Swiss Centre of Expertise in the Social Sciences

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MOSAiCH-ISSP

Aim and organisation of the survey. MOSAiCH (Measures and Sociological Observation of Attitudes in Switzerland) is a survey financed by the Swiss National Science Foundation, and is conducted every two years. MOSAiCH can be considered a new version of the Eurobarometer in Switzerland. Certain parts of the Eurobarometer survey were adapted, and based on this, it was decided in 2005 to rename the survey MOSAiCH. Like for the Eurobarometer, the sample is composed of a minimum of 1,000 18 years of age and older. The survey involved different social themes and aims to capture attitudes and behaviors of the population toward political and social institutions, but also to probe current topics concerning the environment, national identity, or employment.

At the heart of MOSAiCH is the Swiss version of the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP). From 2000 to 2003, with the survey being conducted each year within the Eurobarometer, just one ISSP module was included in the questionnaire. Since 2005, with the MOSAiCH survey taking place only once every two years, there are two ISSP modules that figure in each administration. Thus, for each administration, the MOSAiCH survey includes a set of demographic questions, two ISSP modules, and one module of questions specific to Switzerland, but which touch on themes from the Eurobarometer. MOSAiCH is under the direction of Dr. Michèle Ernst Stähli.

Methodology. The MOSAiCH survey follows the principles of random sampling, with the goal of providing a representative view of the situation in Switzerland. The interview, which lasts one hour on average, is conducted face to face.

Summary table of methodological features of the MOSAiCH survey

Target population	All people 18 years of age or older residing in Switzerland
People surveyed	Random sample, with at least 1,000 respondents
Mode	face-to-face interviews, CAPI
Sample construction	Until 2009: Random sampling in three stages: Sample of postal codes drawn from each of the large regions of Switzerland. Selection of a determinate number of households/addresses from each of the sampled postal codes. Designation of one person from each household/address. Since 2010: Random sampling in one stage: Approved as an important national survey, funded by The Swiss National Science Foundation, the MOSAiCH survey can obtain a sample of individuals drawn randomly from the sampling register of the Federal Statistical Office, according to Art. 13c, para. 2, lett. d, order of 30th June 1993 regarding the implementation of federal statistical surveys.

Thematic contents. It is necessary to distinguish the stable themes, which concern the socio-demographic characteristics of respondents, the social and political institutions of Switzerland, the feelings and opinions of the population on European and Swiss institutions, and the trust accorded to them, from the specific themes of each survey administration that come from the ISSP or from the initiative of Swiss researchers.

Summary table of the set of surveys related to the MOSAiCH project

Year	Survey	ISSP	Eurobarometer	Swiss Module
1987	FNRS	Social inequalities (1987)		Social inequalities
1994	FNRS	Environment I (1993)		Awareness and behavior toward the environment
1997	FNRS	Role of government III (1996) Meaning of work II (1997)		Conditions and meaning of work, participation in the workplace
1998	FNRS	Religion II (1998)		Religion and religious communities: construction and regulation of religious mobilisation
1999	FNRS	Social inequalities III (1999)		Social inequalities
1999	Eurobarometer		Environment (EB 51)
2000	Eurobarometer	Environment II (2000)	Attitudes towards people from other cultures New communication technologies Genetically modified organisms (EB 53.0)
2001	Eurobarometer	Social relations (2001)	Science and technology (EB 55.2)
2002	Eurobarometer	Family and changing gender roles III (2002)	Biotechnology and genetic engineering (EB 58.0)
2003	Eurobarometer	National identity II (2003)	Family and couples (EB 59.0)
2005	MOSAiCH	Citizenship (2004) Meaning of work II (2005)	Attitudes towards Swiss institutions and issues related to the European Union	Social networks
2007	MOSAiCH	Role of government IV (2006) Leisure and sports (2007)	Attitudes towards Swiss institutions and issues related to the European Union	Professional prestige, evaluation of work and media events
2009	MOSAiCH	Religions III (2008) Social inequalities IV (2009)	Attitudes towards Swiss institutions and issues related to the European Union	Religions, survey climate, and professional position
2011	MOSAiCH	Environment III (2010) Health (2011)	Attitudes towards Swiss institutions and issues related to the European Union	Noise pollution and time orientation
2013	MOSAiCH	Family and changing gender roles IV (2012) National Identity III (2013)	Attitudes towards Swiss institutions and issues related to the European Union	To be determined

Explanation: Roman numerals indicate the repetition of the module within the ISSP.

Researchers are requested to announce their publications with the MOSAiCH or the Swiss ISSP data to the FORS Team for International Surveys. This will allow for expansion of the international publication list.

The datasets of MOSAiCH and the Eurobarometer in Switzerland (or EBCH) are available on the FORS Nesstar server. Important information about the study, the data, variables and response frequencies are also provided here. Whereas NESSTAR provides anonymised versions of the data, the FORS data service DARIS can be contacted to obtain MOSAiCH datasets that include additional variables of potential analytic interest (e.g., from methodological tests and geographical variables), after signing a restricted user contract.

The data of the ISSP are available on the server of GESIS.

The site of the International Social Survey Program (ISSP)

The Eurobarometer on the site of the European Commission

The Eurobarometer on the site of GESIS