How the Eurobarometer Blurs the Line between Research and Propaganda

MPIfG Discussion Paper 15/6

26 Pages Posted: 28 Oct 2015

See all articles by Martin Höpner

Martin Höpner

Max-Planck-Institute for the Study of Societies; Max Planck Society for the Advancement of the Sciences - Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies

Bojan Jurczyk

Independent

Date Written: October 13, 2015

Abstract

This paper reviews Eurobarometer surveys from 1995 to 2010 and shows how Eurobarometer selects and frames questions in ways that systematically produce “integrationist” outcomes. The violations of the rules of good public opinion research concern incomprehensible, hypothetical, and knowledge-inadequate questions, unbalanced response options, insinuation and leading questions, context effects, and the strategic removal of questions that led to critical responses in previous Eurobarometer waves. It is highly unlikely that the violations happen unintentionally. Eurobarometer therefore blurs the line between research and propaganda.

Keywords: Eurobarometer

Suggested Citation

Höpner, Martin and Höpner, Martin and Jurczyk, Bojan, How the Eurobarometer Blurs the Line between Research and Propaganda (October 13, 2015). MPIfG Discussion Paper 15/6, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2681038

Martin Höpner (Contact Author)

Max-Planck-Institute for the Study of Societies ( email )

Cologne
Germany

Max Planck Society for the Advancement of the Sciences - Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies ( email )

Paulstr. 3
50676 Koln
Germany

Bojan Jurczyk

Independent ( email )

Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?

Paper statistics

Downloads
432
Abstract Views
3,697
Rank
108,653
PlumX Metrics