The database from the field surveys conducted during the demonstrations “The Colorful Revolution” (in May 2016) and “For a Shared Macedonia” (in April 2017) is an original work of Dr. Jasmina Trajkoska and Dr. Josipa Rizankoska, in the capacities of the association DIALOGUE – Center for Deliberative Democracy – Prilep.
The surveys are conducted with the aim of contributing to those studies which are based on empirical findings and research the individual level of socialization, structural availability and cognitive frames inside the social movements. Two separate field surveys were conducted in the territory of Prilep during the very demonstrations of both movements, the first one in the period between 17 and 23 May 2016, and the second one, in the period between 12 and 27 April 2017.
In total 141 respondents from “The Colorful Revolution” and 89 respondents from “For a Shared Macedonia” were pooled during both protests.
Unable to use the quota sampling strategy due to the specificity of the survey (it was conducted in the field at all stages of the Protest, including in motion), we succeeded in covering the movement using the probabilistic sampling method for number, demographic composition, and field concentration during protests. The selection of respondents was random, with particular emphasis on field coverage and concentration of groups during protests, which was made possible by the duration of the survey from 7 to 10 days.
The respondents were initially approached directly, and interviewers recorded the results. At the request of some respondents, they were provided with a copy of the survey with full instructions on how to complete the questionnaire, and the respondents fulfilled them under surveillance and with the help of the interviewers. Additionally, for those activists who were interested but due to specific activities during the protests were prevented from filling in the survey, we provided an internet version of the survey. Nevertheless, this version cannot be considered as a method in itself, but as an extra means for those respondents. The surveys were anonymous.
Due to the uncertainty regarding the duration of the protests, and taking into account that data collection would become impossible in case the protests ended, a pre-field test was made in quasi- laboratory conditions with experts and targeted respondents who supported the protests. In addition, the first thirty CR and the first twenty FSM field surveys were conducted in a semi-open manner in order to immediately correct possible omissions in the composition of the questions.
Participants from both movements showed major interest in participating in the survey, with only a small percentage of distributed questionnaires returned unanswered (2% of the CR and 6% of the FSM).