RESEARCH TITLE
Social and Political Aspects of the COVID-19 Pandemic
RESEARCH FIELD
Public opinion research
RESEARCH SUBJECT
Examining social, socio-psychological and political aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
PROBLEM
The way in which public reacts to the pandemic through the lens of the existing political preferences, and in the context of the current social environment. Since its outbreak, it has been shown that the COVID-19 pandemic would have a significant impact on politics in many countries. However, to what extent and in what way would this singular global phenomenon influence the political sphere in Serbia, was indeed unclear, and is still an insufficiently researched topic. The data collected in this research enable better understanding of public reactions in this unique period of collective danger for the entire political community.
RESEARCH
The research was focused on examining public opinion through an online poll. The data-collection was based on the existing ISS internet panel, in combination with advertising and promotion on the internet and social networks.
The variables were divided in a couple of main categories. One group concerned descriptions of the respondents’ perception of the pandemic, perception of the infection danger, etc. The second category of variables concerned perception of the measures and recommendations adopted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia. Also, a series of variables that measure political preferences and potential changes in the preferences due to the pandemic was also included. A separate segment of variables concerned solidarity in the period of collective danger, as well as interaction of the perception of solidarity with the socio-economic status. Finally, socio-psychological scales were also included, as a well-known predictor of political orientations, as well as the standard set of socio-demographic variables.
The collection of the data was performed from 11 May to 30 July 2020.
A parallel research was simultaneously implemented in Montenegro. This enabled for the data to be compared.
RESULT
The result of the research is the COVID-19-ISS 2020 database.
Furthermore, a dozen of papers was also published, analysing and presenting the research results. These papers were also presented in a number of international conferences.
