Tracking Karnataka: Methodology of the survey

A Pre-Poll Survey was conducted in Karnataka by JAIN- A Deemed to be University, Bengaluru and Lokniti, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), Delhi. The survey was conducted from April 13 through April 18, 2018 among 3,737 voters in 224 locations (polling stations) spread across 56 assembly constituencies (the State has a total of 224 assembly constituencies). The sampling design adopted was multi-stage random sampling. The assembly constituencies where the survey was conducted were randomly selected using the probability proportional to size method. Thereafter, four polling stations within each of the sampled constituencies were selected using the systematic random sampling method. Finally, the respondents were randomly selected from the electoral rolls of the sampled polling stations.

Field investigators were imparted training about the survey method and interviewing techniques. The field investigators conducted face-to-face interviews of the respondents in Kannada asking them a set of standardized questions. The duration of an interview was about 25 minutes.  

The achieved raw sample is representative of Karnataka’s population profile. It has nevertheless been weighted by gender, locality, religion, and caste group based on Census 2011. The poll has an overall margin of error of plus or minus 2.3 points. The error margin increases for cross-tabulations. 

The fieldwork of the survey was coordinated by Dr Reetika Syal of JAIN and Dr.Veena Devi of Bangalore University . The survey was designed and analyzed by Prof. Sandeep Shastri, Prof. Sanjay Kumar, Prof. Suhas Palshikar, Dr Reetika Syal, Dr.Veena Devi , Mr Shreyas Sardesai nd Mr Himanshu Bhattacharya. JAIN-A Deemed to the University funded the study.