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Political Research

The Political Research Department, is active in the fields of political as well as general economic surveys (e.g. consumer confidence). It carries out research contracts and collaborates in projects with universities and other non-academic research institutes. Some of these studies are also available for purchase by the general public.

What are our distinguishing features 

• we have many years of research experience - the first political studies were carried out in the 1950's by the founder of the Institute, Dr. Fessel. FESSEL-GfK (today GfK Austria) was the first institute to introduce out Exit Polls (representative surveys in elections) to Austria and continuous surveys on consumer confidence are already being carried out since the 1970's
  
  
• associated with this is the analysis of changes in social, political, cultural and economic processes and the compilation of databases which allow for comparison over time and between various areas
  
  
• the international nature of our research projects
  
  
• an intensive personal customer care policy
  
  the association with scientific research in the form of numerous contacts, both institutional and personal, at home and abroad. Department manager Univ.-Doz. Dr. Peter A. Ulram is engaged personally in scientific projects. (see Publications)
  
  
• a comprehensive knowledge of methodology which covers not only the latest developments but also includes our own research in the field.
   

Research Areas 

1. Political  attitudes (special thematic areas)

Political attitude research includes both current research as well as the documentation and analysis of fundamental orientations and patterned attitudes.

Political culture (systematic patterns of political orientations) in Austria and in international comparisons

• the development and status of the political culture in Austria
• comparative political-culture research (Austria-Germany-Switzerland)
• national and regional identity/identities in Austria
• Austria and its neighbours (Image of Austria surveyed in Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Germany; Image of all Neighbouring Countries surveyed in Austria)
• Political culture change and democratization in Central and Eastern Europe
  

Selected Publications (25 KB)

Attitudes to the European Union

The EU forms a central research focus, both in terms of actual opinions and their development in Austria as well as in an European context with specific reference to the various steps within the Union of EU-enlargement.

• Attitudes about the EU in Austria (on a continuing basis since the early 1990's)
• Attitudes about the enlargement of the EU in Austria
• Attitudes about the EU in the new EU-member states before accession
• Eurobarometer, National Report 2002-2004 (56.3; 58.1; 59.1; 60.1; 61)
• Central Eastern Europe Barometer, Report
  

Selected Publications (19 KB)

Fundamental social politics orientation in Austria

Sociopolitical orientations are dealing with fundamental dimensions of political attitudes.

Surveyed 1976-2006, with typologies since 1998 as part of the Austrian Life Style Study.

Selected Publications (18 KB)

Attitudes social partnerships

Selected Publications (18 KB)

2. Election and political party research in Austria

GfK Austria is the "first stop" for electoral and party research in Austria, combining political science and practice-orientated research at all levels. After initial attempts in the 1950's, this research focus has been in continuous operation since the 1960's and includes all relevant elections at national level as well as various elections at regional level and among organized interests.

• Exit Polls (representative voter surveys in all national parliamentary elections 1986-2006), elections for the European Parliament 1996, 1999, 2004 (the latter also including surveys among non voters)
• Exit Polls at various regional elections and elections of the Federal Presidency
• Exit Polls for the EU referendum in 1994, analyses of various public referenda and petitions
• continuous research on the development of voting intentions, political issues, the image of political parties and politicians etc. at the national level and also in individual regions (e.g.: Lower Austria, Styria, Carinthia, Vorarlberg, Salzburg)
• electoral campaign research (at national and regional level)
• determinants of voting in a long-term comparison (on-going research project)
  

Selected Literature (20 KB)

3. Empirical governmental research

Here the interest is in the (development of) attitudes towards public administration, Demands for public services etc. and the way in which the public administrators deal with them, concomitant research on reform projects etc..

• Attitudes towards government and governmental reform (national level) 1976-2005
• Attitudes towards the Lower Austria regional government 1988-2006
  

Selected Publications (18 KB) 

4. Local and regional studies in Austria

The regions are of central importance in a federal system. Surveys are carried out on the individual aspects as well as on regional mentalities and developments.

Selected Publications (19 KB)

5. Politics and the media in Austria

Studies on changes in the media system and the framework for political action in a media democracy or the reactivity of politics.

Selected Publications (19 KB) 

6. Business-related research

• CCB (Consumer Confidence Barometer) for the European Commission and the Austrian National Bank, 1995-2007; Consumer confidence and assessment of the economic climate, n = 15,000 interviews per year
  
  Questionnaire to Download (13 KB)
  
  
• NEWSLETTER ECONOMIC CLIMATE, Newsletter for sale at 300 Euro per annum, averages charts from the CCB (see above) with some text analyses to clarify the charts
  
  Order form to Download (42 KB)
  
  
• Business outlook barometer - CAWI-survey (Internet survey) amongst industrial companies contracted by the Vereinigung Österreichischer Industrieller (Association of Austrian Industrialists), quarterly survey since December 2004
• economic policy attitudes and attitudes on specific economic questions
• attitudes on privatisation
• company surveys
• Wall Street Journal survey, carried out twice annually, in spring and autumn, in each case 1,000 CAPI (Face to face) interviews
• LAMO (Labourmarket Monitoring) 2005. CAPI (face to face) surveys in Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia.
• Bioenergy Study in 8 countries (Slovenia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Germany)
  

7. Segmentation and target group studies

New ways to identify and describe target groups.

8. Studies on research methods and method-mixes in selected research projects

The further development of methodological standards and comparison of the capabilities (as well as their limitations) of various methodological approaches.

• comparison of INTERNET and face-to-face or telephone surveys (on-going project)
• method-mix quantitative and qualitative research