Time series analysis of the Austrian National Assembly conducted via internet (April 99 to February 00)
by
Thomas Benesch
Assistant Professor

Going upon the Austrian national assembly elections, which was on the 3rd of October 1999, we conducted an empirical study. A questionnaire was made available through the Internet. The questionnaire was posted on several sites on the WWW, and listed in Austrian search engines. The questionnaire was also promoted through banner exchange. The process was therefore fully electronic, and the results were sent back to us at an anonymous email contact.

The Internet audience currently need some technical understanding. While access facilities are improving, it still needs a certain mindset to pursue the opportunities provided by the Internet. Indeed, the computer-illiterate may to some extent feel out of place faced with the task of learning the technical jargon and using screens peppered with acronyms. The Internet may develop into a technical ghetto, catering to the tastes and culture of a small section of the general public, excluding large sections of society by high charges or cultural bias. Since we were required to utilize a brief questionnaire, we had only six questions. These dealt with the following questions · demography (gender and age) · main questions: 1. Which party would you vote for if elections were to be held this Sunday? This question, "Sunday question" is aimed at the individual decision of the interviewee, and is unrelated to the time of the relevant occurence (next Sunday election day).

2. Please say, which federal councilor should head the government after the elections.

· Supplementary questions: Whether the two opposition parties which always barely make it to the national assembly should participate this time too.

Date received: February 26, 2000