ABSTRACT
Democracy brings public opinion to a new stage. Public opinion polls may significantly influence the future of Russia by providing "stimulation". When it is controlled by the state or other political institutions, public opinion research is often shaped and manipulated in favor of prevailing powers. Even though surveys contribute to the development and strengthening of democratic processes, in Russia they may also be used for other purposes. As in other countries, the dominant political ideology and policies pursued by state authorities had an impact on the choice of survey topics and the rigor of research. It is an independent research institute that conducts various types of surveys, from small-scale qualitative surveys to large-scale quantitative surveys based on representative samples. When they conduct sociological surveys, Russian scholars inevitably face methodological questions. In comparison with the former socialist countries of Eastern Europe, Russia has many more people considering that within the last twelve months the economic situation in their country has worsened.
