Digital Technologies in Rural Development – Data Derived from a Survey of Institutions Focused on Rural Development (raw data)

The study was conducted using an online questionnaire distributed to institutions influencing rural development at national, regional, and local levels. Invitations, including the research objectives and a link to the MS Forms survey, were emailed to individuals with broad knowledge of their institution’s rural-related activities. The survey was anonymous; respondents indicated only the general type of institution (e.g., government agency, local government, NGO, private enterprise) without specifying names or locations. To protect anonymity and avoid revealing spatial differences, no questions about geographical location were asked.
Approximately 8,800 invitations were sent, though it is estimated that slightly fewer than 8,000 institutions received them due to outdated addresses. In total, 1,318 valid responses were collected, corresponding to a response rate of about 16%. Distribution began on 15 November 2023 and ended on 8 February 2024. The questionnaire contained ten questions on institutional type, activity area, scope of rural operations, communication methods, Internet use, and its perceived impact on rural functioning. Respondents assessed changes occurring “in recent years”, allowing some interpretative flexibility within a reasonable timeframe.