Keywords: Methodological challenges and improvements, including in the areas of sampling, measurement, survey design and survey response or non-response

The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) has historically used public opinion surveys as a tool to learn more about citizens’ attitudes towards elections, and as a way to assess impact of programming in-country. These surveys have provided a wealth of information on which to base programmatic decisions and to gather data on opinions on socio-political issues. However, these surveys do have the limitation that they do not allow IFES to obtain robust information on the experiences and views of minority populations that may be of interest for programming efforts. Recognizing this gap, over the past year IFES has commissioned two surveys in Tunisia which focus on the opinions of two small minority populations in the country, illiterate Tunisians and Black Tunisians. This paper will examine the methodological implications of focusing research efforts on these minority populations, with a focus on sample and questionnaire design. The paper will also briefly discuss how findings have been used for programs of assistance in the democracy and governance sector, and the value add this research has provided beyond traditional nationwide surveys.

Illiterate voters and Black Tunisians represent minorities within Tunisia’s overall population, and are often marginalized in terms of political participation, representing a prime target audience for IFES’ work in ensuring that everyone has the right to participate in free and fair elections. IFES has traditionally used national public opinion surveys and focus groups to obtain actionable information on citizens’ views toward the electoral process and electoral participation. However, IFES’ experience with national surveys in Tunisia indicated that not enough reliable data was being obtained for these two minority populations to guide programming efforts focused on these populations. As a result, IFES commissioned two separate surveys focused on these minority populations in 2017 to supplement findings from IFES’ past public opinion surveys in country, and findings have been utilized by IFES to develop voter education campaigns to reach out to these communities in an effort to increase their political participation.

Two key methodological issues related to these surveys will be addressed in the paper. One is Sampling these populations at a nationwide level which presents some methodological challenges, and led to key decisions in the design of sampling frames for the surveys. The other methodological issue to be discussed will be the design of the research instruments, particularly for illiterate Tunisians, and the steps taken to ensure that the instrument was understandable to respondents but still provided actionable data for programming purposes. but serves an important role in giving voice to all citizens in a country. Implementation of the survey, as well as key findings from the surveys and how IFES has been able to actualize these findings in providing programming to all Tunisians will also be discussed. Theses survey provide an interesting example of steps that can be taken to design research which addresses information needs for democracy and governance programming focused on providing all citizens in a country with a voice and to have their opinions heard.