WVS-8 QUESTIONNAIRE
Design of the WVS-8 questionnaire has been a lengthy process which required efforts and contributions from all the WVS network members and beyond. Questionnaire drafting started in October 2022 and included two consecutive stages: a) identification of the WVS7 time-series items to be retained in WVS8; b) selection of new topics and modules submitted during the open call for proposals to be included into WVS8. The questionnaire was finalized in November 2023 with the survey fieldwork commencing already in Spring of 2024.
Similar to the previous waves, WVS-8 questionnaire is an extensive research tool comprising 250 variables measuring cultural values, attitudes and beliefs towards gender, family, and religion, attitudes and experience of poverty, education, health, and security, social tolerance and trust, attitudes towards multilateral institutions, cultural differences and similarities between regions and societies. In addition, the WVS-7 questionnaire has been elaborated with the inclusion of such new topics as the political trust, authoritarianism and populism, migration, climate change, and family planning. Given the longitudinal character of the WVS research program, a number of survey items refering to social, political, economic and cultural values and norms as well as batteries measuring post-materialist index are replicated from the previous waves. The approximate proportion between the longitudinal vs new questionnaire elements is 75% to 25%.
WVS-8 survey round has also contributed towards monitoring the set of Sustainable Development Goals and the targets defined by the UN post-2015 agenda. WVS-8 questionnaire contains numerous indicators allowing to assess the status of SDGs 1 (no poverty), 2 (zero hunger), 3 (good health and wellbeing), 4 (quality education), 5 (gender equality), 8 (decent work and economic growth), 11 (sustainable cities and communities), 13 (climate action), 16 (peace, justice and strong institution), 17 (partnerships for the goals).
WVS-8 questionnaire was structured along 14 thematic sub-sections, including demography, as following:
- social values, attitudes & stereotypes (35 items);
- happiness and wellbeing (7 items);
- social capital, trust and organizational membership (43 items);
- post-materialist index (4 items);
- security (16 items);
- economic values, corruption, migration (11 items);
- science, technology, climate change (5 items)
- religion (7 items)
- ethical values and norms (16 items);
- family planning (9 items);
- political interest and political participation (34 items);
- political culture and political regimes (39 items);
- demography (24 items).
Reflecting on its thematis structure, the WVS-8 questionnaire presents a comprehensive exploration into the nature of human society, dissecting its various dimensions through 14 thematic sub-sections. At its core lies an endeavor to unravel the diversity of values, attitudes, and perceptions that shape people's lives and behaviour. The measures included into the WVS-8 questionnaire concern societal norms, pondering the nuances of gender roles, cultural diversity, and prevailing stereotypes. The next section assessed respondents' overall satisfaction with life, happiness levels, and subjective wellbeing. The questionnaire also investigates the level of trust in institutions and organizations, as well as the extent of social capital within communities measured through generalized trust as well as trust to in- and out-groups. The post-materialist index is one of the main measures in the WVS questionnaire; the index measures values beyond material concerns, such as freedom, self-expression, and environmental sustainability. This next module covers perceptions of personal and societal security, including concerns about crime, safety, and stability, as well as attitudes to different world countries. The questionnaire examines also economic attitudes on issues such property, wealth redistribution, as well as studies the perceptions of corruption, and attitudes towards migration. Another module explores individuals' religious beliefs, practices, and the role of religion in society. The section on "family planning" covers attitudes towards family size, contraception, reproductive rights, and family planning practices. The concluding modules assess individuals' interest in politics and their engagement in political activities, such as voting, protests, or volunteering as well as explore widespread perceptions of democracy, authoritarianism, governance, and political ideologies.
WVS-8 master questionnaire is designed in English. All WVS national surveys teams are responsibel for preparing the translations into their national language(s) in their respective country. In any given country, the questionnaire was translated into all languages which serve as the first language for 15% (or more) of the population. For countries that participated in previous waves of the World Values Survey, translation for the replicated items is used from the previous wave questionnaires to minimize bias during overtime comparsion of answers distributions.
WVS requires implementation of the common questionnaire fully and faithfully, in all countries included into one wave. This is the main condition which ensures over-time comparison of the collected data and is the main criteria for inclusion of each national data-set into the WVS-8 aggregated data-file. All WVS teams have a possibility to exclude few questions which are not acceptible in the country's cultural context. All WVS teams also have a possibility to include up to 40 additional country-specific questions on any topic related to the main theme of the WVS research program.