Tools for gathering empirical information
In accordance with the envisioned methods for collecting empirical data the following research tools will be constructed for the purposes of this project:
First, the questionnaire for a face-to-face interview among the population. The questionnaire will be devised predominantly with closed questions and because of the sensitivity of the subject projective techniques and relevant to the topic types of questions will be used. Structurally the questionnaire will be built on four thematic blocks: a) estimates of the frequency of use of shady business practices in Bulgaria; b) attitudes, disposition and psychological readiness to use shady business practices; c) assessments of the factors that determine the use of different types of shady business practices d) assessments of basic socio economic consequences of shadow economy; e) socio-demographic characteristics. The questionnaire will be piloted in at least 5 mock interviews, including testing for cognitive relevance.
The questionnaire for the face-to-face interview with the population will be designed to provide information on a series of indicators, which together will form the basis for calculating an innovative index to measure the tolerance of the population to shadow economy – The Shadow Economy Tolerance Index. This is a groundbreaking idea to create a one of the kind index and the project will be the first opportunity for its design and calculation. The envisioned research will gather data for the first calculation of the index and in the future, this procedure can be repeated with some frequency, for example once every two years. In order to ensure sustainability and for the periodic calculation of the Index, an online platform of key issues (online questionnaire) will be developed within the project and placed on the project Internet site. On the basis of this questionnaire the new, up-to-date value of the Shadow Economy Tolerance Index Index will be calculated every two years.
The empirical information collected by the national representative survey will be introduced in SPSS-model and analyzed using relevant statistical and mathematical methods. For example, for studying and evaluation of the changes in the structural levels statistical methods for testing hypotheses with averages and relative shares, for group averages and group relative shares and the total volume are to be applied. Depending on the available information for assessing the factors and other connections the following are envisioned: an analysis of variance with assessment of the strength of the connections and the linear contrasts, when variables are presented combination of strengths and weaknesses scales of measurement; χ2-analysis to evaluate the statistically significant relationships when the variables are presented in weak rocks of measurement; derivatives coefficients of the χ2-analysis for measuring the intensity of the connections – coefficients of Pearson, Kramer and others.
Second, the questionnaire for in-depth interviews with leading Bulgarian researchers in the “shadow economy”. The questionnaire will be built entirely of open questions, structured in five thematic blocks: a) available previous research in the subject area (shadow economy) which could be useful for studying the basic behavioral patterns regarding the shady business practices; b) attitudes and predisposition of individuals to use shady business practices; c) the factors determining the choice / inclination of individuals to one or other behavioral model; d) evaluation and assessments of the motives and reasons of individuals to resort to shady business practices; e) socio-economic consequences of shady economic practices; f) factors that favor the choice of socially favored and positively sanctioned behaviors; g) relevant approaches and policies for reducing shadow economic practices. The questionnaire will be tested in two pilot interviews and will be adjusted if necessary, after which a final version will be developed.
Third, guidelines for expert evaluations of trade unionists and employers. These guidelines will be developed in accordance with the methodology of the expert evaluation. Thematically, the expert assessment will focus on assessments and impressions of trade unionists and employers about generational differences in terms of the most common shady practices, as well as the basic socio-economic effects of shady economic practices.