empirical. evident. essential.
Sixty years of expertise and innovation in political and communications research

gfs.bern provides empirical and evidence-based answers to a wide variety of societal, political and economic questions.

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We are seen as leading the way with our findings on opinion forming trends in Switzerland and in direct democratic processes. We apply a wide variety of methods for data gathering: representative surveys, specific target group surveys, focus groups, qualitative in-depth interviews, planning and accompanying studies for campaigning, data modelling, regional analyses and media analyses. We also conduct surveys simply and efficiently using our own online panels polittrends.ch.

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Decision-making bases for your questions concerning society, politics or the economy.

 gfs.bern services for your market and opinion research!

 

Surveys

Since the turn of the millennium we have conducted more than 1000 surveys and surveyed more than a million people throughout Switzerland.

Our clients include companies, political parties and associations, cantons and NGOs. We have assisted many of them for years with analyses or campaigning and support them in their strategic communications. They appreciate our proven expertise in the field of public opinion, surveys of any kind, in political processes and also our extensive experience dealing with the media.

We conduct one-off surveys for our clients or studies that are repeated at regular intervals. Surveys that are conducted regularly enable us to draw conclusions about changes over time that amplify what are otherwise only snapshots of opinion. Examples of recurrent surveys are the Credit Suisse Worry Barometer, the TCS Travel Barometer, the Health Monitor for Interpharma and the Banking Barometer of the Swiss Bankers Association.

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Reputation and image analyses

Insights into your own position

On behalf of our clients, we carry out reputation and image analyses. The aim of these analyses is to determine the position of a company, an association or a political party in the public eye. We use for these reputation and image analyses methods such as benchmarking and identify topics and offers which influence reputation. As soon as the results and thus also the position of a company, association or party are available, we support our clients and find out how the existing position can be consolidated, influenced or changed. Tracking can be used to strategically monitor the development.

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gfs.insights

For data-driven decision-making

For gfs.insights, we conduct representative surveys on social and economic issues on behalf of associations or interest groups. We use quantitative methods to assess the current situation - for example, the 'costs of digitalisation in law firms'. At the end of the study, all participants receive an individual benchmark report. It compares their responses with the overall results. Participants know exactly where they stand in relation to their competitors. In addition, we are developing an online planning and simulation tool based on the study results - also for members who did not participate in the study.

More about gfs.insights Case study 'Digitisation costs of law firms'.

Data science by gfs.bern

Revealing political and societal contexts

For data science by gfs.bern we employ a wide variety of methods and skills based on more than 60 years of experience in empirical social research.

We know how statistics, modelling, probabilities and projections work. Together with our clients, we pose the right questions that enable us to develop answers to the query concerned on the basis of hypotheses. Once the results are obtained, we process them to render them transparent and comprehensible.

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Campaigning

Mobilizes people for a political or social objective.

To mobilize people you need to know their position, values and desires.

We place this knowledge at the disposal of our clients, for whom we conduct surveys to establish whether the significance of the objective is understood, whether its importance is recognized and why someone is willing to be mobilized.

It is crucial for the success of the campaigning, especially in referendum campaigns, to make sure all the communications resources and instruments are perfectly coordinated. Our campaign analyses show arguments, stereotypes or everyday experiences that are especially suitable for communication. The campaign leaders also benefit from our globally unique empirical knowledge of referendum decisions and direct democratic processes.

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Election and voting research

Before and after national elections and referendums we conduct surveys among voters on behalf of Switzerland’s Federal Chancellery or the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG / SRR).

In national referendums and elections we conduct two surveys in each case among a representatively selected cross-section of the Swiss voting population. The data is gathered by telephone and online and evaluated by means of statistical data analysis. The results are published by the SRG / SRR under the title SRG-Trendumfrage (SRG trend survey).

After publication of the national referendum results we analyse them on behalf of Switzerland’s Federal Chancellery. The results can be found in our VOX analyses.

Election and voting research

Issue monitoring and strategy studies

These are used when approximate or anecdotal knowledge of opinions among target groups or stakeholders is not sufficient.

For knowledge – what clients or stakeholders actually think about a political or societal issue – is often crucial for preparing the right arguments for a discussion or for actors to position themselves effectively.

Examples of strategy studies or issue monitoring are the Credit Suisse Worry Barometer, the TCS Travel Barometer and the Banking Barometer of the Swiss Bankers Association.

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Impact analysis and evaluation

Impact analyses and evaluations are methods that are used to study the How and Why of political and societal changes.

We reveal the groups of people that were reached and which of them were prepared to change their attitudes, skills, actions or situation.

We systematically study the impact and the context of political or societal decisions, draft bills, changes in the law or referendums. Impact analyses and evaluations are based on existing or new data that we collect and evaluate with the aid of our many years of experience in opinion research and in data science.

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Over 60 years of expertise in political and communications research

gfs.bern stands for political and communications research. A further key aspect of our work lies in the accompaniment of strategic, evidence-based communication

The GfS research institute was founded in 1959 by the Schweizerische Gesellschaft für praktische Sozialforschung. Even in the early days, the findings published by the GfS Research Institute on opinion forming trends in Switzerland and in direct democratic processes were considered groundbreaking. From 1992, the GfS research institute had an independent office in Bern in the form of gfs.bern.

More about the history of GfS

Our clients include political parties, associations, private-sector companies, cities and municipalities, cantons, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG/SRR) and also civil society organizations. Our services cover all kinds of market and opinion research, such as surveys, data science, evaluations, analyses around referendums and campaigning, as well as campaign analyses, issue monitoring or image and reputation analysis for the optimization of communication strategies.

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Switzerland in figures and words, the latest referendum results and current gfs.bern publications

We provide background information and rankings on referendums, opinion polls, barometers and monitors. We have summarized the most important points for you and present the details here.

30.06.2025

Winning project "überall": unsuitable for the cityscape, too large and too expensive

gfs.bern on behalf of the City of Lucerne

Following the negative outcome of the referendum on the project loan for a new theatre in Lucerne, the city of Lucerne commissioned the gfs.bern institute to conduct a public opinion poll. The results are now available. Lucerne voters considered the project too large and presumably too expensive. Above all, they did not like it, and the voting population felt that the project did not fit into the cityscape. At the same time, it became clear that the Lucerne Theatre enjoys great support and sympathy among the population.

17.06.2025

Security of supply remains top priority

Sophie Schäfer, gfs.bern

The Swiss population clearly supports the current energy policy and sees the Electricity Act as a decisive step towards the future of energy. The fourth wave of the study on security of supply shows that security of supply is the most important requirement for Switzerland’s energy supply. At the same time, there is a keen awareness of the conflicting goals of climate protection, costs and supply, and with it the demand for politically viable solutions.

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