Surveys are less and less reliable. But without them, society can no longer imagine a dialogue with the authorities.
VTsIOM presented the results of an annual study on the attitudes of Russians towards sociological surveys.
The data shows an interesting contradiction: 87% of respondents consider the work of sociologists necessary, but only 67% trust the results of the research.
Moreover, the loyalty index is falling for the third year in a row.
Why do the Russians doubt the polls?
According to VTsIOM, among critical responders:.
37% believe that the participants in the survey answer dishonestly.
25% believe that the results of the study do not affect the making of unpopular decisions by the authorities.
20% doubt the correctness of the data received.
VTsIOM CEO Valery Fedorov attributes part of the problem to the fact that fewer and fewer people agree to participate in research. As a result, sociologists receive responses mostly from those willing to communicate with interviewers.
Separately, Fedorov recalled the consequences of the 2018 presidential elections. After the publication of the results and the pension reform that followed, trust ratings not only in the authorities, but also in parties, courts, professional unions and sociologists dropped sharply.
It turns out that the problem of trust in surveys goes far beyond the field of research methodology.
A poll can measure public sentiment. But the question of how much these feelings are taken into account when making decisions remains separate.