SAM ARAŞTIRMA

The Ministry of Family and Social Policies commissioned the “Family Structure Research” in three waves in 2006, 2011 and 2016. The research pertains to household dynamics, marriage and kinship patterns, inter-family relations including children and the elderly as well as families’ social and cultural activities. The 2017 study, undertaken by SAM, aims to conduct further statistical analysis using the data obtained in the previous three waves. The findings will culminate in a book project composed of academic articles.

The study aims to understand the current labor market status of the SuTPs (Syrians under Temporary Protection) in Turkey. The qualitative component of the study comprises 87 in-depth interviews. For the quantitative stage, a survey was conducted with 1000 Syrian youths (ages between18-29) in Istanbul. The sample included working youths and those seeking a job.

In collaboration with Bahcesehir University.
Commissioned byInternational Youth Foundation.

The study is designed to determine the needs and the expectations of the audience regarding a culture channel that TRT plans to launch. The study comprises 15 in-depth interviews and 6 focus groups.

The study aims to reveal socio-economic and cultural transformations of rural spaces in Turkey and the reasons behind it. 1200 F2F interviews were conducted in 200 villages.

The research was designed to evaluate the pre-school education program provided by ACEV. Pre and post-tests were conducted with local and Syrian children and their mothers by interviewers who are native speakers of Arabic and Kurdish in Sanliurfa, Mardin and Diyarbakir.

Commissioned by Mother Child Education Foundation (AÇEV)

The study is designed as a comprehensive inquiry into male attitudes and behavior with regard to the concept of fatherhood. Research findings provided input towards formulation of policies regarding parenting. The study comprises 3200 F2F interviews and 40 in-depth interviews.

Commissioned by Mother Child Education Foundation (AÇEV)

The study is designed to determine public perceptions about Syrians under Temporary Protection in the 22 provinces where the research is conducted. The study comprises 4400 CATI and 40 in-depth interviews.

Commissioned by the Repuclic of Turkey Ministry of Family and Social Policies.

The quantitative component of the study examines how people in Turkey assess the role of religion in public life by investigating preferences in relation to everyday habits, as well as religious affiliation and practice (sample size 1212). The qualitative component comprises 40 focus groups and 30 in-depth interviews with people who consider themselves to be devout Sunni Muslims or Alevis with the same goal of understanding how they envision public space and public life vis-à-vis religion.

Prof. Anna Secor (University of Kentucky)
Dr. Banu Gökarıksel (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

The project is designed to carry out pretest and test surveys towards the implementation of the longitudinal Generations and Gender Survey (GGS) in Turkey. The survey examines relationships between parents and children and relations between partners looking specifically into topics such as fertility, partnership, transition to adulthood, economic activity, care duties and attitudes in order to build and improve the understanding about how public policy and program interventions impact these issues.

Commissioned by the Repuclic of Turkey Ministry of Family and Social Policies.

10 focus group meetings were held in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Adana, Kayseri, Diyarbakır, Trabzon and Kars between 12-27 May 2015 with a total number of 82 participants.

Commissioned by The Center for Public Policy and Democracy Studies (PODEM) and published as a book.

The project examines the psychological, socio-economic and cultural aspects of adolescent life in Turkey. The project comprises qualitative (12 focus groups) and quantitative (6747 F2F interviews) components, as well as a literature review. The study report has been published by the Ministry in Turkish, English and Arabic in 2014.

Commissioned by the Repuclic of Turkey Ministry of Family and Social Policies.

The study aims at establishing the employment/non-employment status and reasons thereof of women at 25-44 years of age and with high school education or higher. The quantitative part of the study includes 3600 F2F interviews nationwide and the qualitative part comprises eight focus groups in three provinces.

Commissioned by Bahçeşehir University(Sponsored by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey – TUBITAK)

This study aims at public profiling of the police through an inquiry into people’s perceptions and expectations so as to determine the effective and problematic aspects of police regulations and practices. The survey was administered through face-to-face interviews with a nationally representative sample of 3207 adults and a report was drawn to present survey findings. TESEV published a final report of the study in 2015.

The study aims at collecting data to cope with and develop appropriate strategies in the face of increasing migration associated with industrialization in the Trakya region (TR21). It involves five focus groups and 17 in-depth interviews with native and migrant respondents in Trakya’s industrialized towns and a region-wide survey administered through F2F interviews with 1309 respondents.

Commissioned by Trakya Development Agency.

The study aims at identifying the current level of financial literacy, including behaviors, tendencies, thinking patterns and capabilities of citizens across Turkey. Using a geographically and socio-economically representative nationwide sample, it is designed to explore differences and similarities in decision-making processes, capabilities and needs of people from different social segments regarding savings and investments. The study comprises 3000 F2F interviews in 41 provinces.

Commissioned by World Bank – Turkey Country Office.

This qualitative study inquires into patterns of household savings behavior and identifies the reasons underlying the relatively low savings rates in Turkey. Implemented under the 2010 Country Economic memorandum (CEM), the study aims at providing insight into how domestic savings can be motivated so as to finance sustainable economic growth in the aftermath of the global economic crisis of 2008-2009. The study comprises thirteen focus groups across seven provinces in Turkey.

Commissioned by World Bank – Turkey Country Office.

The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of the ÇPGD programme with respect to its initial aims and provide recommendations for strategies and policies within the health care system.

The quantitative study comprised 1097 interviews with mothers and 451 interviews with nurses/doctors across 13 provinces (215 doctors and 236 midwives/nurses).

Qualitative phase included eight focus groups with mothers who have taken part in the programme in four provinces, 20 in-depth interviews with doctors and nurses in four provinces and three in-depth interviews with representatives of potential partners (two from Ministry of Education and one from AÇEV).

Commissioned by UNICEF Turkey, Ministry of Health.

The subject of the study is the changing family structure in Turkey in the long term, the current status of the elderly, family relationships, attitudes and expectations of family members regarding the elders and the old age and evaluation of the policies for the elderly. The primary target audience of the study is 40 years of age and older individuals in Turkey.

After a comprehensive literature study, a total of 3851 people were interviewed in 70 provinces. In the scope of qualitative research, a total of 119 in-depth interviews were conducted in 12 provinces.

Commissioned by Prime Ministry, General Directorate of Family and Social Research, Department of Research on Family and Social Problems.

This research assignment has the basic objective of developing measurable criteria for the implementation of the 28 standards in SHÇEK’s institutions, identifying verification sources, and developing a monitoring and evaluation system.

In the scope of the study, 15 workshop meetings were held in 12 provinces and 76 institution visits were made. 719 surveys were conducted with the care staff and with the members of profession in the selected institutions.

Commissioned by UNICEF Turkey and the Agency for Social Services and Children Protection.

A quantitative research has been carried out on lifestyle, health status, sleep complaints and sleep disorders of Turkish adult population. The purpose of the study is to determine the prevalence of sleep complaints and disorders in the adult population, to identify their relationship to the working status, habits and health status of individuals, thus determining the predictive factors of sleep disturbances and the effects or consequences of sleep problems.

The study comprises 5021 F2F interviews in 56 provinces.

Commissioned by Turkish Sleep Medicine Society.

Research focuses on the function of electronic payment systems in economic development. Use of debit/credit cards makes certain benefits available to buyers and sellers alike. It also has some macroeconomic advantages, as in channeling economic transactions into the banking system and thus contributing to the registered economy.

Research focused on electronic payment systems taking all stakeholders into consideration, gathered official data on the subject and was completed with a literature review.

Commissioned by VISA, Turkey.

The survey is a part of a Worldbank funded research aiming to find out the changes in health expenditures before and after family medicine practice. To that end, 6000 household interviews are conducted involving 12000 families in Erzurum and Sivas.

Commissioned by The Ministry of Health of Turkey.

In the research, the historical background of socio-spatial transformation in Istanbul was analyzed by considering the basic economic policies, migration and demographic trends, housing supply policies, related legal changes, planning implementations, housing-workplace relationships, and important urban transformation decisions in different periods up to the present time.

1362 F2F interviews were conducted in 6 provinces of Istanbul.

Commissioned by academicians from Yıldız Technical University and Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University (supported by TUBITAK) and published as a book.

The project is a multi-dimensional exploration of masculinities in Turkey, aiming to explore the developmental, familial, social and relational experiences of men throughout their lives. The project focuses on unearthing emotional experiences, cognitive processes, conflicts, attitudes and views of men in the public and the private domains and achieving a deeper understanding of the psychology of men. The project aims to investigate the construction of masculinities in Turkey under 4 headings; that are 1) societal values, attitudes and stereotypes regarding masculinities, 2) self development, 3) being an adult male, 4) being an adult individual in society.

For that purpose, 40 in-depth interviews and 10 focus groups are conducted with married men between the ages of 21-55 in 7 different provinces of Turkey. In addition, 2000 surveys are carried out in 32 provinces.

Commissioned by academicians from Boğaziçi University, Istanbul Bilgi University and Bahcesehir University and published as a book.

Qualitative component of an NSF funded project to analyze 1) the scope, history, and geography of the veiling-fashion industry headquartered in Turkey by tracing out the circuits of production, design, sales, and finance that characterize the industry; and 2) the implications of the production, sale, and consumption of veiling-fashion for geopolitics, geo-economics, and identity formation in a transnational context. It comprised 11 group discussions (8 foucus groups, 3 mini-groups), including 6 focus groups with consumers, 2 with retail assistants and garment workers, and 3 mini groups with PR/marketing/advertising staff. (The larger project included a survey of the veiling-fashion industry in Turkey, also conducted by SAM, and is being followed-up by a similarly focused new project for which SAM organized 4 preparatory focus groups in July 2013).
The quantitative part of the study includes 175 F2F interviews.

Commissioned by Professors Anna J. Secor of the University of Kentucky and Banu Gokariksel of the University of North Carolina.

In June and July, two public opinion polls representing the Turkish voter population were conducted before the 22 July 2007 General Glections to monitor voter behaviors. Within the scope of the project, voters’ party preferences, priorities, and opinions regarding the country’s agenda were researched. In the first stage 2400 and in the second stage 1800 surveys were conducted.

600 ballot boxes from 81 cities of 240 were selected for early election forecasting. With this method, the final vote distribution was predicted with a maximum of 1 percent deviation only four hours after the election and the results were announced to the public.

Commissioned by NTV.

The goal of the project was to ensure effective response to the needs of the community by enabling the local government to provide information based services and raising community awareness towards informed use of public services.

Face to face interviews were conducted in 150,000 households to collect demographic and other household data.

A district-wide awareness raising campaign was launched two months before the interviews started; the intense two-month program was followed up periodically until project completion. Specific instruments included meetings, posting and/or hand distribution of 400,000 brochures and 5000 posters in schools, mosques, public buildings, hospitals and other public areas, as well as billboard advertising.

Commissioned by Bağcılar Municipality

Research conducted to assess Turkey’s child protection system run by SHÇEK (Social Services and Child Protection Agency). Goals of the project were enhancing reliable data for preparing an action plan towards establishing a satisfactory child protection system in Turkey, and increasing capability to orientate SHÇEK’s policies towards higher quality and more diversified services to children in need of protection, and develop alternative solutions to service needs.

The study made use of both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Following a desk work on the lists of target groups the procedures were completed in three phases: Preparatory qualitative study (in-depth interviews); quantitative surveys with beneficiaries; complementary qualitative study (focus groups).

Commissioned by Social Services and Child Protection Agency of the Prime Ministry (World Bank funded).

Qualitative research designed to provide input for creating a public information campaign that would raise awareness among the Turkish public about human trafficking and the realities of the trafficking experience. Twelve focus group discussions and a number of in-depth interviews were conducted in four cities of Turkey. In addition, a brief questionnaire was administered at the end of each focus group, providing some quantitative information on the values, perceptions and prejudices of some 100 participants.

Commissioned by IOM International Organization for Migration.

Registered Retail Outlets Reseach is the first micro-level quantitative study regarding the dimensions of informality in the retail sector in Turkey and was conducted for Turkish Council of Shopping Centers and Retailers (TCSCR) Scientific Research Platform.

The research model allows to compare different sectors in terms of informality and to obtain index values which enable monitoring the development of informality rates in each sector over time.

The research was conducted in three retail trade segments with samples that represent closed registered outlets in Turkey. In total, 600 questionnaires were conducted in 28 cities.

The research has won the first prize and has been published as a book.

Commissioned by Turkish Council of Shopping Centers and Retailers (TCSCR) Scientific Research Platform.

The study was conducted within the framework of the ISMEP (Istanbul Seismic Risk Mitigation and Emergency Preparedness) project financed by the World Bank. The goal was to discern the social impact of building reinforcement projects to be carried out in 25 state hospitals in Istanbul in line with guidance from an engineering firm.

Each of the 25 hospitals was visited to determine present conditions. Activities’ and infrastructure inventories were prepared for all 25 and some hospital staff was interviewed. Also, in-depth interviews were conducted with other parties expected to be impacted by the project; such as patients’ and patient relatives’ foundations, neighborhood headmen and the Local Health Authority of Istanbul.

Commissioned by TR Prime Ministry Project Implementation Unit.

1266 self-administered questionnaires filled by the members of a Turkish NGO (History Foundation) based in Turkey and abroad (mainly Europe and USA).
The main aims of the project are to have a better knowledge of political and social profile of the Turkish elite: educational, occupational and political backgrounds from the 1960’s to nowadays and to assess Turkish elite opinions and attitudes towards major issues related to Turkey’s European integration process.

Commissioned by Nicolas Monceau.

The study was carried out within the framework of the ISMEP (Istanbul Seismic Risk Mitigation and Emergency Preparedness) project endorsed by the World Bank. Statistical information about 32 districts of Istanbul was gathered from TurkStat (Turkish Statistical Institute) and the Metropolitan Municipality of Istanbul. A literature review was prepared by taking into consideration research conducted at universities about the socio-economic structure of Istanbul’s districts. Factor and cluster analyses were employed to arrive at a categorization of Istanbul’s 32 districts on social, demographic and economic bases.

Commissioned by TR Prime Ministry Project Implementation Unit.

After the 28 March 2004 municipial elections, with the completion of voting procedure a research was conducted to early estimate the election results of nationwide city council votings and İstanbul, Ankara, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality votings. For this purpose, a sample of 600 ballot boxes nationwide and 100 ballot boxes per metropolitan cities of İstanbul, Ankara, İzmir was used. Collection and processing of the data, spread across Turkey, was completed within six hours.

CNN Türk based their estimates and commentaries on this research. Deviation between final results and the research did not exceed one percent.
Commissioned by CNN Türk.

A preliminary assessment has been made of the willingness and ability of homeowners to participate in the retrofitting program in the Bakırköy district of Istanbul. The study was conducted within the framework of the Marmara Earthquake Emergency Reconstruction Project (MEER) and designed to provide input for the Istanbul Seismic Risk Mitigation and Emergency Preparedness Project (ISMEP). Thirty focus group meetings and two brief surveys were conducted.

Commissioned by Prime Ministry Project Implementation Unit (World Bank funded).

Face-to-face interviews were administered with information technologies specialists in businesses and with purchase decision makers in households.

Following were analyzed during the business part of the research:
• Computer penetration in businesses
• Businesses’ information technologies infrasturcture and know-how
• Examination of computer using businesses according to their sector and size
• Purchasing and refurbishing processes of computer using businesses
A nationwide survey of 1000 businesses and 3000 households was conducted.

Commissioned by Intel GmbH.

Social and economic impact of expropriation on affected households was assessed through measurements of loss of income, if any, due to expropriation. In-depth interviews and focus groups conducted in the three project sites (Adapazarı-Camili, İzmit- Bekirpaşa and Gölcük-Şirinköy) where private property was expropriated for construction of World Bank housing units following the Marmara Earthquake. Census taken of village-residing shareholders and/or users of expropriated land and sample survey conducted among province-residing shareholders of expropriated land.

Commissioned by TR Prime Ministry Project Implementation Unit (World Bank funded).

A series of quantitative and qualitative studies on urban integration and civil society participation in Istanbul, with special emphasis given to immigrants’ behavior, participation in neighborhood life, confidence in institutions, and relations with local government.

A baseline study in May 1999 involved face-to-face interviews with 674 people in eight neighborhoods, and four focus group meetings. A thematic study on immigrant women in June 2001 involved four focus groups; first stage of a comprehensive study involved face-to-face interviews with 4,000 respondents in 72 neighborhoods in Summer 2002, with second stage involving 30 in-depth interviews with NGO leaders scheduled for Summer 2003.

Commissioned by an academician from University of Kentucky.

A public opinion research on certain areas where need for a public administration reform is strongest regarding citizen perceptions of public administration, public institutions and services in general; the level and intensity of citizen demand for a reform in public administration; citizen preferences regarding various options on reformed government structures and practices. Two main components: comprehensive deskwork on both global and Turkish experience in public sector reform, and a nation-wide survey based on a representative sample of 2,400 (39 % rural, 61 % urban).

Commissioned by TÜSİAD (Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s).

A base-line study of the Turkish youth, designed to lay the ground for future time-based comparative studies, as well as providing guidelines for specific policy measures addressing young people. The study had three main components: Desk work to set the analytical frame; six focus groups to help construct working hypotheses and produce the questionnaire; and field work to survey a representative sample of 2,200 urban youths.
Findings were made public at a press conference and discussed at various panels, organized by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, which also published the final report.

Commissioned by Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

Research was conducted to inquire into customer satisfaction with EMAAR, a company active in construction industry. Field work comprised a total of 89 telephone interviews.

The study aimed at determining the size of the Turkish “anti-fouling” paint market, chemicals used predominantly in the industry, producers’ and importers’ views on the use of boron-containing anti-fouling paints, and preferences of suppliers and customers. It involved 64 in-depth interviews with business owners/directors, academics and NGOs, as well as a literature review to analyze the international and domestic market.

Commissioned by TUBITAK- Marmara Research Center.

A study has been conducted for a private bank in order to measure it’s recent marketing activities regarding SME’s, position in respect to competitors, customer satisfaction and customer loyalty. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used during the project. The qualitative phase included 6 focus groups and 30 in-depth interviews in 6 provinces. The quantitative phase was conducted in 11 provinces with 1847 businesses.

Commissioned by a private bank.

CATI to monitor the company’s corporate reputation by target audiences within Turkey.
Recruiting and interviewing a sample of 310 high profile respondents including top business executives, national government civil servants and members of regulatory commissions in parliament, and senior management or leadership of NGOs; translation and back translation; data processing and tabulation.

Commissioned by corporate company.

A survey has been conducted for a public bank’s focus on SME banking to measure the quality of services provided, customer satisfaction and customer loyalty . In order to guarantee representativeness customers were analyzed in four categories, corporate, commercial, entrepreneur and cooperative associations. Total of 828 customers in 42 provinces were interviewed including 504 business owners, 33 board members and 291 various executives.

1609 face-to-face meetings were held in 75 provinces of 28 cities with the population aged 18 and older, who live in settlements where at least one branch is located and who have an active account in at least one bank.

A survey was conducted on 421 employees of the Bank.

Commissioned by a public bank.

Within the scope of the study, the recognition level of insurance companies, perception of insurance companies, recognition of insurance products, level of usage of insurance products, level of customer satisfaction with insurance companies, position of companies relative to each other, expectations of the public from insurance companies were researched.

105 workplaces in Istanbul and 1,200 households in Turkey were surveyed.

Commissioned by an Insurance Company.

Aim of the study was to determine general public and stakeholder perception and support of the SYDTF, SYDVS, SHÇEK and to analyse the conditions on which public relations policies will be based.

The objectives of the research are, regarding the missions and the services of SYDTF, SYDVs and SHÇEK to determine how familiar the focus groups, the public in general the stakeholders are with the organizations, to find out how they are perceived, to determine the level of public support for the organizations, and to generate baseline information an key indications for a subsequent public information and communications campaign.

The study made use of both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The quantitative component comprised a public opinion poll conducted among a socioeconomically and culturally representative sample of the working age (15 years or older) population in Turkey, involving face-to-face interviews with 4132 respondents in home environments. Qualitative research included in-depth interviews and focus groups with selected respondents from the potential and actual beneficiaries and stakeholders of the two organizations.

Commissioned by TR Prime Ministry (World Bank funded).

Research was structured to assess the public opininon about construction sector and TMB as well as to evaluate how private sector and private companies are percieved. Social responsibilities attributed to TMB, impact of 1999 Marmara earthquake on construction sector reputation, comparison of TMB and other private sector institutions, evaluation of TMB performance and possibilities of strategies to promote public image are among the scope of the research.

Different interviews methods were implemented to different stratums. 1000 face-to-face interviews were conducted with the target group of urbanites with C+ or higher socio-economical class and 207 in-depth interviews were conducted with stakeholders. Inquiries with institution members and foreign representative were conducted via post.

Commissioned by The Turkish Contractors Association

Study was conducted to identify the perception about corporate images and reconstructuring programme of Ziraat Bankası and Halk Bankası. Study consists of three parts.
General public: 1829 interviews were made nationwide with bank account owners.
Institution employees: 900 bank employees were interviewed.
Stakeholders: A total of 420 face-to-face interviews were held with agricultural banking customers, commercial and corporate banking customers, private sector unions and organizations, relevant public organizations, political parties, trade unions, bureaucrats, banking sector and Treasury representatives.

Commissioned by Ziraat Bank and Halkbank.