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MUMBAI:
TNS, a world leader in market insight and information, today announced
the launch of a new book entitled ‘Public Opinion Polling in
a Globalised World’. Written by leading political and social
research experts across the TNS global network, the book explores
the importance of public opinion and social research in informing
the Governments and policy makers in modern democracies and across
our globalised economies. It reveals a rare international perspective
on public opinion polling and social research issues that are key
to political decision makers, and development strategists and managers.
Based
on studies from more than 50 countries across the world, the book
focuses on how public opinion and social research shapes public
and development policies, the effect it has on globalised economies
and how it helps governments, politicians and donor agencies connect
with their audiences around the world. Aimed at professionals who
focus on public opinion in Marketing, Sociology and Political Science,
over 15 authors have contributed to the book. Among them is, Tony
Cowling, President of TNS and holder of the gold MRS award.
Leendert
De Voogd, Global Head of TNS’ Political and Social Sector comments:
“I am very proud of TNS’ achievement in publishing this
book, which provides valuable insight into how people around the
globe are addressing the challenges, uncertainties and threats generated
by the globalisation of trade and exchange. It clearly demonstrates
TNS’ ability, as the world’s leading provider of political
and social research, to analyse and add value to international political
issues, which ultimately will help political decision makers take
more effective actions."
Releasing
the book in India, Tilak Mukherji, Executive Director, TNS India,
highlights, “In a country like India, inhabited by more than
one billion people with rich socio economic and cultural diversity,
social research plays a crucial role as the issues that need to
be addressed and strategies that need to be worked out vary from
state to state and even within a state. In view of this diversity
across India, national studies covering many of the Indian states
with a robust scientific research design hold the key for improving
the status leading to transition. The issues covered include socio
economic development, population, health and nutrition, environmental
protection etc.”
The
book contains more than fifteen global case studies from countries
as far afield as India, New Zealand, France, Philippines and Norway,
as well as UK, France and Germany. Topics include: The Presidential
Elections in France 2007 – The Role of Opinion Polls; Latin
America’s Mixed Views about Globalisation; Investments and
the United States; Transatlantic Trends: Convergences and Divergences
and The School Sports Partnership Programme in England, among others.
Dr
U.V. Somayajulu, Vice President and Head Social Research, TNS India
adds, “the case studies from developing world including India,
Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Philippines et al provide insights into the
way the research on developmental issues such as health, nutrition,
HIV / AIDS, rural development etc influences the policy making,
programme design as well implementation. The case studies from India
clearly demonstrate the role played by the Social Research Unit
of TNS India as the “Voice of the People” in India, the
second most populous country and the largest democracy of the World.
The absence of reliable official statistics (with the decadal census
being an exception) makes the role of social research in a democratic
country like India more important so as to get an understanding
of the status and issues during the intra censual period”
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