KONDA Research and Consultancy

KONDA Research and Consultancy, also known as KONDA Araştırma ve Danışmanlık, is a Turkish research and consulting firm focused primarily on public-opinion polling. Established in 1986 by Tarhan Erdem, the company was founded by a figure with experience in both government and party politics: Erdem had served briefly as Turkey's Minister of Industry and Technology in the centre-left minority government led by Bülent Ecevit in 1977. KONDA's institutional identity has consequently combined survey research with close observation of political behavior, public attitudes, and changes in Turkish society. The firm's work covers political allegiance, nationalism, social values, religion-related issues such as public attitudes toward the headscarf, perceptions of companies and finance, and views concerning law and justice. Rather than operating as a consumer-facing product brand, KONDA functions as a professional-services and information brand. Its outputs are research studies, opinion surveys, analytical reports, indexes, and consultancy services intended for media organizations, political observers, institutions, and other users of social and political data. Since March 2010, KONDA has produced recurring monthly barometers based on public-opinion surveys. The reported samples have generally ranged from approximately 1,800 to 3,600 respondents. These barometers provide a continuing measurement framework for public sentiment rather than a one-off election snapshot. In addition to issue-specific findings, the company has published indexes intended to track political polarization and public satisfaction, giving its work a broader social-measurement dimension. KONDA has been active in polling around several important Turkish elections, including the June 2015 and November 2015 general elections, the 2014 presidential election, and the 2014 local elections. Its record has varied by contest. A poll released before the June 2015 general election was reported to have come close to the eventual result, while a pre-election poll before the 2014 presidential election differed substantially from the final outcome. KONDA subsequently apologized publicly for that inaccurate forecast. The episode illustrates both the public visibility and the reputational exposure of election-polling organizations operating in a politically competitive environment. The company's public profile is also connected to Erdem's political background and media commentary. After leaving the Republican People's Party, he was perceived as having relationships with the governing Justice and Development Party, although the available reference material does not establish KONDA as a party-owned or party-controlled organization. Erdem has publicly discussed the electoral prospects of different parties, reinforcing KONDA's role as a prominent interpreter of Turkish political opinion. KONDA is best understood as a Turkey-focused opinion-research institution rather than a mass-market commercial brand. Its significance rests on the continuity of its polling, its participation in election forecasting, and its attempts to quantify polarization, satisfaction, and changing social attitudes. Publicly available reference material does not establish a separate international operating network, a listed corporate structure, detailed ownership information, or a current executive roster beyond the historical association with Tarhan Erdem.

KONDA Research and Consultancy was established in Turkey in 1986 by Tarhan Erdem, a former politician and government minister. Erdem had served as Minister of Industry and Technology in Bülent Ecevit's centre-left minority government for a short period in 1977. His political experience gave the organization an early association with the study of public affairs, although KONDA's documented business role is that of a polling and consultancy firm rather than a political party organization. Over time, KONDA developed a specialization in measuring Turkish public opinion and social attitudes. Its research topics have included nationalism, attitudes toward the headscarf, perceptions of business and finance, political loyalties, and views of law and justice. These subjects place the company at the intersection of election research, social research, and political analysis. The firm has also published indexes designed to express broader social conditions, including political polarization and public satisfaction. A significant development in KONDA's research program came in March 2010, when it began compiling monthly barometers. These recurring reports were based on samples generally ranging from 1,800 to 3,600 people and were intended to track changes in public sentiment over time. The barometer model gave KONDA a continuing platform for monitoring contemporary issues and political attitudes rather than limiting its work to isolated election surveys. KONDA became especially visible through polling associated with Turkish elections. The company was active around the 2014 local elections, the 2014 presidential election, and the June and November 2015 general elections. Its performance was uneven, as is common in election polling. A survey before the June 2015 general election was reported to have approximated the eventual outcome, while a survey published shortly before the 2014 presidential election diverged substantially from the final result. KONDA acknowledged the error and apologized publicly, making the event a notable part of its institutional history. The firm's public identity has also been shaped by commentary from Tarhan Erdem. He later left the Republican People's Party and was perceived in some reporting as having close relations with the Justice and Development Party, which came to power in 2002. Erdem has openly discussed the electoral prospects of different parties in the media. The available material does not provide evidence that KONDA was owned by, formally affiliated with, or controlled by any political party. KONDA's documented development therefore centers on the consolidation of a Turkey-focused opinion-research practice, the introduction of recurring barometers, and participation in high-profile election polling. Public reference material does not provide a complete account of the company's corporate ownership, headquarters, staffing, revenue, international operations, or current leadership. Its current status is treated as active based on the continuing identity of the organization and the availability of its official website, but detailed recent operating information is not established in the supplied sources.

• 2015

  KONDA polls both general elections

  [1]KONDA Research and Consultancyen.wikipedia.org

  The firm participates in the polling environment for Turkey's June and November general elections; its June forecast is reported to have been relatively close to the eventual result.

• 2014

  Polling activity expands across major Turkish elections

  [1]KONDA Research and Consultancyen.wikipedia.org

  KONDA is active in polling associated with Turkey's local and presidential elections.

• 2010

  Monthly barometer program begins

  [1]KONDA Research and Consultancyen.wikipedia.org

  KONDA begins compiling monthly barometers based on recurring public-opinion surveys, with reported samples typically between 1,800 and 3,600 respondents.

• 1986

  KONDA is founded

  [1]KONDA Research and Consultancyen.wikipedia.org

  Tarhan Erdem establishes KONDA Research and Consultancy in Turkey as a public-opinion and research consultancy organization.

A Turkey-focused, politically oriented public-opinion research and consultancy firm that translates survey data into recurring measurements of electoral preferences, social attitudes, polarization, and public satisfaction.

• Recurring public-opinion research · 2010

  Monthly Barometers

  KONDA's monthly barometers are recurring survey reports designed to track Turkish public attitudes toward current political and social issues. The program uses samples reported at approximately 1,800 to 3,600 respondents and can cover political allegiance, nationalism, social values, views of institutions, law and justice, and perceptions of business or finance. The recurring format allows changes in sentiment to be observed across time rather than through a single election-period survey.

• Political polling

  Election Opinion Polls

  KONDA conducts and publishes polling related to Turkish elections. Its documented election activity includes the 2014 local elections, the 2014 presidential election, and the June and November 2015 general elections. These studies measure voter preferences and political affiliations before voting, making them relevant to media coverage and public debate while also exposing the firm to scrutiny when forecasts differ from official results.

• Social indicator

  Political Polarization Index

  KONDA publishes an index intended to measure political polarization in Turkish society. The index extends the firm's work beyond vote intention by organizing survey evidence around the degree of political division and the distance between social or partisan outlooks.

• Social indicator

  Public Satisfaction Index

  The Public Satisfaction Index is one of KONDA's reported measurement products. It is intended to capture public satisfaction through survey research and complements the firm's political polling and polarization analysis.

• 2014

  Public response to an inaccurate presidential-election forecastOther

  Background

  A KONDA poll released shortly before Turkey's 2014 presidential election differed substantially from the eventual election result.

  Action taken

  KONDA publicly apologized for the polling error.

  Aftermath

  The episode became a notable example of the reputational risks associated with high-profile election forecasting, while KONDA continued to participate in Turkish opinion polling.

  Source

• 2010

  Launch of the monthly barometer seriesProduct launch

  Background

  KONDA sought to provide a continuing measurement of Turkish public opinion on contemporary political and social questions.

  Action taken

  The firm began compiling monthly barometers from recurring surveys using samples generally reported at between 1,800 and 3,600 respondents.

  Aftermath

  The barometers became a central part of KONDA's documented research offering and supported longitudinal analysis of public sentiment.

  Source

1. 1KONDA Research and Consultancyen.wikipedia.org
2. 2KONDA Research and Consultancy official websitekonda.com.tr