Armenia: CRRC 2008 Data Initiative

Everyone has an opinion on something in Armenia, but many sociological surveys — especially at times of elections and other major upheavals — are not generally recommended as a source of information to base policy decisions on or quote in articles. Usually the methodology is suspect to say the least, the surveys serve a political purpose, or the full data is selectively made available or not at all.

However, given that such data is important to track especially over time, the Caucasus Resource Research Centers (CRRC) hold annual data initiatives in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia which can be used to assess the situation in all three republics. The methodology is open and all data is freely available online.

Data is a critically important foundation for social research, but in the South Caucasus reliable, up-to-date and accessible data on social, political and economic issues are often in short supply. A focus on providing and maintaining access to sound data is a priority for CRRC. Moving beyond their function as a collecting point for existing datasets, the centers sponsor and collect data focusing on a wide range of social, economic and political variables related to the South Caucasus.

To increase cross-comparison of regional social and economic dynamics, the centers began a coordinated data gathering effort in the fall of 2003 to obtain reliable, comparable data on household knowledge, attitudes and practices across the South Caucasus.

The surveys have been carried out since 2004, although nationwide since 2006, and gather information such as size of households, economic conditions, and migration. The questionnaires also deal with attitudes towards politics and international relations. According to CRRC in Armenia the methodology for selecting households was as follows for the 2007 Data Initiative:

While the CRRC centers in Georgia and Azerbaijan have been using Census data (addresses of surveyed households) as sampling frames, the CRRC-Armenia used the database of Armenian household electricity users as a frame to sample households for the interview. […] Clusters of about 500 households were formed in each strata based on geographical proximity, and 50 households were randomly sampled in each selected cluster for interviewing. […] Taking into account the design effects of clusterization and expected non-response rates, 3250 households were sampled in Armenia, of which approximately 2500 completed the interviews.

The survey instruments (questionnaires), show cards, the detailed sampling methodology document, the survey databases, and some preliminary findings are posted on the CRRC regional web site at http://www.crrccenters.org.

Some of the data is also used on the CRRC regional blog, Social Science in the Caucasus, to analyze trends in unemployment, for example, or religious practices and civic participation. So, as I’ve followed such posts, it was interesting to accompany CRRC out in the field last week. It might not sound all that rivoting in terms of photography, but you’d be surprised. Villages are always fun, especially when you get to shoot women answering questions while baking lavash in a tonir.

CRRC Data Initiative, Arshalyus, Armavir Region, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / CRRC 2008

Not only that, but the survey also takes in ethnic minority households such as Yezidis.

CRRC Data Initiative, Arshalyus, Armavir Region, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / CRRC 2008

It’s also one of those times you remember how small Armenia is when you discover that one of the surveyors is the father of one of the founders of HENQ.

CRRC Data Initiative, Arshalyus, Armavir Region, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / CRRC 2008

Of course, it’s not all fun and games. In addition to having to find addresses in villages and cities where road names have changed, are not posted, and when even many inhabitants have no idea what they’re called, it can also get cold.

CRRC Data Initiative, Arshalyus, Armavir Region, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / CRRC 2008

Besides, after following much of how the results from such survey are used by CRRC, it was intriguing to follow the process for them, including office meetings to check results, verify data and correct any errors or oversights.

CRRC Data Initiative, Arshalyus, Armavir Region, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / CRRC 2008

CRRC Data Initiative, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / CRRC 2008

More information on CRRC can be found at http://www.crrccenters.org and their regional blog is at http://crrc-caucasus.blogspot.com. CRRC in Armenia also has a web site at http://www.crrc.am and a blog at http://crrcam.blogspot.com.