Comparative Survey Programs (Handbook supplement)

This webpage was developed to complement:

The SAGE Handbook of
Public Opinion Research
Edited by Wolfgang Donsbach
and Michael W. Traugott

A Tabular History of Comparative Survey Research

Overview¹ of cross-national survey programmes and important singular comparative studies with focus on individual level population samples²

Start

Survey Series

Countries
(ISO 2)

Period/Type

Method(s)

Universe/Sample

Topic(s)

P.I. / Funding

Access

Special Products/Services

1948

How Nations see Each Other

AU, GB, FR, DE, IT, NL, NO, MX, US

1948/1949; singular

n/a

Pop 21+; n=1000
(MX: urban pop; DE: Berlin n= 644/430 and British zone n= 3371)

International understanding and concepts of own and other nations’ characteristics

William Buchanan and Hadley Cantril; UNESCO

data not archived

Publication: Buchanan, W., Cantril, H. (1953): How Nations See Each Other. A Study in Public Opinion. University of Illinois Press (incl. project description, results, methodological information, questionnaires)

1952

USIA -
International Relations
USIA XX Surveys

DE, GB, FR, IT

1955, 1956, 1957, 1962, 1964, 1969;
DE: 1952-1992;
irregular (in total about 65 surveys plus about 90 German surveys)

Multistage random sampling;
face to face interviews

Pop 21+

Security policy, international politics, foreign policy, arms control, evaluation of American and Soviet policy

United States Information Agency;
Ex-post integration: ESF, ZA, Roper Center, Fritz Thyssen Foundation, Inst. for Political Science II, University Bamberg

Data Archives: Roper Center, ZA

Integrated comparative data sets;
data base tool for German data with documentation retrieval and analysis functionalities
(ZA Codebook Explorer);
R. L. Merritt, The USIA Surveys, In: R. L. Merritt, D. J. Puchala (eds.), Western European Perspectives on International Affairs. Public Opinion Studies and Evaluations. Frederick A. Praeger, New York, 1968, pp. 3-31.

1956

International stratification, mobility and politics file (ISMP)

AU, AT, BE, CA, DK, GB, FI, FR, DE, IR, IT, US, NL, NO, SE, CH

1956-1991;
113 independent national surveys;
ex-post harmonisation

Survey specific

General population samples

Intergenerational occupational mobility, political behaviour ( party preferences)

Harry B.G. Ganzeboom, Paul Nieuwbeerta;
Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research NOW

Data Archives:
DANS;
consultation of the principal investigator required

merged extract data set, detailed description of variable standardisation

1957

Pattern of Human Concerns Data

BR, CU, DO, IN, IL, NG, PA, US, DE, YU, EG*, JP*, PH*, PL*

1957-1963;
Data collection at different time points by country;
two waves in IN, IL

Representa-tiveness varies by country;
personal interviews

Pop 18+;
n= 500 – 2300

Hopes and fears for self and the nation (subjective ratings and perceptions)

Hadley Cantril

Data Archives: ICPSR (* data not available)

Codebooks

1959

Civic Culture Survey

DE, IT, GB, MX, US

1959/1960;
singular

Face to face interviews

Pop 18+;
n=1000

basic political attitudes with emphasis on political partisanship, political socialization, and attitudes toward specific institutions and the political system

Gabriel Almond and Sidney Verba

Data Archives: ICPSR

Integrated data set;
G. A. Almond, S. Verba, The Civic Culture. Political Attitudes and Democracy in Five Nations. Princeton University Press, Princeton, N. J., 1963.

1962

Attitudes towards Europe

FR, BE, NL, DE, LU

1962;
singular;
Eurobarometer forerunner

Random and quota sampling

Pop 20+;
n= 200-1500

Attitudes towards European unification and institutions

Press and Information Service of the European Communities (EC)

Data Archives:
ZA

Country data sets, integrated data set, bilingual codebook German/English

1963

Political Participation
An International Social Science Council (ISSC) Workbook in Comparative Analysis

JP, NL, NO, GB, US, AU, CA, DE

1963-1972;
based on independent national election studies

n/a

Eligible voting age population

Political attitudes and behaviour, political culture, political participation

H.A. Asher, B.M. Richardson, H.F. Weisberg et.al.;
ISSC, UNESCO; ICPSR, NSD, ZA, the Inst. of Publ. Affairs, Dalhousie University (Halifax)

Data Archives:
ICPSR, ZA

ISSC Workbook, codebook, instructional data sets

1965

Multinational Time Budget Study

DE, DD, BG, CS, HU, YU, BE, FR, US, PL, PE, SU*

*only MRA

1965/1966;
singular

Two-step random sampling;
interviews plus self-recorded diary

(Sub-)Urban pop 18-65;
n=800-2000

Time budget (daily activities): working time, domestic work, child care, purchasing goods and services, education and training, civic participation, entertainment, social life, passive leisure, primary activities

A. Szalai
Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest;
Phillip J.Stone, Ph.J. Stone, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
(MRA)

multi-institutional funding

Data Archives:
ZA, Murray Research Archive (MRA)

Integrated data set,
ISSC Workbook with training data set (ZA);
A. Szalai, E. K. Scheuch, The Organizational History of the Multinational Comparative Time-Budget Research Project, In: A. Szalai (ed.), The Use of Time. Daily Activities of Urban and Suburban Populations in Twelve Countries. Mouton, The Hague, Paris, 1972, pp. 15-29;
gateway to replications of this classic comparative study and to related research: Multinational Time Use Study (MTUS)

1966

Political Participation and Equality in Seven Nations

AT, IN, JP, NL, NG, US, YU

1966-1971;
singular;
data collection at different dates by country

Multistage probability sampling varied by country
(US: multi-staged area probability sample with block quota techniques for final selection);
face-to-face interviews

universe varying by country (nation or sub-national regions);
n=1800-3000

Political participation in local and national affairs, attitudes towards political and social changes, interest in the political process

Sidney Verba,
Norman H. Nie,
Jae-On Kim;
NSF, Ford Foundation, Carnegie Corporation

Data Archives:
ICPSR

country datasets and comparative cross-national dataset, codebooks

1967

Images of the World in the Year 2000

GB, CZ, ES, NL, NO, YU, FI, PL, IN, JP,
DE

1967-1970;
singular;
data collection at different dates by country

Quota sampling; face-to-face interviews

Pop 15-40; n=500-1800;
(elite sample in North India, n=300; additional university student sample for GB, n=334)

Attitudes towards the future and expected political, social and technical development, social mobility

Johan Galtung et.al.;
International Peace Research Institute, Oslo; European Coordination Centre for Research and Documentation in the Social Sciences, Vienna; country agencies

Data Archives:
UK-DA, ZA

11+2 country datasets

1969

Reader’s Digest EURODATA -
The Reader’s Digest Survey of Europe Today

EC:
DE, IT, GB, FR, ES, NL, BE, PT, GR, DK, IE, LU
EFTA:
SE, AT, CH, FI, NO

1969 and 1990;
twice (GR only in 1990);
forerunner 1963 in seven countries: “Products and People”

Sampling varied by country; face-to-face interviews

Pop 18+;
n= 500-2200

Life styles, consumer habits, well-being, socio cultural attitudes (work ethic, family relationships, social tolerance), attitudes on Europe

Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.

Data Archives:
UK-DA, DANS, ZA

1963/1969: country datasets;
1990: integrated dataset and tabular report

1970

European Communities Study

Standard Eurobarometer

European Commission

Archive Website

European Communities / European Union countries at times

1970: BE, DE, FR, GB, IT, NL
1973: DK, IE, LU
1975: Norther Ireland
1980: GR
1985: ES, PT
1990: DE_W, DE_E, NO*
1994: AU, FI, SE
2004: CY, CZ, EE, HU, LV, LT, MT, PL, SI, SK, BG*, RO*, HR*, TR*, CY_TR*
2007: MK*

*included in selected waves

ECS:
1970, 1971, 1973
EB:
1974 ff.;
bi-annual,
additional topical surveys

Multistage random route probability sampling;
country spec. variations including quota sampling up to 1989 (EB31);
face to face interviews

Cit 15+;
n=1000

LU: 500
NIRL: 300
MT: 500
CY: 500

Special youth and elderly sample in selected waves

Base instrument:
Monitoring the public opinion on European integration, institutions and politics, socio-political attitudes;
changing topical modules:
...

European Commission,
Directorate-General X, Public Opinion Surveys and Research Unit (until 1999),
DG Education and Culture, Citizens' Center - Analysis of Public Opinion (2000),
DG Communication - Public Opinion Analysis Sector

Data Archives:
ICPSR, ZA
(temporary embargos, max. two years)

Integrated datasets and codebooks;
cumulative trendfile for selected standard trends and codebook;
ZACAT online access under development;
European Comission reports

1971

The European Voter

DK, DE, GB, NL, NO, SE

1971-1998
1961-1998
1964-2001
1971-1998
1965-1997
1956-1998;
ex-post harmonisation based on 68 national election study subsets

Representative samples according to the respective election study

Pop voting age;
n=1000-4000

Electoral changes:
political interest and involvement, variables regarding parties, party and party leaders sympathy, political participation, left right positions, economy, values and ideology, national issues and voting, occupation and class

Committee for Research into Elections and Representative Democracy (ICORE);
national academic research institutes

Data Archives:
ZA (including access to the complete base studies)

Cumulative data sets;
integrated data base tool for data and documentation retrieval and analysis (ZA CodebookExplorer);
ICORE Inventory of National Election (Mochmann/ Oedegaard/Mauer, ZA,1995);
Thomassen, Jacques (ed.): The European Voter, Oxford University Press, 2005

1972

Scandinavian Welfare Survey

DK, FI, NO,
SE

1972;
singular

Multistage random sampling; face-to-face interview

Pop 15-64;
n=1000

Living situation and quality of life, including social and political participation

Erik Allardt and the Research Group
for Comparative Sociology;
National Research Councils

Data Archives:
DDA

Integrated data set, codebook

1972

USIA World Survey 5-B
Post-China-Visit-Study

DE, GB, FR, JP, PH, AU, IT

1972;
singular

Face to face interviews

Pop 18+

Attitudes towards national and international affaires

United States Information Agency

Data Archives:
ZA

1973

Political Action I/II

GB, DE, NL, AT, US, IT, CH, FI

1973/1981;
twice plus panel;
panel and replication only DE, NL, US

Multistage random sampling plus parent-child pairs (country specific variations);
face to face interviews

Pop 16+
n= 1200-1800 (+200);
panel retention 40-65%

Extent and form of political participation, political orientation, post materialism, social and political attitudes and life satisfaction

Klaus Allerbeck, Max Kaase, Hans-Dieter Klingemann et.al.;
DFG, NSF, Volkswagen Foundation, Tilburg University

Data Archives:
ZA

Integrated data sets, codebooks;
ISSC Workbook Social Mobility with instructional data set;
S. H. Barnes, M. Kaase et al., Political Action. Mass Participation in Five Western Democracies. Sage, Beverly Hills, London, 1979.

1979

The Luxembourg Income Study (LIS)

30 countries

AU, AT, BE, CA CZ, DK, EE, FI, FR, DE, GR, HU, IE, IL, IT*, JP*, KO, LU, MX, NL, NO, PL, RO, RU, SK, SI, ES, SE, CH, TW, UK, US

* planned for wave IV (2004/2005)

1979 ff., almost quinquennial; exact year, starting point and intervals depending on country;
historical data bases 1967 ff.; project established in 1983

National income surveys, microcensus, household surveys or panels

households and their members

Income, demographic, labour market and expenditure information on three levels: household, person, child

Membership based, non-profit cooperative research project; mainly funded by the national science and social science research foundations of its member countries; partnership with the University of Luxembourg.

No direct access to micro data for data security reasons; requested statistics are provided via e-mail; user registration and with use commitment; free in member countries; commercial use strictly forbidden

Micro data harmonized and standardized for comparative research

1979

European Election Studies

European Union member countries at times:

BE, DE, FR, GB, IT, NL, DK, IE, LU, GR, ES, PT, DE, AU, FI, SE

1979 ff.;
quinquennial;
until 1994 in the context of the Eurobarometer

Face to face; CATI

EU citiz. 15+
n=1000 (EB);
EU citiz 18+
n=300 + (proportional to country size)

Electoral mobilisation, political legitimacy, representation, and communication in the EU (base instrument with modifications)

Cees van der Eijk, Mark Franklin, Michael Marsh, Hermann Schmitt et.al. (EES-Group);
mixed funding: Volkswagen, EC, EP, ECF, DFG, PI home institutions

Data Archives:
ZA, DANS and PIs

Integrated and cumulative data sets for pre- and post election surveys; content analysis of party manifestos and newspapers; target group surveys (European Candidates 1994, Members of the European Parliament 1996)

1980

Cross-National Equivalent File

GB, US, CA,
DE

annual household panels;
BHPS: 1991-2002
PSID: 1980-1997 1999, 2002;
SLID:
1993-2002
GSOEP: 1984-2003;
ex-post harmonisation

Face-to-face, paper-and-pencil (mixed methodology)

Individuals and households;
BHPS: 21,000/ 6,000
PSDI:
33,000/ 7,000
SLID:
95,000/ 32.000
GSOEP 20,000/ 6.000

Household composition, employment, earnings, health indicators

Department of Policy Analysis and Management at Cornell University, Ithaca, in cooperation with national data producers;
with funds from the National Institute on Aging Program Project

Access to anonymous micro data is provided free of charge to universities and research centers by the original data producers; use of the data is subject to special regulations

Comparative household panel data set based on subsets of:
Panel Study of Income Dynamics PSID, German Socio-Economic Panel GSOEP, the British Household Panel Study BHPS, and the Canadian Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics SLID.

1981

World Values Survey
WVS

European Values Study
EVS

Approx. 80% of the world population:

Africa:
DZ, CD, EG, GH, MA, NG, ZA, TZ
Asia:
AM, AZ, BD, CN, GE, IN, ID, IR, IL, JP, JO, PK, KR, TW, VN
Australia:
AU, NZ
N-America:
CA, DO, SV, MX, PR, US
S-America:
AR, BR, CL, CO, PE, UY, VE
Europe:
AT, BY, BE, BG, HR, CZ, DK, EE, FI, FR, DE, GB/NIRL, GR, HU, IS, IE, IT, LV, LT, LU, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RU, SK, SI, ES, SE, CH, CS, TR, UA;
WVS 1995: AL, BA, MK, MD

WVS/EVS
1981-82, 1990-91,
1999-2002
WVS: 1995-97;
almost decennial

Random and quota sampling (partial under-sampling);
Face to face interviews

Pop 18+;
n=300-4000

Moral, religious, societal, political, economic and social attitudes, goals, beliefs and values;
importance of leisure time, politics, religion, work, family, friends; morals and sexuality

World Values Survey Association;
European Values Study Foundation;
social scientists networks with local funding

Data Archives:
ICPSR, ZA, DANS

EVS online analysis and download via ZACAT

EVS/WVS online anylysis via JD System at ASEP-JDS

WVS:
integrated and cumulative data sets with online analysis facility, data source books;
R. Inglehart, Modernization and Postmodernization. Cultural, Economic and Political Change in 43 Societies. Princeton, N. J., 1997 - P. Ester, L. Halman, R. de Moor (eds.), The Individualizing Society. Value Change in Europe and North America. Tilburg University Press, Tilburg, 1993.

EVS 1999/2000:
integrated data base tool for data and documentation retrieval and analysis (ZA CodebookExplorer), data source book

1985

International Social Survey Program

Project website

Archive website

AU, AT, BR, BG, CA, CL, CY, CZ, DK, FI, BE*, FR. DE, GB, HU, IE, IL, IT, JP, LV, MX, NL, NZ, NO, PH, PL, PT, RU, SK, SI, ZA, KR, ES, SE, CH, TW, UY, US, VE

*Flanders

1985 ff.;
annual;
started in six countries

Prevailing multistage random sampling (variations by country);
mail, written, oral or telephone interview

Pop 18+;
n=1000-1500

Rotating topical modules:
work orientations, social networks, social inequality, role of government, religion, national identity, family, environment, citizenship, leisure and sports

Self funding association on local membership basis

Secretariats (so far) : Roger Jowell, SCPR, London; Peter Ph. Mohler, ZUMA, Mannheim; Tom Smith, NORC, Chicago; ...

Data Archives:
ZA

ZACAT online access

Integrated data sets, codebooks, national field work reports;
online time series analysis through JD System ASEP/JDS

1985

The Political Culture of Southern Europe: A Four Nation Study

GR, IT, PT, ES

1985;
singular

Face to face interviews

Pop 18+

Political participation, political values, attitudes towards political institutions and parties

Local university and research institutes and Ohio State University

Data Archives:
ZA

Integrated dataset

1989

International Crime Victim Survey (ICVS)

See:
European Crime and Safety Survey

Up to 48 countries in one wave:

AL, AR, AU, AT, AZ, BY, BE, BO, BW, BR, BG, KH, CA, Catalonia, CZ, CN, CO, CR, HR, EG, England and Wales, EE, FI, FR, GE, DE_W, HU, IN, ID, IT, JP, KG, LV, LS, LT, MK, MT, MN, MZ, NA, NG, NL, NZ, Northern Ireland, NO, PA, PY, PH, PL, PT, KR, RO, RU, Scotland, SK, SI, ZA, ES, SZ, SE, CH, TZ, TN, UG, UA, US, YU, ZM, ZW

1989, 1992, 1996/97, 2000, 2004/05;
five waves

Multi-stage random sampling;
CATI and face to face interviews

Pop 16+; countrie's largest city, in some countries plus a rural or national sample);
n=1000-2000 (+200)

Experience with crime, policing, crime prevention and feelings of un-safeness

Jan J.M. van Dijk, Pat Mayhew, Anna Alvazzi del Frate, John van Kesteren et.al. (ICVS International Working Group);
funded by participating countries and ad-hoc grants, European Commission, United Nations

Data Archives:
ICPSR, DANS

Integratred data file 1989-97;
free download of data, documentation, tables at UNICRI (United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute)

1989

Free Elections, Political Parties and the Emergence of Competitive Party Systems in Eastern Europe / Founding Elections in Eastern Europe

Archive website

AL, BY, LV, LT, EE, BG, HR, RO, RU, CZ, HU, YU/CS, SK, SI, UA

1989-2002;
Pre-, post- election and other related independent national surveys at several time points

Social Science Research Center Berlin (WZB); financed by the Fritz Thyssen Foundation

Data Archives:
ZA

CD-ROM "Election Studies from Eastern Europe 1989 - 2002 Data and Documentation";
H.-D. Klingemann, Ch. L. Taylor (eds.), Founding Elections in Eastern Europe. A Series Sponsored by the Fritz Thyssen Foundation. edition sigma, Rainer Bohn Verlag, Berlin, 1995

1990

European Working Conditions Surveys
EWCS

European Union member (EU 25) plus candidate and EFTA countries:

BE, DE, FR, GB, IT, NL, DK, IE, LU, GR, ES, PT, DE_W, DE_E, AU, FI, SE,
CY, CZ, EE, HU, LV, LT, MT, PL, SI, SK,
BG, RO, TR, HR, NO, CH

1990/91 ff.;
every five years

Multi-stange random route sampling;
face-to-face interviews

Active population of respective nationality 15+;
n=1500, LU: 500

State of working conditions, extent and type of changes affecting the workforce and the quality of work, working time, work organisation, pay, work-related health risks and health outcomes, access to training

European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions

Data Archives:
UK-DA

1990

Post Communist Publics PCP

I) Post communist Citizens 1990-1992

II) Consolidation of Democracy in Central and Eastern Europe 1998-2001: A Fifteen Country Study

Wave I+II:
BG, CZ, SK, EE, DE-E, , HU, LT, PL, RO, SI, UA

Wave I:
Krasnoyarsk

Wave II:
BY, DE-W, LV, RU

Wave I:
1990-1992
Wave II:
1998-2001

Country specific sampling procedurs (incl. quota sampling);
face-to-face interviews

Pop 18+;
Wave I:
n= 300-1700
Wave II:
n= 1000-1500

State of consolidation of new democracies: political culture, political and economic orientations

Dieter Fuchs, Hans-Dieter Klingemann, Edeltraud Roller, Bernhard Wessels et.al.;
Social Science Research Center Berlin (WZB);
DFG and other private and public funding bodies

Data Archives:
ZA

Cumulative integrated dataset 1990-2001 with codebook and ZACATonline access (ZA4054)

1990

Central and Eastern Eurobarometer

European Commission

Archive Website

Up to 20 countries of the region:
AL, MK, SI, BG, RO, HU, CZ, SK, PO,
DE-E, RU*, AM, GE, MD, BY, UA, EE, LT, LV, KZ, HR, CS

* European USSR, European Russia, Russian Federation, Greater Moscow

1990-1997;
annual

Multistage random route probability sampling with
country spec. variations;
face to face interviews

Cit 15+;
n=1000

Evaluation of the democratic and economic reforms, perception of Europe and the European Community and its role in Eastern Europe, use of and trust in national and western media, attitudes towards NATO membership, knowledge of foreign languages

European Commission,
Directorate-General X, Public Opinion Surveys and Research Unit

Data Archives:
ZA

ZACAT online access

Integrated datasets and codebooks;
cumulative trendfile and codebook;
European Comission reports

1991

Flash Eurobarometer

European Commission

Archive Website

European Union countries at times:

BE, DE, FR, GB, IT, NL, DK, IE, LU, Norther Ireland, GR, ES, PT, DE_W, DE_E
1994: AU, FI, SE
2004: CY, CZ, EE, HU, LV, LT, MT, PL, SI, SK

IS*, NO*, US*

*included in selected waves

1987/1991 ff.;
irregular;

1994-1995:
Monthly monitors

random selections;
telephone interviews (CATI)

Population:
Cit 15+;
n=500

Special Targets:
top decision makers, manager, doctors, teacher, ...

Thematical ad-hoc surveys on European integration topics such as: European Elections, European Constitution, citizens rights, single market, common currency, enlargement, information society (Internet), entrepreneurship, enterprises ...

Data Archives:
ZA

European Comission reports

1991

International Social Justice Project (ISJP)

BG*, CZ*, DE*, EE*, GB, HU*, JP, NL*, PL, RU*, SI, US, SK**

* only 1st wave
** only 2nd wave

1991 and 1996;
replication

Nat. probability sample with varied strategies by country;
Personal interviews (USA: Telephone)

Pop 18+;
n=1500

social, economic and political justice

Bernd Wegener, David S. Mason;
National Science Foudation (NSF) and other funding agencies in participating countries

Data Archives:
ICPSR, ZA

cumulative data set; country specific methodological reports

1991

New Europe Barometer
- New Democracies Barometer
- New Russia Barometer
- New Baltic Barometer
- Korea Democracy Barometer

http://www.cspp.strath.ac.uk/

http://www.BalticVoices.org

BG, CZ, SK, SI, HU, EE, LV, LT, PL, RO, HR, CS, BA, BY, UA, MD, AT*, DE*;
RU;
EE, LV, LT;
KR

* for comparison

1991 ff.;
irregular;
in total over 100 surveys

Random sampling;
face to face interviews

Pop;
n= at least 1000

Societies in transformation:
Democratization and Development, Economic Enterprise and Privatization, Health, Parties and Elections, Poverty and Social Protection, Social Capital

Richard Rose,
University of Strathclyde. Centre for the Study of Public Policy CSPP;
international and national funding (Austrian Federal Ministry of Science and Research, EC, World Bank, NSF, and others)

Data Archives:
UK-DA (New Europe Barometer 1-6);
all other analysis files for academic research 150 € per wave and country (average)

On-line retrieval and analysis system (forthcoming)

1991

The Pulse of Europe