 10 years in the frontline of sociopolitical research
The National Institute for Opinion Surveys and Marketing (INSOMAR) is a research institute that emerged in the world of sociopolitical studies at the beginning of 1999. From the very first days of its existence in the realm of knowing and understanding the processes of change undergone by the Romanian society, the team of researchers managed to gain – and subsequently maintain – a good reputation, thanks to the remarkable quality of their scientific undertakings. The steady observers of the Romanian reality
Special attention was paid to systematically evaluating the phenomena concerning migration (EMIPOLL) and social mobility, the demographic and cultural evolutions and the issues of healthcare, education (Student 2000) and social security. Along these lines of investigation also lie studies and analyses on people’s safety and exposure to risk, on counterfeit goods and services, on the development of the media output (RoMedia) and on the information consumption.
Diverse range of clients and productsThe Institute’s client portfolio comprises both government agencies and non-government organizations, Romanian and foreign corporations, State-owned and privately owned companies, as well as media organizations. Among our high-profile achievements are two types of product that we have been constantly delivering since 2000: the Barometer of the socioeconomic life, issued on a monthly basis, and the exit polls conducted during all the major elections. But there have virtually been no processes or events of public interest that INSOMAR was not asked to investigate through various means (surveys, studies, quantitative and qualitative analyses, projections, diagnoses or prognoses on a short, medium and long term). Putting science firstOne of the paramount features of INSOMAR’s activity has always been the tight connection between market research and strict academic principles. Our Scientific Council acts as the prestigious guardian of the quality, accuracy, creativity and innovativeness that define all products and services designed by the Institute’s various departments (Socioeconomic analysis and modeling, Strategies, Political analysis, Communication and media monitoring and Qualitative and quantitative research). Our scientists attained high levels of competence and professional rigor by attending sociological conferences, seminars, conventions and summer schools, by getting involved in high-class editorial projects and by constantly exchanging information through various forms of institutionalized partnerships. Strong national networkThe thing that allowed us to be successful in spite of the technical, methodological and cognitive challenges posed by every new project has always been our national network for collecting empirical data. This has provided an essential and irreplaceable logistical support, operating with samples varying from 1,200 entities interviewed nationwide (the Socioeconomic Barometer, RoTRAVEL, INSOBank) to 5,000-9,000 individuals and companies enquired (INOV-2000, DOSME) – sometimes reaching sizes of 30,000-50,000 persons interviewed (exit polls 2000, 2004, 2007, 2008) or even 1.5 million households (EMZOT). A new approach
These are the logistical, methodical and creative foundations upon which INSOMAR’s scientific and managerial path was laid over the past 10 years. We have now reached the point where we decided to channel the experience and expertise gained with considerable effort and dedication into developing a new logistic and organizational concept. The stake of such an institutional reconstruction is to address the new challenges of the socioeconomic and political environment, which require INSOMAR’s enhanced involvement in community development projects, as well as in projects designed to attract and utilize structural funds.
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