Polls Come to Czechoslovakia

Abstract

Two MEN who surreptitiously listened to foreign radio broadcasts in Czechoslovakia during the German occupation conceived the idea of founding an opinion surveying organization. Their idea was put into practice following the Nazi defeak and the Czechoslovak Institute of Public Opinion now serves as a valuable instrument in national planning and administration. Those who are concerned with public opinion analysis as an aid to policy-making will find this account of particular interest. Dr. Adamec, now an official of the Czechoslovak Institute of Public Opinion, was a member of the Czech forces in France and England during the war. Following the liberation of his country he taught in the Department of Political Science and Sociology at the Prague College of Commerce. He is the author of several studies regarding public opinion research. Mr. Viden spent the war years in Czechoslovakia, and joined the Ministry of Information in I945. He took an active part in the work preparatory to the establishment of the Institute of Public Opinion, of which he is also a staff member.