabywczych, wypierania z rynku tych produktów, które nie spełniły oczekiwań. Tym samym konsument zaczyna oddziaływać na funkcjonowanie producenta. Celem artykułu jest próba odpowiedzi na pytanie, jak polski konsument ocenia globalizację konsumpcji w perspektywie czasu. W artykule podjęto rozważania teoretyczne na podstawie literatury przedmiotu oraz wykorzystano dane pochodzące z badań własnych autorki, raportów CBOS, ankiet WVS i EVS, raportów Instytutu Globalizacji i Eurobarometru. Przedstawione wyniki badań wskazują, że polscy konsumenci różnie odnosili się do procesu globalizacji w perspektywie kilku lat, a ich poglądy dotyczące globalizacji i globalizacji konsumpcji na pewno będą nadal ewoluowały.

TOLERANCE OF REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: ASSESSMENT AND DEVELOPMENT METHODS

The purpose of the investigation is to define the quality and tolerance level among students; and generalize pedagogical experience of intercultural tolerance formation (as exemplified in Vladivostok State University of Economics and Service). Methods. Theoretical methods of research involve analysis of approaches and results of tolerance among young people; Practical methods – content analysis of the essay content on a given topic, questioning. An empirical case study, described in this article, was carried out by questionnaire survey of 200 VSUES (Vladivostok State University of Economics and Service) students from 2–3 courses of various undergraduate training areas. Scientific novelty. The level of students’ tolerant attitude to a series of countries and their residents is specified; combined with the respondents’ knowledge on these countries. Most distinctive students’ views on the «tolerance» concept and reasons for their intolerant behavior are analyzed and presented in this article. Pedagogical and educational technologies used by University for the youth tolerance formation are summarized. Results. Based on the survey, the issues such as limits of applicability of “tolerance” concept in students’ perception, declarative and real tolerance level, and tolerance level to certain countries, as well as in business are investigated. According to the survey, the author makes the conclusion of correlation existence between level of tolerance towards country (nation) and level of awareness of it. The author has analysed the students’ essays on tolerance problems; and it was found out that international relations are the most relevant aspect to respondents of tolerant or intolerant behavior. Results of students’ sociological research are compared with results of surveys on similar topics made by All-Russia Public Opinion Research Center and other researchers. Implemented VSUES projects aimed at creating and promoting tolerance among young people are described in this article. The author points out that it is necessary to universities to implement educational technologies based on the practical aspects of international communication. Practical significance. Survey’s results expend knowledge on characteristics and causes of intolerant behavior of young people and can serve as a basis for correction of pedagogical and educational practice in higher education establishments. Provided survey methodology can be useful to sociologists, psychologists and educators while monitoring studies conduction. VSUES experience of implementation of specific projects aimed at tolerance formation can be used by other universities.

Die Polen angesichts der Umbrüche im politischen und gesellschaftlichen Bereich. Ein Vierteljahrhundert nach der Unabhängigkeit Polens

Financial, political, ideological, sociological, cultural and existential transitions in Poland are experienced as a far more complex process than what it seemed in the beginning. The challenges Poles are facing in a new, democratic society, in some ways, are more demanding than those in a socialist one. In this article, the author presents sociological data, gathered by the Public Opinion Research Centre in Poland, showing the public opinion about the change in the system since 1989. The evaluation of the social consequences of transformation is not unequivocal. 37 % believe that the post-1989 changes brought more benefits than losses to the people. On the negative side, Poles note the increase in individualism and weakening of interpersonal ties. Negative public sentiment grew in Poland especially after 2009, five years after Polish accession to the European Union when the average salary of Poles accounted for about 25-30% of earnings in Western Europe, many people could not find employment in Poland and so they had to migrate to Western Europe.

Социальный образ православных монастырей и монашества в современной

The article discusses the public opinion about Christian Orthodox monasteries and monasticism in contemporary Russia. The analysis is based on the results of the public opinion polls conducted in 2010–2015 by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM). Materials of the poll by Irina Aster (2009) and multimedia contest “Russia 10” (2013) were also used for the analysis. The analysis shows that monasteries are considered by Russians to be one of the symbols of the country although kept in a “passive cultural stock.” Educated and older respondents seem to be more familiar with famous historical monastics rather than less educated and young people. Public opinion paints the portrait of a hard-working “prayful” monk, whose life choice can be explained using divergent paradigms of “moving away” from the world and “coming to” a monastery, the latter connected with religious and moral issues. Respondents give a wide and varied range of positive motives in joining a monastery than negative ones. However, the attitude of Russians to the potential intention of their relative to become a monk is ambiguous. Polls show a roughly equal share of those whose reaction to such a decision would be “rather positive” or “rather negative.” It is concluded that the image of the monk as the “inok,” the religious “other” is quite acceptable in the modern social and cultural sphere. Monasticism is the cornerstone of Christianity, so the transformation of this institution, as well as the dynamics of public opinion about it can demonstrate the changes in the place and role of religion in society, which is especially relevant given the decline of trust in traditional institutions in contemporary social-cultural space.

Civic self-determination : the approach to defence funding

Researches on levels of happiness enable to comprehensively analyse information about the society, political culture and public spirit. One of the fields of such researches can be the research on the relation between the level of happiness of the society and governance of the state. Responding to this field, the public opinion research centre “Vilmorus” conducted a representative survey of Lithuanian population, aiming to find out respondents’ opinions about the level of happiness last year and during next five years’ period as well as their attitude to that part of public expenditure which, seeking the increase of residents’ level of happiness, should be allocated for defence of the state. In total, 1005 respondents were surveyed (people over 18 years old from 19 towns and 31 villages). The research also revealed that the level of happiness determined respondents’ opinions about distribution of state budget and funding of defence of the state. It was found that in the opinion of respondents with lower level of happiness there was no need to allocate funds for defence of the state at all.

Life Satisfaction in China 2013: A Survey Study in Two Main Chinese Cities

The Chinese economic growth rate has been much higher than many countries of the world for many years now. Nowadays, China is experiencing significant economic transformation and structural adjustment. Its speed of development is slowing, and housing and commodity prices are slowly rising. Consequently, a series of economic and social problems have come into being. Under these circumstances, how satisfied are Chinese people on the seven aspects of daily living such as Housing Situation, Household Income, Health, Family Life, Food, Human Relations and Job? The Media and Public Opinion Research Center of Fudan University (FMORC) conducted a phone survey of 606 people living in Beijing, the capital and political and cultural center of China, and Shanghai, the Chinese economic center. The survey results show that the overall satisfaction of Chinese people with their daily life is high. The levels of Family Life and Human Relations are on the top, those of Food, Health and Jobs are listed from the third to the fifth, and satisfaction levels of their Housing Situation and Household Income are on the bottom. The satisfaction levels of males with their Family Life and Health are higher than those of females. Age has a significantly negative correlation with satisfaction with personal health. Monthly income has positive relationships with four aspects of daily life - house income, job, house situation, and family life. Owning a house in cities is another important factor that influences satisfaction with the house situation, house income, food, and family life. Shanghai residents also show higher satisfaction with their health than Beijing residents.

CZY ZALEWA NAS FALA PRZEMOCY? POLITYCY I MEDIA VS. DANE STATYSTYCZNE

By detailed analyses of Polish and world statistics, the authors search for the answer if in fact,as some politicians and citizens claim, the world and in particular European Union and Polandare overcome by the wave of violence. Data gathered, among others, by Polish Public OpinionResearch Center (CBOS), Eurostat and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNOCD), aswell as anthropologists and police, clearly prove the opposite. Scientific comparisons concerningviolence over the centuries show that its scale drastically decreased and the world gets saferwith time. Statistical reports of the United Nations especially clearly indicate European Union(including Poland) as particularly peaceful region against the rest of the world, having the lowestmurder rates. Eurostat data confirm these results, also showing decrease in other crimes overthe years. Polish police data similarly prove existence of this trend and CBOS indicates thatit is reflected in increasing sense of security among Poles. In the second part of the article theauthors explain potential reasons for using such false slogans as “increasing wave of violence” bypoliticians and raising fear in voters as well as psychological mechanisms responsible for theirpotential effectiveness.

DETERMINANTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES OF ENTERPRISES

The article is aimed at presenting the pro-ecological activities in Polish enterprises, determinants of environmental activities of enterprises. The article has a theoretical-empirical character. Theoretical part is based on the literature on the subject. Empirical part presents the results of survey conducted to the order of PARP (the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development) in 2011 and addressed to Polish enterprises. The discussion is enriched with the results of other surveys conducted in Poland by CBOS (Public Opinion Research Centre) etc.

Rola opinii publicznej w wystąpieniach posłów VI kadencji Sejmu Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej

Deputies to the Sixth-Term Sejm [Parliament] (belonging to all the political parties) invoked public opinion in their speeches. In terms of percentage these cases are not very numerous – barely 2.4%, but it should be observed that the deputies frequently speaking in the parliamentary forum referred to public opinion more than once in a single speech. No significant difference in the frequencies of such references was found between the ruling coalition deputies and the opposition ones. Public opinion is treated as an important force that should not be disregarded not only during the election time but also after the elections when some parties strive to retain power while others to take it over. There were cases in which the government abandoned the planned legislative changes for fear of the reaction of public opinion. When referring to public opinion, the deputies play the roles of a tribune, analyst and trustee of the public interest. In the name of public opinion they ask questions and demand explanations; they present the public opinion’s position that will serve as a reinforcement of a deputy’s argument or enable criticism of solutions offered by others; they point to public opinion as a party to the process of making decisions serving the common good. It follows from the analyzed research material that when invoking public opinion the deputies use their intuitions about its position on a particular matter more often than opinion-polling results. If public opinion survey results are cited, most frequently these are opinion polls conducted by the CBOS (Public Opinion Research Center) and TNS OBOP (Center for Public Opinion Research).

PUBLIC TRUST AND PARTICIPATION DEPENDING ON ETHNICITY IN LATVIA

Low public trust in public power institutions is still an urgent problem among the Member States of the European Union. According to the latest Standard Eurobarometer 80 data, the trust continues decreasing. In Latvia trust indicators are also markedly low - 17% residents of Latvia trust in the national parliament, 21% - in the government, but the indicator of trust in political parties is explicitly critical - it constitutes only 6%. Since the Eurobarometer research only includes citizens' opinion, we can assume that the trust indicators are even lower.The population of Latvia consists of the Latvians, who are the titular nation - 59.6%, the Russians - 27% and other national minorities, for instance, the Ukrainians and the Byelorussians. The issue of the integration of the Russian speaking people has been topical in Latvia since the mid 90ties, however, as a result of the unsuccessful integration policy, there is still an alarming number of non-citizens in Latvia, which, according to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs of Latvia data, in 2012 constituted 17% of the population of Latvia and which is the third highest indicator in the European Union.Democracy in Latvia can only function well when all residents of Latvia, regardless of their ethnicity, undertake the responsibility for their country and participate in the public and local government administration. Therefore this publication aims at researching whether the indicators of public trust and participation differ, depending on the ethnicity of residents in Latvia. The authors also wanted to find out whether the issue of ethnicity has vital importance with regard to the improvement of public trust and participation in Latvia.The research is based on the public opinion poll that was conducted by the authors and the Marketing and Public Opinion Research Centre (SKDS) in Latvia in July 2012. In order to elaborate the research design, a case study method has been used. The data analysis methods, such as the grouping of statistical data and their depiction in tables and document analysis, have been used.The research results show that the trust in national level institutions is affected by different factors, including the ethnicity issue. The acquired research data in correlation with the nationality structure in statistical regions acquired in 2011 Population Census process in Latvia, affirm already mentioned conclusion, than public power institutions in Latvia (data of the Central statistical Bureau of Latvia) are more positively evaluated by respondents in regions with most number of Latvians, i.e. Vidzeme region (87% Latvians), Kurzeme region (76% Latvians).DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.eis.0.8.6870

Polska rodzina w świetle wybranych badań statystycznych

Rodzina jest podstawową komórką społeczną, której celem jest dobro małżonków oraz prokreacja i wychowanie dzieci. W okresie kilkunastu ostatnich lat nastąpiły w Polsce dynamiczne przemiany struktury społeczno-ekonomicznej, które dotknęły również rodzinę i jej społeczne postrzeganie. Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie obrazu współczesnej polskiej rodziny w ujęciu statystycznym. Wykorzystano ku temu dane statystyki publicznej oraz jedno z badań CBOS-u. Potwierdza się, że wspomniane przemiany prowadzą raczej do osłabienia rodziny, co z kolei wiąże się z niekorzystną sytuacją demograficzną w Polsce.

Non-Interned Thought Publishing Company

The article outlines the history of Non-Interned Thought Publishing Company (WMN), which operated in Kraków in the years 1982-1989 beyond the reach of communist censorship. A year after Tomasz Gugała established an underground journal Myśli Nieinternowane [Non-Interned Thoughts] in April 1982, young people working in an underground structure formed a publishing house – Wydawnictwo Myśli Nieinternowanej [Non-Interned Thought Publishing Company]. Its basic premise, which was never abandoned, was to create a society alternative to the Communist reality. From the very beginning of its activity, WMN was based on market mechanisms. This formed natural, economic and social ties in the structure of the company and resulted in regular publication of 5 periodicals, many books, commemorative publications and also providing printing service. All contributors were paid for their work, and thus market relations were established. WMN financed the production of offset printing machines, an underground university, a public opinion research center, culture, art and science. Through the counterintelligence of its Special Section, WMN counteracted communist propaganda and was involved in sabotage actions. However, numerous arrests in 1986 seriously weakened WMN. Despite this fact, the Company continued its operation until May 3, 1989.

Состояние и перспективы развития рынка социологических исследований в России

The round table “Current State and Prospects of the Social and Market Research in Russia” was held April 4, 2014 as a part of the XV April International Academic Conference on Economic and Social Development, HSE (Moscow). Two main presentations were made by Sergey Protsenko (South-Russian Research Center “Factor”; Association of Regional Sociological Centers “Group 7/89”) and Andrey Yakovlev (Institute for Industrial and Market Studies, HSE; Association of Russian Economic Think Tanks (ARETT)). The round table chaired by Alexander Chepurenko (dean of the Faculty of Sociology, HSE) was also attended by Vasily Tokarev (Center “ANALYST”, Volgograd), Vladimir Zvonovsky (Social surveys fund, Samara), Alexander Demidov (GFK, Moscow), Oleg Dembo (“O+K”, international research association ESOMAR, St. Petersburg), Igor Zadorin (ZIRCON, Moscow), Stepan Lvov (Russian Public Opinion Research Center, Moscow), Vadim Radaev (Laboratory for Studies in Economic Sociology, HSE, Moscow), etc. The main subject of the round table was the changes in the structure and development trends in the Russian sociological research market. Paradoxically, today sociological research industry in Russia remains poorly studied, despite the fact that its members are engaged in active exploration of other markets and services. As Alexander Chepurenko noted “The cobbler always wears the worst shoes.” This statement perfectly reflects the current situation of Russian sociologists who have little to say about the market size and the composition of members as well as about the general idea of the major problems faced by Russian research companies nowadays. The article represents the current state and main types of participants of Russian market for sociological research, describes the main trends as well as the key issues, challenges and solutions in the industry and provides the market prospects in the near future.

Экспедиционный проект ВЦИОМа

Экспедиционный проект ВЦИОМа

Нанотехнологические риски и их восприятие обществом

The development and implementation of modern and innovative products are not always considered humanitarian risks that leads to the categorical rejection of certain technologies, entire areas of scientific knowledge, to the freezing of large-scale projects (nuclear physics after the accidents at nuclear reactors in Ukraine and Japan, genetic engineering, etc.). In the context of attention to environmental issues and discussion of the negative effects of the existing technological processes for the environment were inevitable issues in the agenda the question of the possible risks of using products developed with the use of nanotechnology. Social and humanitarian analysis of technological risks abroad is an important area of the research. In this paper we consider the process of formation of this research (in the context of the development of nanotechnology), and discuss the sociological aspects of the problem. Analysis of the data of sociological research, conducted by Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) in 2014, allowed us to estimate the level of understanding of the content of the Russian nanotechnological processes, and to identify dominant in the public consciousness fears and expectations associated with the development of nanotechnologies in Russia. The study showed the presence of sustained high interest of general public in the topic of nanotechnology.

Сберегательное поведение населения в нестабильных социально-экономических условиях

The article deals with some peculiarities of the saving behavior of the Russian population in terms of socio-economic instability. The materials of socio-economic monitoring of Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) are analyzed. The article focuses on the types of savings behavior of the population in conditions of crisis of 2008‑2009.