Thabat Survey Research and opinion polls

A research institution, founded in 2023 as an independent center for research, policy studies and public consulting. It is an emerging institution for optimal investment in research, surveys, data collection, representative sampling methodologies, data analysis, writing of reports and research papers, and the use of experts in various fields to achieve the highest standards of accuracy and credibility.

The Center carries out numerous research activities, including preparing studies and applied research related to current Palestinian policies, conducting opinion surveys on the political, social, and economic conditions of Palestinian society, providing institutional and programmatic consultations and assessments and local governance, holding of conferences, lectures and summaries on topical issues, and other activities.

Thabat Survey Research and Opinion Polls is committed to objectivity and scientific integrity. The Center also invested in experts to oversee political research and governance, field research and researchers with expertise in the field.

The idea of establishing the center stemmed from the best experts in research, surveys, data collection, representative sampling methodologies and data analysis, writing reports, research papers and other various fields to reach the highest levels of accuracy, credibility, work and stability.

The center also invested in experts to oversee field work and researchers with expertise in the field who worked in dozens of survey research in data collection through face-to-face interviews with samples represented in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Jerusalem.

It also develops data collection mechanisms as provided by the world's best modern technologies, advanced data collection programmes and field control mechanisms based on modern technologies.

The center also worked to create a team of consultants in scientific methodologies, survey research, economic and legal studies, local governance and other different fields. It also relies on scientific methodologies in the selection of representative samples and follows rigorous working and follow-up approaches to ensure access to high-quality data.

 

Work Methodology for Data Collection From Representative samples

Palestine is divided into sectors or districts representing cities, villages and camps in 16 governorates. It is also divided into so-called "counting areas" or "clusters", each containing a number of housing units (approximately 140) in each cluster or counting area. The number of families in each cluster reflects its population size. The 2017 census provides the necessary data on families as well as detailed maps showing the place of each unit in the cluster. The number of clusters or counting areas in Palestine is 7,294.

The selection or withdrawal of the sample goes through three stages: (1) the random selection of inhabited areas (clusters or counting areas) using probability proportional to size, (2) the random selection of homes from population locations using updated maps, and (3) the selection of a person 18 years and over from persons in a home using "kish schedules". The sample must be weighted, or can be weighed itself. However, at the center we make sure that the age groups we receive are approximate to the actual distribution of the society using the information provided by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, and we re-weigh if necessary.

Using the methodology above, we choose from 80 to 120 randomly counting areas taking into account three dimensions (Area West Bank/Gaza, governorates, and locality type City/Village/Camp). After selecting samples in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, 10 homes in each counting area are selected using the "regular sample". The sample size ranges from 1,000 to 1,200 adults. The third stage of the sample selection process takes place inside the home, where researchers use "kish tables" to select the person (over 18 years) with whom they will interview from the people in the house. Prior to the interview, researchers are keen to confirm the confidentiality of the information that the subject will provide.

Since the sample is multi-stage, there are two factors that affect the variation or difference in the conclusions: the variation within the counting area itself, and the variation between the counting areas. The contrast within the counting area is reduced by increasing the size of the sample selected within it. By increasing the number of counting areas we reduce the error resulting from the variation between counting areas. The variation between counting areas is the largest source of sample error, making the error caused by variation within the counting area trivial compared to it. Thus, the margin of error depends mainly on the number of counting areas selected in each survey. Using 80 to 120 counting areas, and choosing 10 to 15 houses in each counting area, the error ratio in the sample is 3%.

The rejection rate to conduct interviews by field of research ranges from 6% -15%, calculated on the basis of the number of respondents' cases and the number of people who refuse to supplement interviews in the sample relative to the total sample. In order to avoid error caused by rejections, we use three ways to reduce this: (1) accurate and rigorous training of researchers; (2) testing of forms and questions on a pilot sample prior to the actual descent of the field; and (3) applying strict standards of "quality control" for researchers to test the suitability and effectiveness of field researchers and our ability to authorize them to conduct interviews with high confidence. Interviews and data entry process are monitored through follow-up via GPS in direct live transmission of information to further control quality and improve performance.

A supervisor is also assigned to each of two or three groups of field researchers and four field coordinators to be in direct and personal contact with supervisors in their areas of presence. These actions contribute to ensuring the quality and credibility of field work.

 

Telephone Samples:

The center relies on a series of mobile phone numbers in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Jerusalem. Random samples are withdrawn from these frameworks in scientific ways using specialized software.

Samples are usually withdrawn twice the number required to avoid lack of response and rejections.

Interviews are conducted by a highly experienced crew in the field of data collection.

 

The Center offers the following services:

Surveys of all types and in different fields on samples represented in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Jerusalem

Research papers in political, legal, economic and other fields

Assistance in research and paper building methodologies

Quantitative and qualitative data analysis using the latest software

Writing quantitative reports for different data results

In-depth interviews in different fields

Management of concentrated groups in various fields

Institutional, programmatic and local governance assessments 

Staff:

The center's work depends on a team of experts in different fields.

Jihad Harb: Director of Thabat Survey Research and Opinion Polls, a researcher and academic specializing in governance and policy issues, with varied experience in Palestinian work and public affairs; Twenty years in the Legislative Council served as rapporteur of the Council's Budget Committee and subsequently as Director of the General Department of Research. After 2020 he joined the Coalition for Accountability and Integrity (Aman) for four years as lead researcher and supervised studies and reports issued by the Coalition and was the main author of the annual report. He also worked as a part-time researcher for seventeen years at the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey research (2004 - 2021.) He worked as a part-time teacher at Birzeit University's Department of Political Science at multiple intervals.

Professor Jihad holds a master's degree in political science from Faculty of Law and Political Science in Tunisia since 1999 and has written a weekly essay specializing in Palestinian affairs. Co-author of the Arab Security Scale Report, the State of Reform in the Arab World "Arab Democracy Scale", member of the Palestinian Integrity Scale Report Group, and member of the Expert Group upholding the work of the Support and Development Group for National Reconciliation/Security Sector. He has numerous studies published in Palestinian and Arab institutions and research centres related to the Palestinian political system, good governance, parliamentary action, integrity system and the security sector.

Walid Ladadweh:

Public Relations Officer: Asmaa Thokan

Gaza Strip Coordinator: Abdelaziz Abu Shamaleh

South West Bank Coordinator: Raed Alahmar

Central West Bank Coordinator: Munir Bargouthi

North West Bank Coordinator: Nidaa Abu Taha

 

Advisory Team:

Dr. Randa Naser in Methodologies and quantitative research

Dr. May Albzour in Psychological studies and methodologies

Prof. Fadi Mousa in Market Studies

Prof. Eyad Innab in Local Government Studies

Prof. Naser Husni in Media Studies

Walid Ladadweh

 

 

 

Expertise in the field:

In the past 20 years, Company staff overseed more than 100 public opinion surveys carried out on samples represented by residents in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Jerusalem. He also helped supervise numerous surveys conducted in many Arab countries. He also oversaw studies run by universities used by doctoral students in the human sciences and published scientific research, including a two-year study with the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. He also published several papers and participated in presenting their results in international and local workshops.

 

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