Russians prefer answering census questions at home. Those who refuse to participate in population census do so because its purpose is not clear to them.
MOSCOW, October 25, 2010. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing what type of participation in the population census Russians opt for, and what the basic reason for Russians` refusal to participate in the census is.
As before, Russians prefer private conversation with census taker as a type of participation in the census (92%). Rarer Russians prefer calling special phone for reporting information about themselves (51%), or going to special enumeration point (50%); both types of answers have got less attractive over the recent eight years (in 2002 - 67 and 65% respectively).
Russians with high level of education more often than others would like to answer the questions via phone (50%) or go to special enumeration point (54%).
Least prepared are Muscovites and St.Petersburgians. Most of them are not planning to answer the questions at home (18%), take part in the census via phone (34%) or to go to special enumeration point (39%).
The main reason why Russians are not willing to take part in the population census is that they do not understand its purpose (57%). Rarer Russians point out that all the information can be taken from other sources (16%), or are afraid that the information will be used against them (14%). Nevertheless, 11% of respondents think that it is all about wasting of money.
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on October 16-17, 2010. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 138 sampling points in 46 regions of Russia. The margin oferror does not exceed 3.4%.
Will you answer the question of the census takers ... | |||
| 2002 | 2010 | |
When they come to your place | Definitely yes | 73 | 71 |
Rather yes | 21 | 21 | |
Rather no | 3 | 3 | |
Definitely no | 2 | 2 | |
Hard to tell | 2 | 3 | |
Via phone (for elderly and disabled persons) | Definitely yes | 37 | 33 |
Rather yes | 30 | 18 | |
Rather no | 19 | 14 | |
Definitely no | 9 | 12 | |
Hard to tell | 5 | 22 | |
At special enumeration point | Definitely yes | 34 | 32 |
Rather yes | 31 | 18 | |
Rather no | 19 | 15 | |
Definitely no | 11 | 18 | |
Hard to tell | 5 | 17 | |
If you are not willing to take part in the population census, could you tell us why? % of those who refuse to take part in the census by using one of the methods mentioned above) | |
I do not understand what it is for | 57 |
All the information about me can be found in other sources | 16 |
I am afraid the information can be used against me; I do not want to provide this information | 14 |
I think the population census is all about wasting of money | 11 |
Other | 3 |
Hard to tell | 5 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!