Middle Eastern Values Study (MEVS)
The Middle Eastern Values Study has one fundamental objective: to contribute to the accumulation of scientific knowledge about the people and culture of the Middle Eastern societies.
MEVS will contribute to (1) the collection and reduction of empirical knowledge about the Middle East, (2) the creation and dissemination of this knowledge in the vernacular, and (3) discussions, debates, and reflections among scientists and the humanities scholars on some of the most important sociopolitical cultural issues encountered by the Middle Eastern publics. MEVS will connect interested social scientists, humanities and religious scholars together via the internet and periodic meetings and conferences in order to maintain dialogues on the intersection between science and the humanities.
Using survey-research methodology, MEVS’ current focus is on understanding the causes and consequences of human values, attitudes, and belief systems in all aspects of life—familial, cultural, political, social, religious, economic, and demographic. To this end, MEVS will:
- Discuss rigorously topics related to the social determinants, correlates, consequences, and trends of some of the most fundamental values and beliefs of the Middle Eastern publics
- Discuss the technical issues in data collection and cross-national comparisons of values
- Identify the gaps in the existing empirical knowledge of the Middle Eastern countries and the kind of data—demographic, economic, institutional, public opinion/values—that are necessary in order to narrow these gaps
- Formulate an agenda for future empirical research that (a) enhances understanding of these societies, (b) promotes collaborative research on the Middle East, and (c) encourages and strengthens peaceful relationships among Middle Eastern countries as well as between the region and the rest of the world.
Please see the About page for more detail about the background of MEVS.