Factorial Surveys in Social Psychology: The Role of Ideological Issues in Friendship

Our report is based on the survey experiments conducted in 2015-2016 in one of the leading universities in Ukraine, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Our motivation is to understand the place of ideological issues within fundamental social relations, usually driven by non-ideological mechanisms, during the period of rapid social changes in Ukraine. Theoretical background of the report lies in social capital perspective revised by Ted Mouw (Mouw, 2006) and theory of rational choice (Peter Blau). We have included both prescribed and acquired characteristics in the vignette dimensions, namely gender, age, region, language, attitude to Euromaidan, attitude to studies at the university and spending free time. Preliminary results of our pilot study showed the importance of factor of attitude to Euromaidan in building friendship, as well as the relationship between the attitude to Euromaidan and a language of communication of a potential friend. We will focus on wider results of our survey and their consequences for the society.