Latest news from the CIS

The seminar "Structure and Social Change in Contemporary Spain," organized by the CIS (National University of Madrid) and the UIMP (United Nations Institute of Public Education) has concluded after a week of presentations by various specialists and academics. The course concluded with presentations by Sociology professor Verónica Díaz, who spoke about young Spaniards and their future, and by Professor Óscar Iglesias, who spoke about old and new cultures in Spanish society. This Thursday's seminar focused on economics. Professor of Economic History Carles Manera spoke about the recent evolution of the Spanish economy in the wake of COVID-19. We were also joined by Professor of Economics Pedro Casares, who discussed the evolution and prospects of the Spanish economy within the European framework. Women also had a special focus at this seminar. CIS Research Director Silvia García Ramos focused her presentation on gender stereotypes in Spanish society. And Sociology Professor Carlota Solé spoke about immigrant women.

The president of the CIS, José Félix Tezanos, opened the seminar "Structure and Social Change in Contemporary Spain" with his presentation on trends in change and social inequalities in Spanish society. The Director of Publications and Research Promotion at the CIS, Rorsario H. Sánchez Morales, addressed poverty and social exclusion during the first day of the course. Finally, Emeritus Professor and National Sociology Prize winner Inés Alberdi spoke about the new forms and modes of interpersonal relationships in our country.

The summer course "Social Structure and Change in Contemporary Spain" begins next Monday. Its objective is to analyze the main dimensions that shape Spain's social structure, its evolution, and its international comparative perspective. To this end, the course will analyze: structural trends and changes in Spanish society, from poverty and social exclusion to the role of political parties and the changes taking place in voting behavior. The situation of women and feminism as a driving force for change will also be addressed; the values, ideologies, and beliefs existing in Spanish society; scientific culture in Spain; migration processes; the situation of young people and their future; and old and new cultures and mentalities in Spanish society. The conferences will attempt to unite the plurality and diversity of theoretical and methodological approaches to address the evolution of Spanish society. The president of the CIS, Jose Félix Tezanos, will open the course, which will also include experts such as Inés Alberdi, Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the Carlos III University; Constanza Tobío, Professor of Sociology at the Carlos III University of Madrid; Rafael Pardo, Director of the BBVA Foundation and Professor of Sociology; Carles Manera, Professor of Economic History at the University of the Balearic Islands and Board Member of the Bank of Spain; and Antón Losada, journalist and Professor of Political Science at the University of Santiago de Compostela. Every summer, the UIMP programs and delivers high-profile academic courses in various disciplines and areas of knowledge at the Magdalena Palace and the Las Llamas Campus in Santander. In addition to their educational nature, their purpose is to promote encounters, reflection, and debate on topics at the forefront of knowledge, as well as interdisciplinary analysis of issues that concern the future of our societies. Check out the full course program on our website www.cis.es.

The CIS conducted its July poll, including the usual questions such as vote estimates and ministerial assessments. The PSOE would be the leading force with 32.9% of the vote, the PP would be at 30.2%, VOX at 12.2%, SUMAR at 6.6%, and Podemos at 4%. 69.9% of those who voted in the general elections on July 23, 2023, would vote for the same party or coalition they voted for in the next election. Another 15.7% say they would vote for a different party or coalition. Preferences over leaders Regarding the preference for Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez is the favorite with 26.5% of the votes, 13.5% prefer Alberto Núñez Feijóo, 6.8% prefer Santiago Abascal, and 4.7% prefer Yolanda Díaz. Among those surveyed, the gaps widen: 42.6% of those surveyed who gave their opinion prefer Pedro Sánchez as Prime Minister, 20.9 points ahead of Feijóo, whom 21.7% prefer. In third place is Santiago Abascal, with 10.9%, followed by Yolanda Ayuso, with 7.5%, and Isabel Díaz Ayuso, with 5.9%. Regarding the leaders' ratings, Pedro Sánchez received a 4.32, Núñez Feijóo a 4.04, Yolanda Díaz a 4.09, and Abascal a 2.88. Regarding the ministers' ratings, Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo received the highest rating, with a 5.22, and Defense Minister Margarita Robles, with a 5.13, was the second highest. Global problems 64.1% of respondents say they pay "a lot or quite a lot" of attention to news coming out of other countries, while 33.3% say they pay "little or none." 36.7% of the population believes that "wars and armed conflicts" are the main problem today, "poverty and inequality between poor and rich countries" is the second problem for 34%, and the climate crisis for 11.2%. 64.8% say they are "very or quite concerned" about Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 18.1% say they are "somewhat concerned" and 16% "a little or not at all concerned." 65.5% say they are “very or quite concerned” about the war in the Middle East, 18.6% “somewhat concerned,” and 14.4% “a little or not at all concerned.” Furthermore, 76.8% believe that Spain should cooperate internationally to help less developed countries, compared to 18.9% who believe it should not. Addressing this issue, 66.2% believe the State should first guarantee "the well-being of the Spanish people and then that of other countries." However, 31% believe it should help these countries through projects. 70.9% of Spaniards are "very or quite a lot" concerned about the climate crisis. And 27.5% are "a little or not at all" concerned. Economic situation 65.4% of Spaniards consider their current personal financial situation to be very good or good, compared to 22.8% who say it is bad or very bad. When asked about Spain's overall economic situation, 35.9% consider it "very good or good" and 55.1% "very bad or bad." Regarding the three main problems affecting Spaniards, 27.7% say "the economic crisis and economic problems" are the most pressing, 16.6% say "healthcare," and 15.8% say problems related to the quality of employment. These and other data are collected in the July barometer, conducted from July 1 to 4 with 4,007 interviews. The complete data can be found on the website of the Center for Sociological Research (www.cis.es).

On July 12, at 1:00 p.m., the preview of the results of the 'Barómetro de julio 2024' will be available to all media and interested people on the website of the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (www.cis.es). For any questions, the Communication telephone number is 91 580 76 25 / 664 470 083.

The study 3465 'Postelectoral elecciones al Parlamento Europeo 2024' is now available. They have at their disposal the microdata file, the marginal and crossing reports, and the technical documentation. You can access this study from the Study Catalog search engine or directly through the link indicated below.

The study 3466 'Desigualdades y tendencias sociales' is now available. They have at their disposal the microdata file, the marginal and crossing reports, and the technical documentation. You can access this study from the Study Catalog search engine or directly through the link indicated below.

On July 9, at 12:30 p.m., the preview of the results of the study 'Postelectoral elecciones al Parlamento Europeo 2024' will be available to all media and interested people on the website of the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (www.cis.es). For any questions, the Communication telephone number is 91 580 76 25 / 664 470 083.

On July 5, at 12:30 p.m., the preview of the results of the ICC (Índice de Confianza del Consumidor) will be available to all media and interested people on the website of the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (www.cis.es). The ICC collects monthly the assessment of the recent evolution and expectations of Spanish consumers related to their family economy, employment and their savings and consumption possibilities. For any questions, the Communication telephone number is 91 580 76 25 / 664 470 083.

The study 3455 'Barómetro sanitario 2024 (primera oleada)' is now available. They have at their disposal the microdata file, the marginal and crossing reports, and the technical documentation. You can access this study from the Study Catalog search engine or directly through the link indicated below.

The first wave of the 2024 Health Barometer reveals a slight increase in population satisfaction with the public health system, which reached 6.26 points out of 10 in April, slightly exceeding the score of 6.14 recorded in the same period in 2023. Satisfaction with Primary Care experienced a slight increase, reaching 6.29 points compared to 6.19 the previous year. While specialized care remains positive, its score decreased from 5.95 to 5.86 points. On the other hand, emergency services (7.51 points) and hospital care (7.14 points) remain the most highly valued aspects of the healthcare system. Regarding waiting lists, the percentage of citizens who believe they have worsened has decreased by more than four percentage points, from 39.2% to 34.6%. 50.1% of the population still believes that public healthcare is financed in whole or in part by contributions from working people, and only 45.6% know that it is financed by taxes from all citizens. Primary Care 83.6% of primary care service users rate the care they receive positively. This percentage has increased slightly compared to 80.4% in 2023. The most highly rated aspects are the trust and security conveyed by both the nursing and medical staff (8.08 and 7.87 out of 10, respectively). Regarding wait times, 25.1% of those who made an appointment were seen by their primary care physician on the same day or the next day, five points more than last year's survey. The rest had an average wait of 8.3 days, compared to 9.12 in 2023. Furthermore, almost 80% of citizens who needed primary care assistance last year were seen in person. Specialties 42.3% have consulted a public health specialist in the last twelve months, either by referral from a Primary Care physician (37.2%) or by appointment from the specialist physician during a previous consultation (57.9%). 81.5% of users positively rate the care they receive, with no significant changes compared to 2023 (82.8%). The aspects most highly valued by users are the information they receive about their health problems and the trust and security instilled by the medical staff (7.74 and 7.73, respectively). Hospital admission 10.1% reported having been admitted to a public hospital in the last twelve months. 40.3% were scheduled for surgery or diagnostic testing; 56.9% for an urgent illness or health problem; and 2.8% for childbirth. 87.6% of public hospital users positively rate the care they received during their stay. The highest-rated aspects are the care provided by the various professionals (nursing, 8.46 points, and medicine, 8.39 points). Emergencies 44.6% of citizens admit to having visited a public health emergency service in the last twelve months. Primary care services accounted for 40.5% of the demand during this period, hospital emergency services accounted for 52.7%, and 6.5% used a 061/112 type emergency service. The National Health System's emergency services are rated positively by 76.5% of those who used them. Equality This year, 2024, the Health Barometer included a question about the population's perception of equal treatment in public healthcare based on various aspects. Nearly 40% of the general population perceives that services are not received equally depending on the autonomous community in which they live, and 36% also believe that treatment is unequal depending on the person's handling of new technologies. Socioeconomic status, or the age of the people served, are the aspects in which the greatest equality in treatment is perceived. Mental health This edition also explores, for the first time, some aspects related to the care of mental health problems. In April 2024, 17.8% of respondents reported having needed to consult a healthcare professional for a mental health problem or psychological or emotional distress. 46.3% received care in the public health system, 44.7% in the private health system, and 2.6% in both. Among those treated in the public health system, 40.1% reported being treated primarily by a psychiatric specialist, 33.1% by their family doctor, and 20.8% by a psychologist. Twenty-six percent of those who consulted a professional for mental health issues got their appointment in less than 30 days; 40% were seen within one to three months; and another 26% waited more than three months to receive a consultation. 78.9% of people treated in public healthcare stated they were satisfied with the care they received during their visit, and 49.0% reported receiving better care than they expected. Acceptance of vaccines The Health Barometer has also included, for the first time, a series of questions to assess the degree of acceptance of vaccine use among the general population. Vaccination acceptance in our country is high, despite the fact that 36.7% believe they cause adverse health effects. The level of agreement with the protective aspects of vaccines exceeds 90%, and 89.9% state they follow the recommendations of healthcare professionals regarding vaccination. Knowledge and use of technologies In this wave, the Health Barometer also asks about citizens' use of digital technologies to interact with the healthcare system. 55.9% of those interviewed reported having an electronic certificate for carrying out administrative procedures, and only 0.9% did not know what it was. This indicator is relevant since access to the interoperable NHS medical record and, in most cases, to regional medical records, requires a personal electronic certificate. 38.5% have accessed their electronic medical records, compared to 61.5% of those interviewed who have never accessed them: 32.2% of them were unaware of this possibility, and 19.3% do not know or cannot use the Internet. 60.4% of respondents know they can pick up medications prescribed by the public health system outside their autonomous community thanks to the interoperable electronic prescription system, and 44.3% of them have used this service. The Health Barometer is an annual public opinion survey conducted by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Center for Sociological Research (CIS) since 1993. The annual survey, the basis of the study, consists of approximately 7,800 home interviews with people aged 18 and over, in all Spanish provinces. The first wave was conducted in April 2024, with 2,576 interviews.

The study 3463 'Barómetro de junio 2024' is now available. They have at their disposal the microdata file, the marginal and crossing reports, and the technical documentation. You can access this study from the Study Catalog search engine or directly through the link indicated below.

On July 4, starting at 11:30 p.m., the study ‘Barómetro sanitario 2024 (primera oleada)' will be available to all media and interested people on the website of the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (www.cis.es). You will be able to access this study from the CIS website through the "Studies Catalog". For any questions, the Communication telephone number is 91 580 76 25 / 664 470 083.

The summer course "The Study of Public Opinion in Democratic Societies" continues in El Escorial. This second session focused on communication and public opinion in modern democracies. EFE President Miguel Ángel Oliver emphasized the importance of verifying and cross-checking information. He also asserted that EFE itself is "a verification tool." "Journalism today is experiencing a more complex climate than a few years ago due to the fragmentation of society and the sheer number of media outlets," Oliver explained. José María Calviño, the former general director of RTVE, asserted that it was easier to report in the media in the past than it is now. "In the 1980s, TVE's goal was to bring news items closer to the public, not to provide the absolute truth," Calviño explained. The scientific study of Public Opinion was also discussed by Professor Antonio Alaminos, a member of the Scientific Council of the CIS. Alaminos explained that "predictive models in Spain make operational adjustments that are products of intuition," referring to private polling firms. Today, Professor of Sociology Gaspar Brändle also spoke about public opinion in Spain and its evolution.

On July 2, at 12:00 p.m., the preview of the results of the study 'Postelectoral de Cataluña. Elecciones autonómicas 2024' will be available to all media and interested people on the website of the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (www.cis.es). For any questions, the Communication telephone number is 91 580 76 25 / 664 470 083.

El curso de verano que organiza el CIS 'El estudio de la Opinión Pública en las sociedades democráticas' ha sido inaugurado hoy por el presidente de la Institución, José Félix Tezanos. Tezanos ha centrado su ponencia en los estudios de opinión pública e investigaciones sociológicas.  El Catedrático y presidente del CIS ha puesto el foco entre la diferencia que existe entre un pronóstico y una estimación: "la estimación se basa en indicadores estadísticos". Además, ha explicado que en procesos o contextos sencillos es "más fácil hacer una estimación, a pesar de que hoy en día los electorados están en descomposición, la gente que vota a un mismo partido se ha ido reduciendo al 20%".   Durante la mañana también ha intervenido el expresidente del CIS y Académico de la Real Academia de Ciencias Morales y Políticas, Juan Díez Nicolás. Díez ha asegurado que "las encuestas de opinión están dentro de la investigación sociológica, pero son solo una parte de la realidad social" y ha añadido que "esa realidad no está ordenada, sino que la ordenamos nosotros con los sistemas de clasificación". Unos sistemas que son "totalmente subjetivos". Durante la sesión de la tarde se ha celebrado la mesa 'La información y el estudio de la opinión pública como servicio público', la presidenta de RTVE, Concepción Cascajosa, ha explicado que el ente público tiene puesto el foco estos últimos años en "ofrecer informacón veraz y crear herramientas que permitan verificar información".

With the motto #SociologíaParaLaSociedadDigital , more than 1,500 sociologists will meet at the Pablo de Olavide University on the occasion of the XV Spanish Congress of Sociology, which will be held in Seville from June 26 to 29. The president of the CIS, José Félix Tezanos, will chair the closing symposium of the Congress, which this year focuses on the effects of digitalization. Under the title 'The digital society: some current questions', Tezanos will moderate the table in which the National Sociology Prize winners, Inés Alberdi and Constanza Tobío, will be present. The closing ceremony will then be held, with the presence of the president of the CIS, the president of the Organizing Committee, Mercedes Camarero, and the president of the Spanish Federation of Sociology, Màrius Domínguez. Find more information about the Congress here.  

The study 3459 'Postelectoral País Vasco . Elecciones autonómicas 2024' is now available. They have at their disposal the microdata file, the marginal and crossing reports, and the technical documentation. You can access this study from the Study Catalog search engine or directly through the link indicated below.

Alain Touraine es uno de los grandes autores clásicos de la Sociología actual, cuya obra giró en torno al análisis de las sociedades que él calificaba como posindustriales. Sociedades en las que los movimientos sociales han sido «el motor de los cambios» acaecidos en este periodo histórico. Esta obra es el resultado de las valoraciones de algunos de sus discípulos y colaboradores a lo largo del tiempo, cuyo propósito ha sido realizar un esbozo histórico sobre el trabajo intelectual de este eminente sociólogo, centrándose en la influencia que ha tenido su obra en la Sociología. En esta breve obra se incluyen los análisis de sociólogos como Manuel Castells, José Félix Tezanos, Marina Subirats, Michel Wieviorka y Verónica Díaz. Cómpralo en nuestra Librería.

The CIS has carried out a survey on inequalities and social trends during the month of June in which they ask about situations that generate inequality, standard of living and social classes, among other issues. 86.4% say they are “very or quite concerned” about social inequalities, while 13.1% say they are “little or not at all” concerned. Furthermore, 47.9% say that there are now more inequalities than ten years ago, 35.8% that there are fewer and 11.7% the same. When asked about 10 years from now, 50.6% assure that there will be more, 31.6% that there will be less and 6% that there will be the same as now. 58% of those surveyed believe that young people will live worse throughout their lives than their parents, 19.7% believe that they will live better and 18.6% that they will live the same. 51.2% say that in Spain there are great inequalities "in some aspects, but not in others", 35.4% affirm that there are great social inequalities and 8.7% say that there are few. Standard of living 64.5% of those surveyed claim to feel “very or quite satisfied” with their standard of living, compared to 30.6% who claim to feel “little or not at all satisfied” and 3.3% think that their personal situation is “ regular". Regarding future expectations, 47.2% believe that their life will improve during the next 5 years, 33.6% believe that their life will worsen and 14.5% that their life will remain the same. Regarding class identification, 62.4% affirm that their social class has changed compared to that of their parents. Of them, 62.3% think that it has changed to “much better or better.” Furthermore, 51.9% claim that they now have “many more or more” economic opportunities than their parents had, compared to 37.3% who affirm that there are now “less or much less.” Social Mobility 55.7% affirm that they have experienced upward social mobility throughout their lives, 26.5% believe that it has been downward and 15.3% believe that they have not had mobility of any kind. 56.9% believe that education is the main element that affects social mobility, 45.5% say that it is personal effort and hard work, and 31.9% believe that the main factor is the family . Inequalities between Autonomous Communities According to 41% of those surveyed, the differences between communities have increased, 29.8% believe that they have remained “more or less the same” and 20.6% have tended to decrease. As for the coming years, 38.8% believe that they will tend to increase, 40.2% that they will be more or less the same and 15.3% that they will tend to decrease. Situations that generate inequality 85.2% believe that unemployment in Spain will continue to be a major problem. There is also consensus on the statement “in Spain there will be more poor than rich” since it is supported by 76.2% of those surveyed and 62.1% points out that “in Spain, women will have the same presence as men in all areas of society.” This survey asked about some phrases that reflect opinions that people usually have, 83.3% disagree with the idea that "poor people do not know how to manage their economy well", on the contrary, 88. 8% believe that “child poverty needs urgent and decisive action from the Government.” And 74.5% are in favor of “the Government must guarantee that wealth is distributed fairly among all Spaniards.” Other data provided by the survey are that 70.7% believe that the richest should pay more taxes so that the government has more means to fight poverty and 85.5% assure that the best social policy is employment. . These and other data are found in the study 'Inequality and social trends' that was carried out from June 6 to 11 and has a sample of 4,006 interviews.