Investigating the Transformation of Societal Ideas, Values and Civicness: The Contribution of Panel Data and CIVES Observatory

This chapter highlights the value of panel data for studying the transformation of ideas, values, and forms of civicness in contemporary societies, and underscores their potential to support both research and policy through the analyses of social change. Starting from a theoretical reflection on the concept of civicness as a combination of trust, participation, and value orientations, the paper shows how contemporary phenomena such as the erosion of institutional trust, the fragmentation of public space, and the spread of misinformation require empirical tools capable of capturing complex and interdependent dynamics over time. The chapter discusses the methodological value of online panels in monitoring attitudes and behaviors in real time, drawing on consolidated international experiences. In this context, the FOSSR Online Research Panel (ORP) is presented, an open science research service developed by the CNR-IRCrES, and its flagship survey, the CIVES Observatory, dedicated to the study of civic participation, trust, political orientations, values, and attitudes toward science and innovation. Through analytical examples based on the first available data, the chapter illustrates the potential of panel data for understanding transformations in the political system and participatory practices. In conclusion, it highlights the strategic role of open infrastructures in strengthening the dialogue between research, policy, and civil society and in promoting an understanding of social change.