Conferences

Immigration is a relatively new issue for the CR, which was predominantly an emigration country until 1989. During the latest decade the country is experiencing an intensive inflow of population of foreign origin. Immigration is still a relatively new topic for Czech sociology. However a series of academic research projects appeared within the last decade. They are focused on different target groups, studying different aspects of migrants’ life and naturally they are using quite different methodological approaches. What is worse, sometimes there is an obvious lack of serious methodological background. Majority of quantitative researches of migrants in the CR applies questionnaire survey method. Obviously the major pitfall for applying this method in the CR (as well as in many other countries) is the lack of the credible sample base as the main obstruction for gathering representative random sample data. Researchers applying non-probability quota sample in the Czech context are facing the dilemma of insufficient official statistics necessary for setting up the quota characteristics.

The aim of my presentation is to discuss two methodologically comparable quantitative surveys of non-EU foreigners, who stay in Czech Republic on the basis of long-term residence permit for the purpose of employment. The surveys to be discussed are quite unique in terms of representing certain part of immigration community. The first one was held by the Research Institute for Labor and Social Affairs in 2001. The second survey was conducted in 2006 by the Center of Public Opinion Research, which is a department of the Institute of Sociology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. Both addressed surveys applied the quota sample with quota characteristics derived from the official statistics on foreign migrants. The sample was based on the database of the registered foreign holders of work permits from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and Czech Foreign Police.

In my short presentation I would like to discuss main methodological difficulties and successes of named surveys and to give some ideas for the future development of empirical research on immigrants in the Czech context. I believe that my presentation on Czech surveys dedicated to work and life conditions of labor migrants could be useful and close to the topic of the Special Issues Related to Survey Research session focused on Surveying Sensitive Subjects.