Social Survey Research Articles

Preferences for Redistribution: Two Decades of Gender Gaps and Generational Differences in Europe

Abstract We provide a concise overview of the literature concerning the factors influencing preferences for redistribution, with particular attention to works that have integrated considerations of gender and/or cohort heterogeneity into their analyses. We then present a series of stylized facts on preferences for redistribution based on data from the European Social Survey for a wide array of European countries over the period spanning from 2002 to 2022. We document that, since 2002, the average preferences for redistribution have increased. While the gender gap has remained substantially unchanged, the generational gap has widened over time. Distinguishing women and men by a set of individual characteristics, instead, there exists a not negligible heterogeneity both ‘between’ and ‘within’ women and men. At the country level, the overall gender gap in preferences for redistribution increases as the country’s per capita income or gender equality increase. Conversely, the gender gap decreases in more income, unequal, and religious countries. Finally, looking at the two exogenous shocks, that is, the 2008 financial and economic crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic, we observe that average individual attitudes towards redistribution react to both events but in a surprisingly opposite way, with a relevant heterogeneity across different sub-groups of women and men.

Research on the Sheepskin Effect in China: Factors Influencing Educational Returns and Heterogeneity Analysis

Using sample data from the China General Social Survey (CGSS2021), this study employs econometric methods based on the basic cost-benefit economics perspective. It investigates the relationship between educational investment and labor income in China in recent years, utilizing the Mincer earnings model as well as an extended model incorporating additional control variables. An Ologit model is constructed to analyze the impact of gender, ethnicity, family economic status, and regional registration on educational attainment among the sample population. Furthermore, the study compares educational returns across different genders, regions, workplaces, and job positions. Finally, based on empirical analysis, suggestions are proposed to enhance individual income levels and optimize the allocation of social educational resources from both individual and environmental perspectives.

Role of multiple energy sources under carbon neturality goals, income and energy consumption in transition economies: A joint case study between China and Uzbekistan

This study critically reviews policies addressing the role of multiple energy sources in achieving carbon neutrality goals, with a focus on income and energy consumption in transition economies, specifically China and Uzbekistan. As both nations undergo significant economic transitions, their energy consumption patterns are evolving in response to modernization and policy changes. Utilizing data from 2012 to 2022, this study examines the consumption of various energy sources, including coal, wood, electricity, and liquefied natural gas (LNG), within the context of these countries' carbon neutrality objectives. Our findings reveal that income levels significantly influence energy consumption behaviors, with low- and high-income households in both China and Uzbekistan exhibiting distinct preferences for energy sources. The study integrates social survey data, economic variables, and policy analysis to explore how energy consumption is shaped by income disparities, fluctuating prices, and environmental goals. By drawing on historical contexts and previous scholarly works, this research provides a comprehensive understanding of the complex interplay between income, energy use, and policy in transition economies. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers aiming to develop sustainable energy strategies that align with carbon neutrality goals while addressing the unique challenges of income disparity and energy consumption in China and Uzbekistan.

Informal employment and subjective well-being in urban China: do employment sector and working time flexibility matter?

PurposeThis paper tests if there exists a subjective well-being gap between informal workers in the informal and formal sectors in urban China, and explores the mechanisms behind such differences.Design/methodology/approachThe author develops a simple theoretical model to analyze the effects of the employment sector and work time flexibility on workers' happiness and conducts a descriptive study to examine the relationship between employment type and subjective well-being using the China General Social Survey (CGSS) 2010, 2013, 2015 and 2017 datasets, a nationally representative sample.FindingsThe results show that only dependent informal work in the formal sector impairs workers' happiness, while the effect of independent informal work is not statistically significant. The potential mechanisms suggest that independent informal workers have higher working time flexibility and can work more hours to increase their earnings, which increases their subjective well-being. However, it is difficult for dependent informal workers to earn more by working more hours due to poor working time flexibility.Originality/valueThis study indicates that informal workers in the formal sector have lower subjective well-being in urban China and deserve more attention from policymakers. The author also suggests that increasing working time flexibility and encouraging self-employment can contribute to the welfare of informal workers.

Effects of Social Isolation and Loneliness on Heart Failure Self-care: A Cross-sectional Analysis.

Patients with heart failure (HF) who engage in effective HF self-care have better quality of life, and lower risks of all-cause and HF-related hospital readmission and mortality. It is unclear whether social isolation and loneliness, which are prevalent among patients with HF and known to affect other self-care behaviors, can predict HF self-care. The aim was to explore the relationship between social isolation, loneliness, and HF self-care. This was a cross-sectional secondary analysis (n = 49) of the GEtting iNTo Light Exercise for HF randomized controlled trial, a 6-month home-based live group gentle exercise intervention for patients with HF. Measures included the following: 6-item Lubben Social Network Scale for social isolation, Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Social Isolation survey for loneliness, Self-Care of Heart Failure Index, and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Depression survey. Multiple linear regression modeling was used to examine the relationships of 4 HF self-care processes to social isolation and loneliness, adjusting for depression and grouping (control group or intervention group). Scores indicating less social isolation predicted higher self-care maintenance (B = 0.937, P = .015), monitoring (B = 0.799, P = .041), and management (B = 1.812, P < .001). Loneliness did not predict HF self-care. To our knowledge, this is the first study to predict HF self-care using distinct measures for social isolation and loneliness. Patients who were less socially isolated engaged in better HF self-care; loneliness had no relationship with HF self-care. Prospective studies are needed to investigate causal relationships between social isolation and HF-self-care engagement to determine the effect on outcomes such as hospital readmission and mortality.

Unequal Autonomy: An Investigation of Individual and Societal Determinants of Individuals’ Sense of Autonomy in Europe

ABSTRACT This paper explores the social structure of individual autonomy in Europe. Drawing on the capability approach and human empowerment theory, it investigates how individuals’ sense of autonomy is structured by individual means and conversion factors as well as economic, cultural, and institutional context conditions. Using data from the European Social Survey and the European Quality of Life Survey, these relationships are analyzed for 107,070 individuals in 18 European countries and four points in time between 2006 and 2016. Multilevel analyses reveal financial security, health, and social connectedness as the most important drivers of individuals’ sense of autonomy. On the macro level, national wealth, civil liberties, and an emancipative value climate are all found to be positively linked to individuals’ sense of autonomy, albeit weakly. Considering the value individuals attach to leading an autonomous life and the beneficial effects autonomy has been shown to have on people’s well-being, these findings shed first light on the unequal distribution of autonomy and autonomy resources on the individual and macro levels. Concluding, the paper highlights the potential for future research and policy implications.

Drifting further apart? Europe's trends of urban-rural political polarisation should not be overstated

Urban-rural polarisation in political attitudes is widely argued to have become a distinctive feature of many Western democracies. Yet, have urban-rural gaps grown over time, as is often suggested? And, if so, do trends in this regard differ across countries? We address these questions leveraging individual-level data from over 300,000 respondents from the European Social Survey over the period 2002-2020 in 25 countries. Overall, we do find evidence of moderate divergence in outlooks between more urban and more rural publics, examining in particular trust towards the EU and views on migration. We also find that there is divergence in terms of feelings of trust in relation to the political system and levels of satisfaction with democracy since the early 2010s, most likely because of the financial and sovereign debt crises. But these gaps have significantly reduced more recently. Furthermore, trends are heterogenous across countries. Overall, this paper demonstrates that value polarisation along the urban density divide should not be over emphasised as divergence between urban and rural Europe is more moderate than in the US, and very issue-based and country-specific.

Strategic relocation and sustainable redevelopment of Ain El-Sira: A comprehensive approach to slum improvement in Egypt

This study takes a close look at slum areas in Egypt, focusing specifically on Ain El-Sira. According to the Informal Settlements Development Fund (ISDF), slums are classified into unplanned and unsafe areas. Ain El-Sira is identified as an unsafe slum area, demanding relocation due to its risky living conditions. The aim of this research is to develop a comprehensive and sustainable relocation strategy for Ain El-Sira residents. The study includes detailed social and urban surveys to understand the needs of the community. Utilizing SWOT analysis and a TWOS matrix, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of relocating Ain El-Sira residents are evaluated. Three potential relocation sites are examined for their advantages and disadvantages, considering factors such as infrastructure, accessibility, and social impact. After a thorough analysis of these sites, the best site is chosen and designed through three master plan alternatives incorporating active, passive, and traditional techniques. The key findings of these alternatives were assessed to provide a balanced approach to improving living conditions and ensuring sustainability for Ain El-Sira residents. The main problem is identifying a suitable relocation site that meets the residents' needs and offers long-term benefits. This study contributes to the field of urban redevelopment both theoretically and practically by providing a strategic framework for slum relocation and redevelopment. The findings underscore the importance of integrating diverse architectural techniques to create a master plan that addresses immediate needs while promoting sustainable, long-term urban development.

Role of Social Infrastructure in Social Isolation within Urban Communities

Social isolation is a global problem with far-reaching consequences. Nevertheless, various solutions can address it. Building social infrastructure is important for preventing isolation. In this study, we aimed to understand the impact of urban infrastructure on social isolation using social surveys and statistical data from South Korea. A multilevel logistic model identified the infrastructure characteristics required to solve social isolation by adding regional-level data to individual-level data. The analysis showed that, at the individual level, gender, age, marital status, and household income were significant, whereas at the regional level, the ratio of single-person households, access to traditional markets, and the capital region status areas were significant. The findings suggest that social infrastructure can impact social isolation. Hence, it is important to plan urban spaces and design infrastructure to help alleviate social isolation.

Water Management in Hariwan Municipality of Nepal: Groundwater Harvesting from Riverbeds and Aquifers

Most of the regions of the Siwalik and Northern Terai (Bhabar) have a scarcity of water due to the water level beyond the suction limit of ordinary centrifugal pumping. In the present study, the Lakhandehi River section in the Sarlahi district is selected for shallow aquifer prospecting. The objective of this study was to assess potential zones of shallow aquifers including riverbeds. It was also aimed to assess the status of the existing subsurface water conditions, and distribution system, and find out suitable locations for groundwater harvesting and uses. The methodological part of the present study covers the field data collection and finding the appropriate shallow aquifer for groundwater extraction. In the field study, both the geological as well as hydrogeological maps were prepared on a 1:25,000 scale to assess the aquifer condition. A social survey was also carried out to find the most water scarcity areas and water availability conditions in the region. The main water scarcity area is found in the Hariwan Municipality, around the northern part of Bhabar and the southernmost region of the Chure region. The water insufficiency area for the present study was found in the places like Hariyon Khola section (Dumrighari), Sano Dume and Dume Khola sections (Samari Bhanjyang), Kothi Khola section (Kothikholagaun), and Attrauli Khola section (Atrauli village) of Hariwan Municipality due to the presence of impermeable layers in shallow depth. The concept of the development of swamp wells by retaining the groundwater flow from the shallow depth of the river channel is proposed in areas like the Samari Bhanjyang and Atrauli villages. Similarly, the development of shallow wells is proposed for the other two regions. To ensure a cost-effective water supply to the communities, it is advisable to implement a water lifting system to elevate the reservoir, followed by gravity-flow distribution.

Racial Composition of Social Environments Over the Life Course Using the Pictorial Racial Composition Measure: Development and Validation Study.

Studies investigating the impact of racial segregation on health have reported mixed findings and tended to focus on the racial composition of neighborhoods. These studies use varying racial composition measures, such as census data or investigator-adapted questions, which are currently limited to assessing one dimension of neighborhood racial composition. This study aims to develop and validate a novel racial segregation measure, the Pictorial Racial Composition Measure (PRCM). The PRCM is a 10-item questionnaire of pictures representing social environments across adolescence and adulthood: neighborhoods and blocks (adolescent and current), schools and classrooms (junior high and high school), workplace, and place of worship. Cognitive interviews (n=13) and surveys (N=549) were administered to medically underserved patients at a primary care clinic at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Development of the PRCM occurred across pilot and main phases. For each social environment and survey phase (pilot and main), we computed positive versus negative pairwise comparisons: mostly Black versus all other categories, half Black versus all other categories, and mostly White versus all other categories. We calculated the following validity metrics for each pairwise comparison: sensitivity, specificity, correct classification rate, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, false positive rate, and false negative rate. For each social environment, the mostly Black and mostly White dichotomizations generated better validity metrics relative to the half Black dichotomization. Across all 10 social environments in the pilot and main phases, mostly Black and mostly White dichotomizations exhibited a moderate-to-high sensitivity, specificity, correct classification rate, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. The positive likelihood ratio values were >1, and the negative likelihood ratio values were close to 0. The false positive and negative rates were low to moderate. These findings support that using either the mostly Black versus other categories or the mostly White versus other categories dichotomizations may provide accurate and reliable measures of racial composition across the 10 social environments. The PRCM can serve as a uniform measure across disciplines, capture multiple social environments over the life course, and be administered during one study visit. The PRCM also provides an added window into understanding how structural racism has impacted minoritized communities and may inform equitable intervention and prevention efforts to improve lives.

Thin or thick? Populist and radical right politics across European cities, suburbs, and countryside

The surge of populist and radical right phenomena reshaped European political geography. Yet the connections between places of residence and populist or radical right politics tended to be neglected until recently. This paper addresses the gap by exploring how residency relates to support for populism and the radical right in contemporary Europe. Focusing on the distinction between ‘cities’, ‘towns–suburbs’, and ‘countryside’, I conduct an individual-level investigation of populist and radical right votes and attitudes across different residential contexts. The analysis is based on European Social Survey data (2020–22) from 23 countries, in both Western (WE) and Central–Eastern (CEE) Europe. The key finding is that the cleavage between cities and suburban–rural areas is much more related to the thick ideological underpinnings of the radical right—authoritarianism and nativism—than the thin, purely populist, dimension. Nativism particularly is stronger the more rural the place of residence, irrespective of the individual’s socio-economic profile, political orientations, the extent to which their region is left-behind, and whether they live in WE or CEE. Hence, future research on the geographical polarization of politics may turn its attention to the radical right, more than to populism per se.

The impact of perceived walking environment on social support for older adults

The idea of new urbanism advocates for promoting social support, defined as the network of care or help a person receives from non-family members, by improving the walking environment and other components of new urbanism. However, the impact of the walking environment on social support, especially from the perspective of older adults’ perceptions, remains unclear. In a rapidly aging urban environment, the demand for walkable living spaces has increased among older adults. One typical measure of the walking environment, walking accessibility, often focuses on travel time and/or distance to different urban opportunities but ignores travelers’ subjective feelings and experiences about the walking environment. These subjective factors are important for policymakers to design, implement, and regulate appropriate plans and strategies to enhance social interaction among older adults at the community level. This study examines how, in the Chinese context, the perceived walking environment is associated with social support, mediated by walking time and perceived level of safety, using generalized structural equation models with data from the 2021 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS). The results show that, as compared to walking time, perceived safety is more likely to be influenced by the perceived walking environment, which positively correlates with social support. This suggests that older adults feel more socially supported by their neighbors when they perceive their living environment as safe and walkable. These findings provide new evidence for decision-makers to develop and implement targeted policies on walking accessibility for older adults with better understanding of the relationship between the perceived walking environment and social support.

Medical comorbidities and lower myelin content are associated with poor cognition in young adults with perinatally acquired HIV.

Approximately 40% of adults living with HIV experience cognitive deficits. Little is known about the risk factors for cognitive impairment and its association with myelin content in young adults living with perinatally acquired HIV (YApHIV), which is assessed in our cross-sectional study. A prospective, observational cohort study. All participants underwent an 11-test cognitive battery and completed medical and social history surveys. Cognitive impairment was defined as Z scores falling at least 1.5 SD below the mean in at least two domains. Twelve participants underwent myelin water imaging. Neuroimaging data were compared to age and sex-matched HIV-uninfected controls. Regression analyses were used to evaluate for risk factors of lower cognitive domain scores and association between myelin content and cognition in YApHIV. We enrolled 21 virally suppressed YApHIV across two sites in the United States. Ten participants (48%) met criteria for cognitive impairment. Participants with any non-HIV related medical comorbidity scored lower across multiple cognitive domains compared to participants without comorbidities. Myelin content did not differ between YApHIV and controls after adjusting for years of education. Lower cognitive scores were associated with lower myelin content in the cingulum and corticospinal tract in YApHIV participants after correcting for multiple comparisons. Poor cognition in YApHIV may be exacerbated by non-HIV related comorbidities as noted in older adults with horizontally acquired HIV. The corticospinal tract and cingulum may be vulnerable to the legacy effect of untreated HIV in infancy. Myelin content may be a marker of cognitive reserve in YApHIV.

What resources are needed for engaging in community coproduction? Evidence from China

This study uses data from the 2012 Chinese General Social Survey to examines what resources in the form of human, social, and cultural capital are needed for engaging in community coproduction. We find that, in terms of human capital, middle-income individuals are more likely to participate in community coproduction than lower-income and higher-income individuals; also, those with more education are more likely to participate in community coproduction. Regarding social capital, individuals who are more involved in community social networks and have higher levels of trust in their neighbors are more likely to engage in community coproduction. Finally, in terms of cultural capital, individuals with more community-centered values are more likely to participate in community coproduction. Implications for public management theory and practice are discussed.

Faculty members' perspectives on the influence of their students’ motivation to learn on their academic performance

The purpose of this study is to determine how students’ motivation for learning influences faculty members' academic performance. This study employed a comparative analytical descriptive methodology to ascertain the correlation between the academic performance of faculty members and the motivation of students to learn. The study's aims and research problem defined the targeted study population consisting of faculty members from many universities in the United Arab Emirates. We obtained the data using social survey method. Snowball sampling was used to select the study sample which consisted of 130 faculty members. Calculations were made for means, standard deviations, variance testing using the ANOVA test and a Pearson correlation coefficient. The findings showed a statistically significant correlation between faculty members' performance and students' motivation. According to the experience variable, the results showed statistically significant differences in the sample members' mean scores which were attributable to the impact of students' motivation on faculty members' performance. The findings showed that faculty members' performance is enhanced by the motivation of their students to learn. The recommendations stemming from this study advocate for several key actions to improve academic performance and foster a conducive learning environment. An important recommendation among them is the implementation of faculty-specific training programs regularly. One of the most important of these recommendations is the call for the implementation of regular training courses tailored for faculty members.

When legitimacy becomes the object of politics: the politicization of political support in European democracies

Democratic legitimacy is essential for democratic stability, as democracies rely on citizen support to survive. However, perceived legitimacy gaps can also be an important catalyst for change and potential democratic renewal, begging the question when challenges to legitimacy become problematic for democratic survival. Easton distinguished between citizen support for political authorities and the political system, and argued that if support for political authorities declined, such declining support could either be resolved by the current political authorities changing course, or by citizens electing new political authorities at the next elections. However, if dissatisfaction with political authorities would not be resolved, lacking support had the potential to eventually “spill-over” and undermine support for the political system as a whole. In most empirical research on legitimacy, the assumption is that such “spill-over” is visible only if declining levels of political trust and satisfaction with democracy start to undermine support for democracy as a political system. In this paper, we argue that “spill-over” can also manifest in a different way: through the politicization of political support. When politics is no longer (only) about substantive policy decisions, but rather (increasingly) about the system itself, agreement on the rules of the game, or even on democracy as “the only game in town”, is no longer self-evident. In this paper we further develop our theoretical argument about the connection between legitimacy and politicisation, and argue that European democracies appear to experience growing politicization of political support, in terms of the association of political support with citizens’ substantive issue positions and voting behaviour. The paper demonstrates empirical evidence of such politicization of political support in 17 European democracies with European Social Survey data from 2002–2022. The paper concludes by reflecting on the implications of the politicization of political support for democratic stability and renewal.

Quantitative assessment of urban sustainability perceptions in Lurin, Peru

In the current context, urban centres in Latin America are facing fundamental challenges in their endeavour for Sustainable Development. The focus of this study is the meticulous assessment of the perception of urban sustainability within the Lurín District of Peru. It introduces a system based on urban sustainability indicators, derived from social surveys and implements this system through linear regression models to discern their interrelations. The objective of the research is to quantify and evaluate essential elements linked to the management of natural resources, air and water quality, the advancement of sustainable mobility, education and the well-being of urban residents. By delineating these mathematical and statistical correlations amongst variables pertinent to urban sustainability, this study provides a robust framework for quantitative decision-making in the urban sphere. A methodology for the development of univariable and multivariable models has been demonstrated. Amongst the most important findings, it has been discovered that the variable Environmental Education System (SEA) is perceived as the least important and even negligible within the multivariable models. However, we believe this effect occurs because the impacts of education are perceived in the long term. This article contributes significantly to the academic discourse by providing a more nuanced understanding of the social perception of urban sustainability and its influence on policy formulation and decision-making processes in Latin America.

A novel CFA + EFA model to detect aberrant respondents

Abstract Aberrant respondents are common but yet extremely detrimental to the quality of social surveys or questionnaires. Recently, factor mixture models (FMMs) have been employed to identify individuals providing deceptive or careless responses. We propose a comprehensive FMM for continuous outcomes that combines confirmatory and exploratory factor models to classify both the nonaberrant and aberrant respondents. The flexibility of the proposed classification model allows for the identification of two of the most common aberrant response styles, namely faking and careless responding. We validated our approach by means of two simulations and two case studies. The results indicate the effectiveness of the proposed model in dealing with aberrant responses in social and behavioural surveys.

Linking Survey and LinkedIn Data: Understanding Usage and Consent Patterns

Abstract Linking social media and survey data allows researchers to create novel metrics, track survey respondents longitudinally, and capture real-time intricate data. LinkedIn is a social networking platform with a strong emphasis on employment and business interactions which has not been explored in a survey data linkage context previously. Using a nationally representative panel survey, we explore the feasibility of linking survey and LinkedIn data. Our analysis focuses first on understanding the demographic profile of LinkedIn users in the UK, as understanding this context shows the coverage of who can be asked to consent. We then explore consent outcomes, assessing the impact of question placement and wording on participants’ willingness to link data, and identifying other factors associated with LinkedIn consent. Our findings reveal that a notable proportion of respondents have a LinkedIn account, indicating a higher usage rate compared to previous research. Employment status, education level, and income are key determinants of having a LinkedIn account. Unlike previous studies, consent placement and wording does not have a significant influence on participants’ willingness to link LinkedIn and survey data. However, social media posting frequency and possessing a university degree are associated with higher consent rates. Although LinkedIn users differ on certain demographic characteristics, the platform’s unique focus on professional networking and career-related activities presents valuable opportunities for investigating employment and economic outcomes.