2016

New Book: European Values in Numbers. Trends and Traditions at the Turn of the Century
A new book in the EVS Brill Series by Ruud Luijkx, Loek Halman, Inge Sieben (Tilburg University); Evelyn Brislinger, and Markus Quandt (GESIS Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences).
This volume presents the beliefs and values of people in European countries and the trends that appeared at turn of the century. Based on survey data from the 1981, 1990, 1999, and 2008 values studies in Europe, trends in human values are examined concerning important life domains such as religion and morality, primary relations and family life, work and leisure time, society and political culture. It shows the cultural varieties and similarities in value profiles of the Europeans at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st century.

The European Values Study organize a session at the ESRA Conference (17-21 July 2017, Lisbon)
Session: The Study of Values Change Using European Values Surveys
Various surveys carried out during the last decades provide a large amount of information about values and attitudes shared by people living in various countries around the globe. European Values Study was the pioneer of the surveys on values, collecting data every nine years, since 1981 and having an extensive geographical coverage in Europe. EVS still includes an impressive number of unchanged questions since 1981 allowing overtime comparisons on values related to a very broad spectrum of life domains: family and marriage, economics, work, leisure, politics, religion, morality. Other surveys, such as World Values Survey, International Social Survey Program, complement EVS in terms of geographical coverage and provide information about values and attitudes of people living not only in Europe but also in other regions of the world.
This session focuses on the analysis of value change under the impact of contextual factors and encourages submissions that make use of the comparative potential of surveys on values and attitudes from a methodological and a substantive perspective. To give a few examples: What is the impact of recent political events on attitudes and values? What are the basic empirical findings on long-term change and what are the main cross national differences? Which are the best methods to investigate overtime changes in values and attitudes? How to combine data coming from different surveys to study overtime trends? Do the measurement instruments that have been used in these surveys guarantee comparability across time and space? Submissions making use of comparative surveys data like European Values Study, World Values Survey, International Social Survey Program, European Social Survey or Eurobarometer are welcome.
Convenor: Hermann Duelmer (University of Cologne)
Coordinator 1: Ruud Luijkx (Tilburg University)
Coordinator 2: Malina Voicu (GESIS – Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences, Cologne)
Please consult ESRA website for the full call.

Call for papers, Special Issue, Rassegna Italiana di Sociologia
Religious change and the shaping of solidarity and social participation in a troubled Europe
Call for papers, Special Issue, Rassegna Italiana di Sociologia, edited by
Ferruccio Biolcati-Rinaldi (University of Milan, Italy),
Ruud Luijkx (Tilburg University, The Netherlands)
Cristiano Vezzoni (University of Trento, Italy)
The call looks for contributions in English dealing, both empirically and theoretically, with the relationship between religiosity, solidarity and social participation within European countries. The call is keen on a variety of methodological perspectives: qualitative and/or quantitative, longitudinal and/or cross-sectional, comparative and/or national designs as well as case studies are welcome and encouraged.
Abstracts due by November 15, 2016. All abstracts (500 words), with 5 keywords, should be sent as e-mail attachments to: ferruccio.biolcatiATunimi.it
Communication from the Editors concerning the selection of articles by December 15, 2016. Publication on issue 4/2017.

Call for sessions now open for ESRA conference in Lisbon 2017
The 7th Conference of the European Survey Research Association (ESRA) will be held in Lisbon, Portugal, from 17th to 21st July 2017. The conference will be hosted by the University of Lisbon, jointly by the School of Economics and Management (ISEG), the Centre for Research in Social Sciences and Management (CSG) and the Institute for Social Sciences (ICS).
The scientific committee is now inviting researchers who are active in the field of survey research and survey methodology to submit proposals to organize sessions at the conference.
For your session to be considered, please submit an abstract (max. 400 words) together with 3-5 keywords by 15th September 2016.
Please consult ESRA website for more information.

New data release: EVS 2008 Integrated Dataset
(ZA4800 Scientific Use File: v4-0-0, doi:10.4232/1.12458; ZA4799 Restricted Use File: v1-0-0, doi:10.4232/1.12483).
An updated version of the EVS 2008 Integrated Dataset including data and documentation of 46 countries/regions is now available. To download data and documentation, please go to GESIS Data Catalogue. An overview of the most important changes to the data can be found in the Variable Report 2016/2 and by selecting section ‘Errata & Versions’ in the GESIS Data Catalogue.
For more information, please also visit the EVS web page Survey 2008.
If you have questions or concerns, e-mail us at evsservice@gesis.org and we would be pleased to help.

General Assembly and Workshop in Warsaw
European Values Study and the University of Warsaw have organized the EVS General Assembly and a Workshop in Warsaw, Poland.
The General Assembly, chaired by Dr. Michael Breen (Chair of the Council of Program Directors) took place on Thursday 14th April. Representatives from 32 European countries discussed the Methodological Guidelines and the questionnaire for the data collection in 2017. The General Assembly was a very important step in preparing the data collection next year.

The Workshop “European identity, solidarity and generations” was opened to general academic audience and took place on Friday 15th April. Presenters from 12 countries gave presentation on topics connected to solidarty and European identity.

EVS workshop in Warsaw
The European Values Study and the University of Warsaw organize the workshop “European identity, solidarity and generations”.
In recent years Europe has been simultaneously growing together and falling apart. Political and economic events such as the economic crisis, the threat of ‘Grexit’, mass migration, terrorism and violent conflicts around the world all raise the question of the limits of social solidarity. Thus, the boundaries of social solidarity have become a significant issue in both social sciences and public debate.
With whom do we feel solidarity?
What are the boundaries between ‘us’ and ‘them’ and to what extent have these boundaries changed over time? Does European identity represent such a boundary? If so, is it strong enough to foster social solidarity?
What are the contextual variables influencing these boundaries?
Does generational change play a role in shifting the limits of social solidarity?
These are highly significant research questions in the current political context and there is high demand for answers that can be used to ground political and policy decisions.
The European Values Study is organizing a workshop to address these research questions in closer collaboration with the University of Warsaw. We invite scholars working on the topic to contribute their papers. We particularly encourage comparative cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches that help us to understand how social solidarity and its boundaries have changed over time and across generations. Contributors are encouraged to use comparative and repeated surveys like the European Value Study, World Values Survey, European Social Survey, International Social Survey Programme, or Eurobarometer.

Joint EVS/WVS survey in 2017
European Values Study and World Values Survey will join their efforts and carry out a common values surveys in 2017 in Europe. Please find out more here.

New Book: Values, Economic Crisis and Democracy
Malina Voicu (Secretary of European Values Study), Ingvill C. Mochmann, Hermann Dülmer recently edited the book “Values, Economic Crisis and Democracy” (Routledge, 2016).
The book makes use of cross-national survey data to explore the impact of wealth and economic contexts on social values. Instead of attempting to explain how aggregate changes occur (as previous volumes have done) the chapters in this collection focus on micro-level effects to interrogate more deeply the interplay between attitudes and values – and the way both can change as a result of transformation of economic context.
This book elaborates on several dimensions of value change:
– the measurement model and the way it changes under the impact of economic shortage;
– the connection between universal value orientations and attitudes towards different objects (e.g. the welfare state, immigrants and ethnic groups);
the effects of economic factors and vulnerability on values and attitudinal orientations;
– how particular political and economic contexts produce changes in political orientations.
This book focuses on the interrelationship of social values, attitudes and economic scarcity in the context of the last economic crisis experienced by many European countries. It will appeal to scholars and students of sociology, political science and economics.

EVS Workshop in Warsaw: visit the website
The European Values Study and the University of Warsaw organize the workshop “European identity, solidarity and generations” on the 15th April 2016 in Warsaw.

New data release
EVS Longitudinal data File 1981-2008 (ZA4804 Scientific Use File: v3-0-0, doi:10.4232/1.12253; ZA5174 Restricted Use File: v1-0-0, doi:10.4232/1.5174)
An updated version of the EVS Longitudinal data File covering 124 surveys administered in 48 countries/regions is now available. To download data and documentation, please go to GESIS Data Catalogue. An overview of the most important changes to the data can be found in the Variable Report 2015/29 and by selecting section ‘Errata & Versions’ in the GESIS Data Catalogue.
For more information, please also visit the EVS web page Longitudinal file 1981-2008.
If you have questions or concerns, e-mail us at evsservice@gesis.org and we would be pleased to help.

2015

Sad news
It is with deep sorrow European Values Study shares news of Jan Kerkhofs passing on 16th December 2015 at the age of 91. Professor Kerkhofs was a founding father of the European Values Study and long-time inspiration to those working on the study, particularly in his tireless dedication to find sponsors for the project. For this he was the man with the golden touch! We are grateful to have known Jan Kerkhofs and will miss him.

CfP: EVS Workshop in Warsaw “European identity, solidarity and generations”
The European Values Study and the University of Warsaw organize the workshop “European identity, solidarity and generations” the 15th April 2016 Warsaw. Please send an abstract of 150 words to evs@uvt.nl by 20th December 2015. Decisions about acceptance will be made by 18th January 2016.

First Italian EVS Conference in Trento 12-13 November 2015
The University of Trento hosted the first Italian EVS Conference “Italy and Europe: values, generations and geographical context from the 1980s until today. Analyses and reflections based on the European Values Study”organized by the Italian team of the European Values Study.
Ruud Luijkx, Chair of the Methodology Group of EVS, introduced the European Values Study and five keynote speakers addressed the conference: Giancarlo Rovati (Italian Program Director of EVS and member of the Theory Group of EVS), Loredana Sciolla (University of Turin), David Voas (Chair of the Theory Group of EVS), Malcom Fairbrother (University of Bristol), Bart Meuleman (Member of the Methodology Group)
The program consisted in four session: “Religious change”; “Work, education and values”; “Youth and family”; “Values and attitudes”, most of the presentation making use of the EVS data.

European Values Study workshop and General Assembly in Vienna, 30th October 2015
European Values Study and the Faculty of Catholic Theology – University of Vienna have organized the EVS yearly General Assembly on Friday 30th October 2015 in Vienna, Austria. The afternoon was dedicated to a workshop meant to discuss the challenges raised by the next wave of EVS. The Executive Committee, Theory Group and Methodological Group reported to the General Assembly about the activities carried out in 2015 and presented the road map for the next wave of data collection. The representatives of 28 partner institutions of EVS have discussed the Questionnaire and the Methodological Guidelines for the data collection in 2017.
The next General Assembly of EVS will take place in April 2016 in Warsaw.

Christian Friesl, Austrian Program Director, welcomes to the EVS General Assembly in Vienna.

New Book Publication: Vrednote u Hrvatskoj i u Europi: komparativna analiza (Values in Croatia and Europe: A Comparative Analysis)
Josip Baloban (National Program Director of Croatia) with Krunoslav Nikodem and Siniša Zrinšcak-ur, recently published a new book based on EVS2008: Vrednote u Hrvatskoj i u Europi: komparativna analiza (Values in Croatia and Europe: A Comparative Analysis)

EVS Conference in Italy, 12th – 13th November 2015
The first Italian Conference of the European Values Study Italy and Europe: Values, generations and territory from eighties to nowadays will be held at Università degli Studi di Trento between 12th – 13th November 2015 Keynote Speakers: David Voas (University of Essex, Chair of the Theory Group of EVS), Bart Meuleman (KU Leuven), Malcolm Fairbrother (University of Bristol), Rovati Giancarlo (Catholic University of Milan), Loredana Sciolla (University of Turin). Specially dedicated to Italian scholars but opened internationally. If you would like to present your work based on EVS data please send an abstract of 400 words by September 20th to conferenza_evs2015@unitn.it. You can find out more here.

EVS General Assembly Vienna 30.10.15
European Values Study organizes together with Faculty of Catholic Theology – University of Vienna a workshop to discuss the methodological challenges raised by the next wave of EVS and the yearly General Assembly. All national program directors of EVS are warmly invited.

5th wave EVS: preparations started
The preparations for the 5th wave of the European Values Study started with the formation of a theory group and a methodology group who will prepare the master questionnaire and guidelines for fieldwork in 2017

2010

Vacancy for PhD student at Tilburg University
The Department of Methodology and Statistics of Tilburg University in the Netherlands has a vacancy for a PhD student in the project “Comparing rating and ranking procedures for the measurement of values in surveys”.
Materials of European Values Study WORKSHOPS in Cologne and Zagreb now available
The European Values Study organized two workshops in 2010:
(a) 11-15 January 2010 in Cologne, Germany (hosted by GESIS)
(b) 8-11 June 2010 in Zagreb, Croatia (hosted by Faculty of Law University of Zagreb)

2009

Die Österreicher/-innen
The Austrian Report is pubished: Die Österreicher/-innen. Editors: Christian Friesl, Regina Polak, Ursula Hamachers-Zuba (Hg.). Wertewandel 1990-2008. Bericht zur Europäischen Wertestudie 2008 – Österreichteil. Czernin, Wien 2009
Abstract:
Was denken Österreicherinnen und Österreicher über Beziehung, Arbeit, Religion und Politik? Wie haben sich diese Einstellungen zwischen 1990 und 2008 verändert? Lassen sich Trends erkennen? Das Buch, Ergebnis der jüngsten Erhebung der Europäischen Wertestudie, präsentiert die Werthaltungen der österreichischen Bevölkerung der letzten 20 Jahre und beleuchtet eingehend die Hintergründe und Ursachen dieser Einstellungen. Die Europäische Wertestudie ermöglicht nicht nur einen Überblick über Einstellungen zu klassischen gesellschaftlichen Werten, sondern lässt auch Entwicklungstendenzen und Zukunftsszenarien erkennen. Die Wertestudie zeigt, woran sich Gesellschaft in ihrem Handeln orientiert; was sie wünscht, aber auch, was ihr fehlt.
1981 wurde die erste Erhebung durchgeführt, damals noch ohne österreichische Beteiligung. Es folgten Erhebungen 1990, 1999 und aktuell 2008. Seit 1990 ist die Studie auch Österreich unter der Leitung von DDr. Paul M. Zulehner am Institut für Praktische Theologie (vormals: Institut für Pastoraltheologie) vertreten. Unterstützt wird das Projekt von Anfang an vom Bundesministerium für Wissenschaft und Forschung. An der vierten Welle 2008 beteiligten sich 46 Länder, von Island bis Aserbaidschan, von Portugal bis Norwegen. Insgesamt wurden etwa 70.000 Personen befragt.

First publication wave 2008
The French participants in the EVS project have released the first publication based on the 2008 data.
La France à travers ses valeurs. Editors: Pierre Bréchon et Jean-François Tchernia. Paris: Armand Colin, 2009.
Abstract
L’individualisme triomphant aurait tout emporté, terrassant, en France, tout attachement aux valeurs. Des propos assez convenus qui ne résistent pas aux analyses du présent ouvrage qui s’appuie sur la quatrième grande enquête consacrée aux valeurs des Français (après celles de 1981, 1990, 1999).
En plus de 50 fiches commentées, tout est passé en revue : relations familiales, travail, institutions, économie, vivre ensemble… On y découvre le panorama le plus fiable de la société française. Quelles sont les valeurs qui ont le plus été remises en cause ? Quelles sont celles qui, au contraire, sont devenues dominantes et font consensus?
Les résultats, souvent surprenants, permettent de saisir les évolutions les plus marquantes et de tenter des explications. Comment faut-il interpréter, par exemple, la demande de permissivité privée et l’attachement à l’ordre public, ou bien encore le bricolage des croyances dans une société sécularisée?
Un ouvrage à mettre entre toutes les mains de ceux qui veulent – ou prétendent – connaître les Français.
Pierre Bréchon et Jean-François Tchernia ont assuré la direction de cet ouvrage avec l’appui des meilleurs spécialistes.

Three Travel Awards for the ESRA conference in Warsaw
The EVS Travel Awards assists students and post-doc researchers to travel to the EVS sessions of the upcoming ESRA conference in Warsaw. The applicant’s paper must be accepted for the conference. The maximum of the travel award is 500 euro. Please send your application at the earliest possible date to evs@uvt.nl, and include (a) the paper to be presented, (b) an itemized budget, (c) two (short) letters of recommendation. The names of the recipients of the Travel Awards will be published on this website.

2008

EPP-ED hearing on European Values in Brussels
In the framework of the 2008 Year of Intercultural Dialogue and the 2008 European Values Study hearing will take place in the European Parliament in Brussels on 11 December 2008 from 9.20 am until 12.30 pm (room ASP 5E2). Researchers from the European Value Study will present their research program: background, methodology, main findings and country specific conclusions. Commissioner Ján Figel, Onno Ruding, Chairman of the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) and Michael Schneider, President of the Committee of the Region’s committee on Territorial Cohesion (COTER) will contribute to the Hearing with key-note speeches.

European Values Study and the new Visitor Centre of the European Parliament
A new visitor centre of the European Parliament is set to open in Brussels. The centre is designed to meet growing public interest in the institution and will show how the European Parliament works, reflect upon its history and look forward to its future. It is expected that this interactive and multi-media exhibition will accommodate 500,000 visitors annually, including students and organized groups.
The European Values Study is one of the main data sources in the exhibition space on “United in Diversity”. This area is based on the idea that the European Union, despite the cultural differences and multitudinous interests, works together and develops concepts for a future European civil society. A reacting map of Europe will show the visitors how inhabitants of the 27 European member states think and feel about major EU policy areas. The map will be located at the ceiling of the exhibition space and automatically move up and down according to different answers to questions that Europeans were asked about in the European Values Study.
The new Visitor Centre of the European Parliament is expected to open in 2011.