Fiker Think Tank Institute designs and conducts public opinion surveys to examine attitudes, priorities, perceptions, and experiences concerning public issues, policies, institutions, and services.
Each survey begins with a clearly defined research purpose and target population. The design establishes whose views are being studied, which questions need answering, and what conclusions the findings can reasonably support.
Public Priorities and Attitudes
Identifying the issues people consider important and examining their views on social, economic, and public policy questions. Surveys can explore how priorities differ across population groups and geographical areas where the sample supports such comparisons.
Perceptions of Institutions and Services
Examining trust, satisfaction, and experiences of accessing or using services. Questionnaire design distinguishes between respondents’ direct experiences and their broader impressions, allowing findings to be interpreted in their appropriate context.
Awareness and Understanding
Assessing familiarity with programmes, policies, or public initiatives, alongside sources of information and understanding of their content. Questions distinguish prior awareness from opinions formed after information is introduced during the interview.
Changes Over Time
Designing repeated surveys to examine changes in attitudes and priorities. Comparisons account for question wording, sample composition, collection methods, and fieldwork timing, with relevant changes in methodology explained.
Survey Design and Implementation
Defining the population and sample — The sampling approach reflects the target population, available sampling frame, geographical coverage, and required level of analysis. The proposal explains selection procedures, sample size, and relevant coverage limitations.
Developing the questionnaire — Questions are drafted to be clear, neutral, and focused. Review considers wording, response options, question order, and whether participants can reasonably provide the information requested. Pilot testing helps identify comprehension and administration issues.
Selecting the collection method — Face-to-face, telephone, or online methods are selected according to the population and research requirements. Where methods are combined, the design considers their potential effects on responses and comparability.
Monitoring fieldwork — Project-specific checks track sample coverage, response outcomes, completeness, and consistency. Interviewers follow agreed instructions for participant selection, question delivery, and response recording.
Analysing and interpreting findings — Analysis presents overall patterns and relevant differences between groups. Weighting is considered where justified by the design and suitable reference data. Reports distinguish findings from interpretation and avoid treating associations as proof of causation.
Reporting and Methodological Transparency
Reports explain the target population, fieldwork dates, sample size and selection, collection method, and any weighting applied. Relevant question wording, response options, and limitations accompany the findings.
A sampling margin of error is reported only where supported by the sampling design and calculation assumptions. It does not capture every source of survey error, and large sample size alone does not establish representativeness.
Deliverables
Depending on the assignment, deliverables may include:
Publication arrangements are agreed for each assignment. Public summaries should retain the methodological context necessary to understand the findings.
- A survey methodology and final questionnaire.
- Results tables, including agreed subgroup breakdowns.
- An analytical report and executive summary.
- Charts and a presentation of key findings.
- A documented dataset, subject to agreed access and privacy arrangements.
Commission a Public Opinion Survey
Please share the issue you wish to examine, the population whose views you need to understand, the intended use of the findings, and your preferred timeframe. Include any requirements for geographical or demographic comparisons.
Email: Admin@fikertt.org