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

Abstract

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.