Post-electoral Belgium General Election Study 2003. A random probability sample of voters of both communities (Francophone and Flemish Belgian) has been interviewed face to face in the months following up the federal elections of May 18, 2003. Sample size: 1213 in Flanders / 777 in Francophone Belgium with RR1 response rate of 64.5%Following the first three Belgium National Election Studies, which were held after the General Election of November 24th, 1991, May 21st, 1995 and June 13th 1999, a fourth,and similar study was set up in connection with the General Election of May 18th, 2003.The Study was supported financially by the Belgium Federal Science Policy Office, under the National Ministry of Science.The Flemish part of the survey was conducted by the Institute of Social and Political Opinion Research at the Department of Sociology,Catholic University of Leuven. PIOP, Point d'appui Interuniversitaire sur l'Opinion Publique et la Politique at the Department of Political and Social Sciences, Catholic University of Louvain-La-Neuve, was responsible for the Francophone part of the study.Both research centres are supervised by a Steering Committee consisting of professors from the political research units of various Belgium universities.

The codebook also include sthe original Dutch language and Francophone language questionaires.In Brussels as well Dutch speaking as French speaking voters were interviewed.Description of Belgian state structure included in codebook (in English)

The General Election Study Belgium focuses on general political attitudes and behavior. Data has been collected on political information and knowledge, perceptions of political bodies such as parties, and perceptions of problems and important issues. Other questions deal with party identification, party preferences, feelings of political efficacy, and the nature and extent of political participation. Perceptions of social class and (economic) well-being, authoritarian attitudes, attitudes to immigrant workers, political corruption and the environment are some of the other areas investigated in this study. Extensive demographic data on respondents and their families have also been collected.The General Election Study Belgium has many objectives. First of all, it is intended to show a cross-section of political attitudes and behavior of Belgians after each General Election. Second, in order to study possible developments in political attitudes and behavior, Belgian General Election Study requires a longitudinal character, similar to some other European Election Studies. The third objective is to maximise the relationship with current theoretical research in different scientific disciplines such as political science, sociology, and social psychology. A final objective is to develop comparative research between the different regions and communities of Belgium, as well as with other countries.