Lithuanian Society’s Civic Empowerment Index, December 2010

The purpose of the study: to determine the changes in Lithuanian society's interest in public affairs, their civil participation, willingness to be engaged in civil actions at the local and national level, the attitudes towards the available civil power and the assessment of the friendliness of social environment to engage in civil activities.
Major investigated questions: respondents were asked which of listed information sources they use in order to find out about social affairs. It was questioned if media in Lithuania (press, newspapers, television, internet news portals) provides reliable news about work and adopted decisions of our country's government. When analysing knowledge about administration of the State, respondents were asked which office does I. Degutienė hold and who has the right to decide if the law does not contradict the Constitution. Respondents were asked with what majority of votes Seimas can reject president's veto, i. e. repeatedly accept the law returned by the President and which party has most seats in the Seimas. It was questioned which of listed parties respondents would consider to be the most "right" in left-right scale. Respondents had an opportunity to indicate how would they act if a serious political, economic or some local significance problem would emerge for them and for a whole society. It was questioned if respondents would participate in the Seimas elections if elections would be held next Sunday. Respondents assessed possibilities of their participation in political life. It was questioned to what extent an ordinary person must be active in his/hers community life. After a group of questions about various forms of political participation and means of community actions or social solidarity was presented, respondents civic activity was assessed. After request to evaluate power of different groups over influence on decision making, respondents civic effectiveness was assessed. Respondents with an age of 18-29 were asked if they participate (have participated) in activity of different pupil and student's organizations. It was questioned how much attention is dedicated (was dedicated) to civic education in general education school where respondents are currently studying or from which they have graduated. It was analysed if civic education is (was) useful. Further, all respondents were asked if in current school of Lithuania a civic education is necessary. After different groups of society was listed, respondents were asked to evaluate power of these groups over influence on decision making that affects lives of society as a whole or its different groups. Also, respondents were asked to assess the risk of civic activity when they were asked how it is likely that residents who currently are initiating or actively participating in civic actions, activities would encounter with problems that were listed to respondents.
Socio-demographic characteristics: gender, age, education, occupation, marital status, nationality, monthly family income per one family member, place of residence.