Sociological research, in particular monitoring the assessment of political processes in the country, is an extremely important and at the same time sensitive tool for influencing public sentiment, political decision-making, and shaping international cooperation strategies. At the same time, in times of war, the environment in which research is conducted changes dramatically, and, accordingly, problems arise with the use of the usual methodology and the interpretation of their results.
The traditional problem of the media and political commentators’ rather loose interpretation of the results of sociological surveys conducted by experts sometimes creates risks that are unacceptable in times of war. In addition, the results of sociological research are used by politicians and international partners in formulating their strategies and plans that can affect not only the development but also the future of Ukraine.
High-quality communication and proper interpretation of sociological data are crucial for supporting the democratic process and making informed political decisions, especially in times of war.
In order to discuss the peculiarities of sociological research during the war, on February 4, 2025 – the birthday of the prominent Ukrainian sociologist and public figure Iryna Bekeshkina and in her memory, at 12:00, the press center of Ukraine Crisis Media Center will host an expert discussion “Sociology and War. Degree of reliability and level of trust.”
Moderator: Valerii Chaly, Chairman of the Board of UCMC, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Participants of the expert discussion:
- Volodymyr Paniotto, Director General of the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology; Professor of the Department of Sociology at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy;
- Oleksiy Haran, Research Advisor, Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation, Professor of Political Science, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy;
- Anton Hrushetsky, Executive Director of the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology;
- Andriy Bychenko, Director of the Sociological Service of the Razumkov Ukrainian Center for Economic and Political Studies;
- Tetyana Skrypchenko, Deputy Director of the Sociological Group “Rating”;
Among the issues to be discussed:
- What are the main problems that arise when conducting sociological surveys in times of war?
- How does the lack of opinion of those involved in the Ukrainian Defense Forces affect the quality of sociological research?
- What new methods of opinion polls are being used in Ukraine during the war?
- How do the results of sociological research during the war affect the formation of public opinion, policy and cooperation with international partners?
- Do we need to change the methodology and interpretation of survey results today to improve their reliability?