This publication was financed by EU Commission, DG Research/Socio-economic Research (5th Framework Programme: Improving the Human Research Potential & the Socio-economic Knowledge base) and co-financed by GESIS/ Social Science Information Centre (IZ) Bonn/Berlin. The CD-Rom was produced by the IZ.
The book provides a comprehensive overview of survey research, structured into several key parts. It begins with an introduction to methods, quality criteria, and perspectives in survey research, detailing the definition of the field, sampling theories and practices, and the development of questionnaires. Fieldwork and standards for survey research, including process control and international contexts, are also discussed. The second part focuses on international comparative survey research and the archiving of survey data, emphasizing the importance of data preservation. The third section addresses the training in empirical social science and the relationship between survey research and the public. In the fourth part, the book examines freedom of research alongside data protection, assessing the current landscape and future prospects. The fifth section highlights the need for collaboration between private and academic social research, alongside discussions on the evolution and future directions of survey research. The final sections present recommendations based on a summary analysis, a bibliography for further reading, and an appendix that includes ethical guidelines from the American Association for Public Opinion Research and information on DFG-sponsored social science projects from 1987 to 1996. The book serves as a vital resource for understanding the complexities and developments within the field of survey research.
The authors conclude that established common interests continue to form a link between the transatlantic partners. The structures that helped to overcome the Cold War and successfully prevent the outbreak of an open conflict still survive. Nevertheless, Kaase and Kohut stress the necessity for future transatlantic coordination and action; without intensive consultation and cooperation, there is a risk that the mature partnership will relapse to the level of national selfishness.