Opinion
Pilot Issue - June 1997

Note To Our Readers

This pilot issue is intended to give you an idea of what Opinion will look like when it commences publication in July 1997. This monthly review, to be published by Central Asian Center of Social Data (or BRIF Center), will offer information on public opinion polls, social surveys, and other social research projects conducted in the Central Asian republics as well as the descriptions on various information sources on the region.

BRIF Center is a non-for-profit NGO aimed to gather the data of the social research done in the post- Soviet Central Asia and to disseminate this information to all interested parties.

The goal of the Opinion is to provide, within the agenda of BRIF Center, accurate and timely knowledge on the social research in the region to scholars, journalists, policymakers and other interested in the Central Asia area, and to inform them on the new content of the Center's holdings. The format of data presentation is necessarily short, and more detailed information on every study mentioned can be obtained by contacting the research organization mentioned or BRIF Center.

Suggestions and a general feedback as well as your own contributions to the bulletin are most welcome.

-BRIF Center's Staff

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O P I N I O N

MONTHLY REVIEW OF OPINION POLLS, SOCIAL SURVEYS
AND INFORMATIONAL SOURCES IN CENTRAL ASIA

Pilot Issue June 1997

In This Issue:

Public Opinion Polls Marketing Research Information Systems Seminars & Workshops

Expert Surveys Media Surveys & Research Laws & Decrees New Items in BRIF Center

PUBLIC OPINION POLLS

UNAIDS SURVEY IN KAZAKSTAN
Released are data of the survey conducted by the Giller Institute and commissioned by the UNAIDS and Caravan newspaper. Four hundred schoolchildren and a hundred of teachers were surveyed in April 1997 in Almaty. Awareness and attitudes of the pupils toward sex-transmitted diseases, including HIV, were studied during the poll as well as the necessity to introduce a special course into the school program. - Caravan, May 2, 1997

Giller Institute Tel: (3272) 32-88-66
UNAIDS in Almaty: Tel: (3272) 64-09-70

SURVEY ON KAZAKSTAN SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The Institute for Development of Kazakstan released the findings of the follow-up survey of Kazakstan' population on the social and economic issues of the country. Almost three thousand respondents were surveyed in all regions of the republic, by face-to-face interview. Among the issues studied were the attitude toward social and political environment in the country, most critical problems of the society such as inflation, wage arrears, healthcare, unemployment, human rights violations, and the respondents' readiness to participate in various forms of social protest. - Kazakhstanskaya Pravda May 7 1997

Institute for Development of Kazakstan Tel: (3272) 44 78 41

EUROBAROMETER SURVEY
The European Union's office has released the data of its annual survey called Eurobarometer, which is conducted in over 20 countries of Eastern and Central Europe, and the CIS, with a total sample size exceeding 20 thousand people. Kazakstan's part of the survey was conducted by the Agency BRIF which surveyed 1200 people by face-to-face interview, in November 1997. Among the issues studied were financial conditions of the respondents, their attitude toward ongoing social and economic reforms, and human rights situation in the country. Also, the attitudes toward the partner countries for Kazakstan and an existing image of the EC were studied. - Delovaya Nedelya May 16, 1997

Social & Marketing Research Agency BRIF Tel: (3227) 61 84 56
EC Almaty Representative Office Tel: (3227) 63-78-97

SURVEY ON CORRUPTION IN TARAZ CITY
Presented are the data of the survey conducted in Taraz city (former Zhambyl, South Kazakstan), commissioned by the Akimat (administration) of the region. Among the issues studied were the respondent's attitude toward unlawful actions of the state officials and the level of corruption among them. No information on the polling organization and the survey's details is provided. - Kazakhstanskaya Pravda May 17 1997

SURVEY IN AKTAU
The data of the survey conducted in Aktau, West Kazakstan, are presented. The survey done by a sociological service at the city Akimat studied the respondents' attitudes toward economic and social conditions in the city, activities of local municipal bodies. No information on the survey's details is provided. - Kazakhstanskaya Pravda May 17 1997

ATTITUDE TOWARD RUSSIA-BELARUS UNION SIGNING
The data of a telephone survey conducted by the Giller Institute in May 1997 are presented. The survey studied both awareness and attitude of Almaty adult respondents toward the union agreement between Russia and Belarus signed earlier this month, and its possible consequences. Five hundred respondents were surveyed whose phone numbers were obtained by a random numbers generator. - Caravan, May 23, 1997

Giller Institute Tel: (3272) 32 88 66

POLL ON MUNICIPAL SERVICES TARIFFS
The survey conducted by the Giller Institute studied the attitude of Almaty dwellers toward new (higher) tariffs on municipal services imposed by the Government and possible response of the people. The survey was done in May 23, by telephone interviewing of 500 respondents whose phone numbers were obtained using a random numbers generator. - Caravan May 30 1997

Giller Institute Tel: (3272)32 88 66

SURVEY ON MIGRATION FROM ALMATY
The telephone survey conducted by the Giller Institute in June 1997 studied the attitude of Almaty inhabitants to both opportunity and desire to migrate from Almaty. Five hundred respondents were surveyed whose phone numbers were obtained using a random numbers generator. - Caravan June 20 1997

Giller Institute Tel: (3272) 32 88 66

POLL ON REVENUES AND TAX POLICY
Published are the data of the survey which studied the issues of tax policy and governmental regulations over the citizens' revenues. No information on the polling organization and the survey's details are provided. - Kazakhstanskaya Pravda June 25 1997

STUDENTS SURVEY ON PEAK RENAME
All Over the Globe newspaper published the data of its blitz-survey of over 100 students of the Kazak State University with regards to the planned rename of the 4376m Komsomol peak in favour of Nursultan Nazarbaev, President of Kazakstan. The survey was done by the newspaper's journalists. - All Over the Globe, June 27 1997

All Over the Globe Tel: (3272) 33 84 03

MARKETING RESEARCH

CONSUMER EXPO-97 AND FOOD EXPO-97 EXHIBITIONS VISITORS SURVEY
The survey of the visitors of both Consumer Expo-97 and Food Expo-97 exhibitions was conducted by Agency BRIF in April 1997. The survey commissioned by the Kazakstan Association of Food Enterprises studied visitors composition, frequency of the exhibition visits, their aims and expectation. About a thousand of the visitors were surveyed by personal interview. - Panorama May 9, 1997

Social & Marketing Research Agency BRIF Tel: (3227) 61 84 56
Kazak Association of Food Enterprises Tel: (3272) 69 62 96

SUMMER VACATIONS AND TRAVELS
The telephone survey conducted by the Giller Institute in June 1997 studied the attitude of the respondents toward summer vacations, their preferences in terms of trips and tourism, including travels abroad. Five hundred respondents were surveyed whose phone numbers were obtained using a random numbers generator. - Caravan June 13 1997

Giller Institute Tel: (3272 32 88 66

MEDIA SURVEYS AND RESEARCH

RATING OF MAGAZINES
Kakadu, a monthly magazine issued by the Caravan Publishing House has the highest readership among similar editions in Almaty, reports the Caravan newspaper referring to the media survey conducted by the Agency BRIF in May 1997. SPID-Info edition is on the second place, and a woman magazine Liza is on the third one. - Caravan May 27 1997

Social & Marketing Research Agency BRIF Tel: (3227) 61 84 56

PRINT MEDIA AUDIENCE STUDY
Almaty newspaper Nachnem s Ponedelnika (Let's Start from Monday) published data on the ratings and audiences of the major print media distributed in Almaty. The data are based on the media survey conducted by the Almaty Association of Sociologists and Political Scientists in April 1997. - Nachnem s Ponedelnika May 19 1997 Almaty Association of Sociologists & Political Scientists Tel: (3272)64 23 22

TV CLIPS RATING
Arguments & Facts newspaper publishes ratings of music clips, shown on Russian TV channels from June 9 till 15. The data are provided by the Russian Public Relations Group company. - Arguments & Facts June 1997

EXPERT SURVEYS

FOREIGN BUSINESSMEN ON INVESTMENT CLIMATE IN KAZAKSTAN
All Over the Globe newspaper publishes data of the survey by the ITIC, International Tax and Investment Center. Representatives of the foreign companies interviewed by the ITIC evaluated current investment climate in Kazakstan and its future deve-lopemtns. The survey is a second of this kind; the first one was conducted in 1996. Number of the respondents and date of the survey are not provided. - All Over the Globe, June 25 1997

International Tax and Investment Center Tel: (3272) 62 62 90

SURVEY OF CENTRAL ASIAN EXPERTS
All Over the Globe newspaper presented data of the survey of 250 experts from all five Central Asian republics conducted by the Institute for Development of Kazakstan in co-operation with the Institute of Philosophy, Uzbek Academy of Science, the Institute of World Economy, Tajik Academy of Science, the Institute of Economics at the Turkmenistan Cabinet of Ministers, and International Institute of Strategic Studies at the President of Kyrgyzstan. The experts were asked about social and economic developments of the Central Asia region, and shared their prognoses over its future development. - All Over the Globe, June 26 1997

Institute for Development of Kazakstan Tel: (3272) 44 78 41

THE WORLD BANK EXPERTS ON CORRUPTION IN THE CIS
The Central Asia Post newspaper publishes the evaluations of the level and forms of corruption in the CIS countries provided by the experts from the World Bank. No further details of the study provided. - Central Asian Post, June 19 1997

RUSSIAN EXPERTS ON SHADOW ECONOMY
All Over the Globe newspaper published data of the survey of 150 Russian businessmen and 50 economists questioned on the current level of the shadow economy in Russian. The survey was done by the Russian Expert Institute; no details on the methods and dates are provided. - All Over the Globe, May 7 1997

SURVEY OF ALMATY OFFICIALS
Almaty Association of Sociologists released the data of the survey conducted among governmental officials of the city. Among the issues studies were the attitudes toward economic reforms in the country, and experts' expectations, on both societal and personal level. No data on the sample size and expert pool are provided. - AiF Kazakstan May 15, 1997

Almaty Association of Sociologists and Political Scientists Tel: (3272)

SMALL & MEDIUM BUSINESS IN KAZAKSTAN
The data of the expert survey conducted by the VIProblem group are presented. The survey was devoted to the current state and expected future developments of SMEs in Kazakstan. No details on the expert pool and methods and dates of the survey are provided. - Panorama May 16 1997

VIProblem Group Tel: (3272) 32 36 40

INFORMATION SYSTEMS

DATABASE OF CUSTOM INFORMATION
Delovaya Nedelya newspaper publishes large paper on the current status of the Republic Database of Custom Data, which planned to be established in 1996 already. The consortium of Sun Microsystems, Informix (US), LVS Server (Russia), and ELSI Tech (Kazakstan) companies won the tender to set up the Custom Database but the work stalled due to the lack of financing. Kazakstan corporation Accept agreed to cover the expenses of the database establishment and took all risks involved, however, the creation of the database is still delayed. Delovaya Nedelya May 16 1997

LAWS AND DECREES

LAW ON STATISTICS
The Law on Statistics accepted in May 7, 1997, regulates legal relations with regards to statistical activities, issues of governmental statistics, and defines the rights and obligations of the bodies conducting statistical activities in Kazakstan. - Kazakhstanskaya Pravda May 13 1997

MIGRATION POLICY IN KAZAKSTAN
The Government issued a list of actions to be undertaken to implement the State Migration Policy of Kazakstan Until 2000, including preparation of the draft law on refugees, migration quotes, and number of other issues. - Panorama June 27 1997

SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS

UNDP REPORT ON HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN KAZAKSTAN
The UNDP office in Almaty held a presentation on May 22 where announced its new 1997 Report on Human Development in Kazakstan. This time the report, third of this kind, is prepared in cooperation with the Institute for Development of Kazakstan. - Panorama May 23, 1997 UNDP Office in Almaty Tel: (3272) 64 09 70

Institute for Development of Kazakstan Tel: (3272) 44 78 41

NEW BULLETIN ON STATISTICS
Kazakstan National Statistics Agency presented the June issue of its new information bulletin, Kazakstan Statistical Review, to be issued on a monthly basis. - Kazakhstanskaya Pravda June 7 1997

Kazakstan National Statistics Agency Tel: (3272) 29 34 95

SEMINAR ON ARCHIVING
State Almaty Archive held a workshop on archiving in Kazakstan, with a participation of Dr. Handfield from Indiana University Data Center and the representatives of the newly established Presidential Archive. - Kazakhstanskaya Pravda June 17 1997

GALLUP MEDIA KAZAKSTAN JOINT-VENTURE ANNOUNCED In June 4-6 Kazakstani media research firm Agency BRIF and Gallup Media Russia company held a workshop on media planning for Almaty advertising agencies and advertising managers. During the seminar the establishment of new joint-venture, Gallup Media Kazakstan aimed to study media audiences in Kazakstan was announced. - Panorama June 13, 1997

Social & Marketing Research Agency BRIF Tel: (3227) 61 84 56
Gallup Media Russia Tel: (095) 251 98 01

NEW ITEMS IN BRIF CENTER

RESEARCH REPORTS:

Public Opinion in Kazakstan 1996. Report based on the Survey of the IFES, International Foundation of Electoral Systems held in 1996 Kazakstan (in Russian/English.)

Public Opinion in Kyrgyzstan 1996. Report based on the Survey of the IFES, International Foundation of Electoral Systems held in 1996 in Kyrgyzstan (in Russian/English.)

Social Partnership for Sustainable Development Information Bulletin of the Almaty Association of Sociologists and Political Scientists, Part I, II (in Russian.)

Social Processes in Kazakstan: Analysis of Expert Evaluations Join Research Report by the Kazakstan Institute of Strategic Studies, the Republic Center of Public Opinion Polls and Panorama Newspaper (in Russian.)

Attitude Toward Privatization in Kazakstan - 1995 Research Report of the Giller Institute, published by Slavic Research Center, Hokkaido University (in Russian.)

PUBLICATIONS:

Central Asia: Conflicts, Resolution, and Change Ed. By Roald Sagdeev & Susan Eisenhower, CPSS Press, 1997

Ethnopolicy of Kazakstan: Current State and perspectives K. Kusherbaev, Institute for Development of Kazakstan, 1996 (in Russian.)

• Journal of Central Asian Studies, 1996, 1(1)
• Central Asia 1996, ## 5,6 (in Russian.)
• Acta Eurasia 1996 ## 1, 2 (in Russian.)
• Research Bulletins of the Institute of Developing Economies, Japan, 1995 (3), 1996 (2), 1997 (3,4)
• ZiP Mass Media (Mass Media Law and Practice Bulletin of the Mass Media Center in Moscow), May, June 1997

QUOTATION OF THE ISSUE

"Good professional practice imposes the obligation upon all public opinion researchers to include, in any report of research results, or to make available, when than report released , certain essential information about how the research was conducted. At a minimum, the following items should be disclosed:

1. Who sponsored the survey, and who conducted it.
2. The exact wording of questions asked.
3. A definition of the population under study, and the description of the sampling frame.
4. A description of the sample selection procedures, and a clear indication of how respondents were selected.
5. Size of samples.
6. A discussion of the precision of the findings, including estimates of sampling error.
7. Which results are based on parts of the sample, rather than on the total sample.
8. Method, location, dates, of data collection."

AAPOR Standards for Minimal Disclosure,
from the AAPOR Code of Professional Ethics and Practices

Last updated:    July 1997

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