Methodological Framework for the European Values Study Surveys on the Case of Croatia

摘要

Longitudinal research is designed to gain observations on a particular phenomenon over a longer period of time. An example of longitudinal research, more precisely trend study, is the European Values Study project that has been running at nine-year intervals since 1981. Croatia participated in the last three research waves (in 1999, 2008, and 2018). This paper analyses the comparability of the surveys conducted in Croatia within the framework of this project in relation to: (1) applied sampling methodology, and (2) changes in the research tool used (questionnaire). The analysis showed an (1) increasing complexity of the sampling methodology in research waves; (2) a high level of correlation between results in the three research waves, which points to the possibility of comparing the trends of the research waves and (3) the analysis pointed to a low level of correlation between the existence of trends in the results and changes in research instruments. Based on the above, it can be concluded that EVS research in Croatia still has characteristics of a trend study irrespective of changes in the research tool.