Surveying Spontaneous Mass Protests: Mixed-mode Sampling and Field Methods

Surveying Spontaneous Mass Protests: Mixed-mode Sampling and Field Methods
Yuen, Samson, Gary Tang, and Francis Lee, and Edmund W. Cheng
Protest survey is a standard tool for scholars to understand protests. However, although protest survey methods are well established, the occurrence of spontaneous and leaderless protests has created new challenges for researchers. Not only do their unpredictable occurrences hinder planning, their fluidity also creates problems in obtaining representative samples. This article addresses these challenges based on our research during Hong Kong’s Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement. We propose a mixed-mode sampling method combining face-to-face survey and smartphone-based online survey (onsite and post hoc), which can maximize sample sizes while ensuring representativeness in a cost-effective manner. Test results indicate that key variables from the survey modes are not statistically different in a consistent manner, except for age. Our findings show mixed-mode sampling can better capture protesters’ characteristics in contemporary protests and is replicable in other contexts.

Publication date

1 Jan 2022 – 30 Nov 2022

Journal title, volume/issue number, page range

Sociological Methodology 52(1):75-102.

ISSN

1467-9531

Specialisation

Social Sciences

Theme

Society
National politics