Public Opinion Polls

Name of Organization: 
An-Najah National University
Geographical Scope: 
Regions:
Country:
Purpose: 
The Opinion Polls and Survey Studies Center is a research institute established to coordinate and conduct surveys on a range of different political, economical, and social issues within Palestine.
 
The Center's main goals are to:
  1. Conduct opinion polls in the Palestinian Territories. 
  2. Conduct rapid studies on 'hot topic' for which data are immediately needed.
  3. Conduct economical, social and political surveys to fulfill the general mission of the center.
  4. To make survey and poll data available to local and international organizations.
  5. To establish a database containing the results of all polls and surveys undertaken by the center.

 

In addition, the Human Rights and Democracy Center at An-Najah University worked with the center in different fields and in different activities as joint projects. As examples of Polls recently conducted:

Poll no 8 dealt with corruption and was conducted from 16-18 September, 2004. It focused on the calls for reformation, the need to fight corruption, the election registration process, the performance of Palestinian institutions, the PLC and local councils elections, in addition to political affiliations of Palestinian people and other issues.

The Eleventh Palestinian Public Opinion Poll conducted during the period from March 16 to 19, 2005, undertakes several subjects focusing on the Presidential elections, the priorities of individuals in the period following the elections, the elections programs of candidates, the people's opinion in the peace process and the Road Map in addition to political sympathies and other issues.

Area of Governance : 
Conflict
Corruption
Democracy
Electoral Systems
Website of initiative: 
http://www.najah.edu/index.php?page=137
Publications: 
Results of Palestinian Public Opinion Polls are published at www.najah.edu/file/centers/OPSSC/Poll_en38results.pdf
Cost (specify currency): 
20 000 USD
Funding sources: 
local sources of the University
Source of Data: 
Own source of data
Type of Data Collection: 
Administrative Data
Events registration
Random sample population survey
Specifications of type of data collection: 
Our survey includes random samples from West Bank and Gaza Strip.
 
In Poll No. 8, the sample included 1360 Persons from age group 18 years and above and with the right to vote. The sample forms one per thousand from among the total number of Palestinian people of this age group. The questionnaire was distributed to 860 persons from the West Bank and 500 persons from the Gaza Strip. The sample was drawn randomly and the margin of error is about ±3.
Still 2.8% of the members of the sample refused to answer the questionnaire.
 
In Poll no. 11, the sample included 1361 persons from age group 18 years and above and with the right to vote. The sample forms one per thousand from among the total number of Palestinian people of this age group. The enclosed questionnaire was distributed to 860 persons from the West Bank and 501 persons from the Gaza Strip. The sample was drawn randomly and the margin of error is about ±3%. Still 2.2% of the members of the sample refused to answer the questionnaire.
Measurement Methods / Tools Generated or Used : 
Surveys & interviews.
Main Users: 
Civil society
International agencies
Media
Other
Policy makers
Researchers