Experience of using the index method in sociological studies

Abstract

The research presented in the article aims at studying the index method as a tool to analyze the social situation in the regions. The Institute (ISEDT RAS) uses the approved techniques for the data analysis. One of these techniques is to calculate the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI). The Institute also designed the index of public sentiment in the region (IONR) which allows analyzing the data concerning the attitudes of the residents in different regions towards the work of local authorities as well as their self-assessments of financial well-being and social moods. Measuring the public sentiment index is tested using the monitoring data of the Institute in 10 regions of the Northwest Federal District from 2005 to 2010. Scientific and practical significance of the IONR calculations raised the problem of using this indicator for the municipalities of the Vologda region. Measuring the Index of public sentiment in the Northwestern Federal District and in the Vologda region helps evaluating the effectiveness of the public administration and provides the dynamics of public opinion concerning the performance of the authorities and its ultimate effectiveness traced through financial self-assessment