Politically charged criticism over public opinion surveys was not productive; Russians tend to trust in the social research data rather than their reviewers.
MOSCOW, February 4, 2016. Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM) presents the results of the survey devoted to the Russian attitudes towards public opinion polls – whether they trust them, and whether they think they are necessary.
Trust in public opinion surveys’ results has been stable over the recent ten years (it has not dropped below 66% over a decade). In 2015-201, the share of Russians who consider that surveys re the mirror of public opinion and mood makes up 71-70%. Twenty-three percent of Russians does not agree with this statement (most of them are supporters of non-parliamentary parties).
An overwhelming majority of Russians believe that surveys are needed: 84% say that public opinion polls are necessary (69% in 2013). Only 10% see no need in surveys.
At the same time, strong support and trust in public opinion polls are a regular trend rather than an effect of resonant surveys. Three-quarters of Russians (76%) fail to recall any topic of a survey. Those who gave informative responses cited a new year poll conducted in Crimea (6%). A further 6% mentioned political topics; 3% - social issues.
The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted on January 16-17, 2016. A total of 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 settlements in 46 regions and republics of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.5%.
In your opinion, do the results of the public opinion surveys reflect the actual public views? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||||||
| 2005 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2012 | 2013 | 2015 | 2016 |
Definitely yes | 25 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 29 | 20 |
Likely yes | 51 | 55 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 51 | 42 | 50 |
Likely not | 12 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 21 | 15 | 16 | 16 |
Definitely not | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 |
Don’t know | 10 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 15 | 6 | 7 |
Today many public opinion surveys on different issues are being conducted. In your opinion, are the public opinion surveys needed? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||||
| 2005 | 2008 | 2012 | 2013 | 2015 | 2016 |
Definitely yes | 38 | 24 | 27 | 23 | 44 | 36 |
Likely yes | 47 | 52 | 44 | 46 | 40 | 48 |
Likely not | 7 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 6 |
Definitely not | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
Don’t know | 7 | 14 | 15 | 19 | 4 | 6 |
Can you remember any survey that you heard of, read about or saw? What was it about? (open-ended question m any number of answers; responses mentioned by at least 1% of respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Survey conducted in Crimea | 6 |
On politics | 6 |
About life of Russians/social issues | 3 |
Marketing research (clothes, mobile communications, cosmetics, medicine, foods, et cet.) | 2 |
About elections | 1 |
Census | 1 |
Education and health care | 1 |
Housing conditions and utilities’ tariffs | 1 |
Other | 3 |
Don’t know | 76 |
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.