National Survey on the topic of “Understanding Masculinity”: Information for study participants
To participate in the survey, please go to the registration page
Contact:
Email: homme@ethz.ch
Phone: +41 44 505 64 10
What is this survey about?
The nationwide population survey “Understanding Masculinity” examines different views on masculinity in today's society. The research team is particularly interested in understanding how gender perceptions are linked to behaviour and health. The study thus makes an important contribution to health promotion and violence prevention.
Who is conducting the survey and how is it being financed?
The study is being conducted under the direction of Dr. Denis Ribeaud at the Jacobs Center at the University of Zurich. It is part of the “Masculinity in Transition” project, which is being carried out in collaboration with the umbrella organization of Swiss men's and fathers' organizations (männer.ch). The project is co-funded by the Federal Office for Gender Equality (FOGE), the Mercator Foundation Switzerland, and Swiss Crime Prevention (SKPPSC).
The survey is conducted on the survey platform of the Decision Science Laboratory (DeSciL) at ETH Zurich.
Where did the project team obtain the addresses?
The addresses come from the sample register of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), which may only be used for important surveys of national significance. Your address was selected at random. The legal basis is Article 13c paragraph 2 of the Statistical Survey Ordinance (SR 431.012.1). All addresses will be deleted once the project has been completed.
Why did I receive a cover letter with a personal password?
In order to obtain as accurate a picture as possible of the Swiss population (by different language regions, different age groups, etc.), around 20,000 people aged between 18 and 64 were randomly selected from the sample register of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) and contacted by post.
The personal password ensures that only those who have been invited can participate. It also helps to determine which population groups (e.g., by age, gender, region) have participated. This information can be used to assess the representativeness of the study. Under no circumstances may the participants' answers be linked to their names or addresses. The study team has contractually committed to this with the FSO.
What happens to the data collected in the questionnaire?
Your answers will be stored digitally and used exclusively for research purposes. The study team will conduct scientific analyses on the survey data and publish them in anonymised form in reports and articles. All publications in this project will not allow any conclusions to be drawn about individual persons and their home addresses. Your answers will therefore remain anonymous. No personal information will be passed on to other persons, authorities, or companies.
After the study has been completed, the data collected in the survey will be stored in fully anonymised form on secure servers at the University of Zurich. Anonymised means that the information cannot be linked to any individual persons, as names and addresses will be irrevocably deleted upon completion of the survey.
Will names and addresses be passed on to third parties?
No, under no circumstances. Your contact details (name and address) will only be used to invite you to participate in the study. They will be stored separately from your answers on secure servers at ETH Zurich and deleted at the end of the project. The study team at the University of Zurich that analyses the survey data will not have access to your contact details at any time.
Can I withdraw from the survey?
Yes, participation in the survey is voluntary. You can stop filling out the questionnaire at any time without giving a reason. Once the study is complete, the contact database will be deleted in its entirety. If you would like to have your contact details deleted beforehand, please notify the study coordination office by email at homme@ethz.ch or by telephone on +41 44 505 64 10.
How will the results of the study be communicated?
Once the study report has been completed, which is expected to be in March 2026, the results of the study will be published on the following website: www.jacobscenter.uzh.ch/miw
Who can I contact for further questions?
If you have any further questions, please contact the study coordination office by email at homme@ethz.ch or by telephone on +41 44 505 64 10.