The COBRA-survey and database on autonomy and control of agencies

• Overall information
• Joint COBRA survey questionnaire
• Survey replication
• Joint COBRA database
• Log into the database

Overall information

One major methodological tool of both the CRIPO and COBRA network is the COBRA questionnaire. This questionnaire has been replicated in a considerable number of European countries and increasingly also in non-European countries. The questionnaire is addressed to the senior management of public sector organisations, in particular, (semi-)autonomous agencies. This may include departmental agencies, public law agencies and even private law agencies. The survey data helps to describe, compare and explain the autonomy of agencies towards their political and administrative principals on several dimensions. The data also shed light on the way agencies are controlled by their principals and what kind of internal management tools the agencies use. Moreover, several country teams have included additional questions on organisational culture and/or performance. The integration of the data in a joint COBRA database is ongoing.

Joint COBRA survey questionnaire

• COBRA survey - update April 2010: questionnaire and appendices (pdf)

The aim of this document is to provide a tool for collecting data for our research purposes, and that are comparative in an international context. Common data in the COBRA research. The document contains the questionnaire and appendices with definitions etc.

The questionnaire within survey document contains questions on three levels. Partners who conduct the survey in their own country commit themselves to include Level 1-questions, in order to make international comparison possible. Data on Level-1 questions are merged into the joint COBRA database. Factual data concerning ‘identification and environment’ can be collected by the researchers themselves based on document analysis. However, Level 1-questions on autonomy, control and management are meant to be perceptual and therefore they need to be filled in by the senior management of the public sector organizations under study.

For more questions on content and method please contact Koen Verhoest.

Surveys have already been conducted by many partners of the COBRA network. Web-based or postal surveys have been conducted in about 15 countries. For more information about these web-based surveys you can contact Koen Verhoest.

Survey replication

Several research teams have replicated the survey (situation April 2010).

Joint COBRA database

The data are being integrated in a joint CORA database, allowing for comparative analyses and joint research efforts by the involved teams. The COBRA network has agreed upon some guidelines for cooperation:

• Access is restricted to the partners which integrate their COBRA data into the database
• Partners who want to use data from other research teams in a comparison or analysis, seek the agreement/involvement of the research teams, whose data are used.
• Joint initiatives and publications are strongly encouraged.

Access to the database is restricted. 

You can click here to sign in the database ...