Politics in the Eyes of Public Opinion (online course) 2700-POOP-OG

**Course objective**
The aim of the course is to present the methods, techniques, and practices of public opinion research in a political context. Students will learn the methodological foundations of survey research, the process of planning such studies, tools for measuring public opinion, and approaches to analyzing and interpreting results. The course will cover selected reports by CBOS and the Media Research Laboratory (LBM UW) concerning the attitudes of Poles toward current political events, state institutions, international organizations, and the media.

NOTE: The classes are conducted in an e-learning format (all course materials will be available from the start of the course in advance – there will be no live weekly sessions) on the Kampus platform.

The course combines theoretical and practical elements – participants will take part in a real telephone survey using the CATI method as interviewers (8 hours) and training (2 hours) – **20-24 april 2026 (12:00–20:00)**.

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### **Topics discussed**

1. *Poles on the conflict in Ukraine* (2017), LBM UW: [https://www.lbm.uw.edu.pl/attachments/article/123/Polacy%20o%20konflikcie%20na%20Ukrainie%20-%20sonda%C5%BC%20LBM%20UW.pdf](https://www.lbm.uw.edu.pl/attachments/article/123/Polacy%20o%20konflikcie%20na%20Ukrainie%20-%20sonda%C5%BC%20LBM%20UW.pdf)
2. *Poles on the celebration of Independence Day* (2020), LBM UW: [https://www.lbm.uw.edu.pl/publikacje/newsy/364-polacy-o-obchodach-swieta-niepodleglosci-raport-z-badania-cati-na-100-lecie-odzyskania-niepodleglosci](https://www.lbm.uw.edu.pl/publikacje/newsy/364-polacy-o-obchodach-swieta-niepodleglosci-raport-z-badania-cati-na-100-lecie-odzyskania-niepodleglosci)
3. *The war in Ukraine in the opinion of Poles* (2022), LBM UW: [https://www.lbm.uw.edu.pl/publikacje/newsy/419-wojna-w-ukrainie-w-opinii-polakow-raport-z-badania-cati](https://www.lbm.uw.edu.pl/publikacje/newsy/419-wojna-w-ukrainie-w-opinii-polakow-raport-z-badania-cati)
4. *How Polish media present the European Union in the opinion of Poles* (2024), LBM UW: [https://www.lbm.uw.edu.pl/images/Raport_-_Jak_polskie_media_przedstawiaj_UE_w_opinii_Polakw_PL.pdf](https://www.lbm.uw.edu.pl/images/Raport_-_Jak_polskie_media_przedstawiaj_UE_w_opinii_Polakw_PL.pdf)
5. *Public opinion on the Polish army* (2025), LBM UW: [https://www.lbm.uw.edu.pl/attachments/article/659/Raport_CATI25%20[PL].pdf](https://www.lbm.uw.edu.pl/attachments/article/659/Raport_CATI25%20[PL].pdf)
6. *Characteristics of views of the electorates of major political parties* (2025), CBOS: [https://www.cbos.pl/SPISKOM.POL/2025/K_043_25.PDF](https://www.cbos.pl/SPISKOM.POL/2025/K_043_25.PDF)
7. *Poles on NATO and a potential EU common military force* (2025), CBOS: [https://www.cbos.pl/SPISKOM.POL/2025/K_027_25.PDF](https://www.cbos.pl/SPISKOM.POL/2025/K_027_25.PDF)
8. *Public perception of political journalists* (2024), CBOS: [https://www.cbos.pl/PL/publikacje/flashe/pliki/2024/fl_041_2024.pdf](https://www.cbos.pl/PL/publikacje/flashe/pliki/2024/fl_041_2024.pdf)
9. *Public perception of government actions since its formation* (2024), CBOS: [https://www.cbos.pl/SPISKOM.POL/2024/K_091_24.PDF](https://www.cbos.pl/SPISKOM.POL/2024/K_091_24.PDF)
10. *20 years of Poland’s EU membership* (2024), CBOS: [https://www.cbos.pl/SPISKOM.POL/2024/K_043_24.PDF](https://www.cbos.pl/SPISKOM.POL/2024/K_043_24.PDF)
11. *25 years of Poland’s NATO membership* (2024), CBOS: [https://www.cbos.pl/SPISKOM.POL/2024/K_024_24.PDF](https://www.cbos.pl/SPISKOM.POL/2024/K_024_24.PDF)
12. *Approval ratings of the Mateusz Morawiecki government at the end of its term* (2023), CBOS: [https://www.cbos.pl/SPISKOM.POL/2023/K_141_23.PDF](https://www.cbos.pl/SPISKOM.POL/2023/K_141_23.PDF)
13. *Perception of the media* (2023), CBOS: [https://www.cbos.pl/SPISKOM.POL/2023/K_132_23.PDF](https://www.cbos.pl/SPISKOM.POL/2023/K_132_23.PDF)
14. *Andrzej Duda’s presidency in the eyes of Poles* (2025), CBOS: [https://www.cbos.pl/SPISKOM.POL/2025/K_078_25.PDF](https://www.cbos.pl/SPISKOM.POL/2025/K_078_25.PDF)
15. *Perception of the election campaign and online political activity before the presidential election* (2025), CBOS: [https://www.cbos.pl/SPISKOM.POL/2025/K_059_25.PDF](https://www.cbos.pl/SPISKOM.POL/2025/K_059_25.PDF)

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### **Reading list**

E. Babbie, *The Practice of Social Research*. PWN, Warsaw 2000.
R.D. Wimmer, J.R. Dominick, *Mass Media Research: An Introduction*. WUJ, Krakow 2008.
P.B. Sztabiński et al. (eds.), *New Methods, New Research Approaches in the Social Sciences*. IFiS PAN, Warsaw 2004.
M. Szreder, *Methods and Techniques of Opinion Polling*, PWE, Warsaw 2010.
*How to Write and Talk About Polls – A Guide for Journalists*, Zamenhof Institute: [https://zamenhof.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/jak_pisac_i_mowic_o_sondazach_poradnik.pdf](https://zamenhof.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/jak_pisac_i_mowic_o_sondazach_poradnik.pdf)

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### **Learning outcomes**

**Knowledge**
• knows theoretical and methodological foundations of public opinion research,
• understands the process of designing and conducting surveys,
• knows the sources and types of public opinion data in Poland.

**Skills**
• can analyze public opinion survey reports and interpret results,
• can assess research quality (sampling, errors, credibility of sources),
• can conduct a basic CATI telephone interview.

**Social competences**
• understands the importance of public opinion research for democracy,
• can critically analyze media communication about politics,
• is prepared to work in a team during empirical research.

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### **Assessment**

• Required participation in CATI research as an interviewer (min. 8 hours at the LBM UW CATI studio) + 2 hours of training
• Short written summary (up to 5 sentences) answering: *“What do you consider the most important finding in this report?”*

**Requirement:** Participation in the CATI study is mandatory to pass the course.

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### **Internships**

• None.