The Sputnik survey launched by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center is the first daily omnibus survey in the Russian history; it allows to get the Russian opinion on topical issues in the shortest time possible.

MOSCOW, January 16, 2017. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) launched a new research project titled “Sputnik” which is the first in the Russian history to track public opinion on a daily and regular basis.  The Sputnik survey provides fast answers from the Russian population to the vital questions related to political, economic, social and international agenda.

The Sputnik survey is carried out through the CATI in at least 80 Russia’s regions using the random sample classical technique. We survey 600 respondents every day, 4200 respondents every week and 16 800 respondents every month across all Russian regions, with a total of 200 000 Russians polled yearly.

This technique allows to measure public opinion on any issue in a prompt manner; the sample size over a three-day period makes up 1800 respondents which is enough to decrease the margin of error from 3.5% (n=1600) to 2.5%, thus increasing the data accuracy.

Apart from Russia, daily omnibus surveys are carried out only in the U.S.A. (Gallup) and Great Britain (YouGov). Other Russian research companies conduct either weekly or monthly surveys.  

“Sputnik’ is an omnibus-type survey.  It means that all the survey questionnaires include various topics (politics, economy, marketing and social agenda). Certain questions may be asked regularly (daily, monthly, quarterly, yearly) such as our “crisis monitoring” that tracks changes in the consumer behavior of Russians as well as their social well-being.

The new format opens unique opportunities due to its flexibility. The VCIOM sample and reliable technique allow to start the survey on any day of the week and to obtain data within two or three days that can be generalized to all the country’s population. “Sputnik” helps people to express their opinion, helps the authorities to better understand public needs and improve policies with regard to the requirements and expectations and provides the businesses with the data across a wide range of issues.