Methodology 2009

TNS Opinion was commissioned to conduct the survey using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews in all countries except Bulgaria, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, and Turkey, where lower telephone penetration necessitated the use of face-to-face interviews. In all countries, a random sample of approximately 1,000 men and women, 18 years of age and older, was interviewed. Interviews were conducted between June 9, 2009, and July 1, 2009.

 

For results based on the national samples in each of the 13 countries surveyed, one can say with 95% confidence that the margin of error attributable to sampling and other random effects is plus or minus three percentage points. For results based on the total European sample (n=12095), the margin of error is plus or minus one percentage point. The average response rate for all 13 countries surveyed was 18.2%.

 

Europe-wide figures are weighted on the basis of the size of the adult population in each country. Unless otherwise specified, comparative data are reproduced from Transatlantic Trends 2003-2008 and/or from Worldviews 2002 (www.transatlantictrends.org).

 

When processing is complete, data from the survey are deposited with the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research at the University of Michigan (ICPSR), the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research at the University of Connecticut, and the GESIS-Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences and are available to scholars and other interested parties. At the time of printing, data for years 2002 through 2007 are available through ICPSR, the Roper Center, and GESIS.

 

Note on European averages

 

Over time, additional European countries have been added to the survey. While the addition of new countries has affected the Europe-wide average, the impact has usually not been statistically significant. Therefore, for ease of presentation, we have treated several different averages as if they were part of one average: the EU6 and EU7 averages are listed as part of the EU9, and the E10 average is listed as part of the E12. For additional information on the composition of the European averages, please consult the table below.

 

Table of European averages:

Year	Average	Countries
2002	EU6	France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, and The United Kingdom
2003	EU7	Same as the EU6 with the addition of Portugal
2004-2006	EU9	Same as the EU7 with the addition of Slovakia and Spain
2004-2005	EU10	Same as the EU9 with the addition of Turkey
2006	EU11	Same as the EU9 with the addition of Bulgaria and Romania
2006-2009	EU12	Same as the E10 with the addition of Bulgaria and

 

More indepth methodology is available for download here.