Barometer of the Public Opinion Research Center, August 1990

<b><i>The purpose of the study</i></b>: to find out the opinion of the Lithuanian population on the socially relevant issues during the rapid political, social and economic transformation of the country.
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<b><i>Major investigated questions</i></b>: respondents were asked whether they support the Lithuanian Government resolution to combat speculation and the taking of goods and whether there will be more goods in shops after this resolution comes into force. Respondents were asked if they agreed with the USSR occupying and annexing the Baltic States in 1940 and forcibly integrating them into the USSR. The events no longer matter today; the status of the Baltic republics stabilized after World War II. The Lithuanian people who participated in the survey were asked whether the leadership of USSR was interested in negotiations with Lithuania on the recognition of the republic's economic and political independence. The next question was whether Mr. Gorbachev and Mr. Yeltsin could be trusted as politicians. It was asked whether a military coup would take place in the USSR, whether the USSR leadership could avert the imminent collapse of the state for another 5 years, and whether the USSR would succeed in overcoming the economic crisis in the next 10 years. It was asked whether the USSR would be likely to use presidential power to force Lithuania to join the USSR and whether the Baltic states should demand compensation from the Soviet Union for the economic and moral damage of the last 50 years. After providing a list of states and famous foreign politicians, the respondents were asked to answer to what extent the listed states and politicians support the independence aspirations of the Baltic states. Furthermore, it was tried to find out whether it is very important for the Baltic states to cooperate for achieving independence and whether the respondents are satisfied with the current cooperation between the Baltic states in the economic and political fields. Opinions were sought on the outcome of the Second Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe to be held in Paris (the so-called Helsinki Conference II). It was asked what kind of Western support the Baltic countries would need and how the respondents envision Lithuania's relations with the USSR in the future. Further, opinions were explored on how the activities of the Supreme Council and the government relate to the interests of the Lithuanian people. Respondents assessed the activities of various Lithuanian political forces and movements and answered the question to what extent interethnic clashes are likely in Lithuania. The survey also clarified what armies would be needed for an independent Lithuania and asked about the reasons why Lithuania should (not) have its own army. After a list of languages, respondents were asked to answer whether they knew each of the languages well. They were also asked what religious holidays they celebrate. Respondents were further asked if they were afraid to walk on the streets at night, where they lived, and if they had lived in Lithuania for a long time. They were asked if they shared the view that shops should be privatized (sold to traders themselves or to other people). At the end of the survey they wanted to know if the respondents had ever been abroad (excluding the USSR).
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<b><i>Socio-demographic characteristics</i></b>: gender, age, education, social status, nationality, mother tongue, place of residence.