Questions.lu Survey Reaches Milestone €200k in Donations to NGOs

On Tuesday 10 September 2024, Luxembourg-based market researcher Quest presented the results of a Questions.lu survey which was carried out to mark the milestone of €200,000 in donations to humanitarian organisations.

Questions.lu, Quest's survey platform, was created about a decade ago. Participation is voluntary and unpaid; participants contribute to surveys under the societal promise that each survey generates donations for humanitarian organisations. According to Quest, this model enhances the quality of the responses, as it attracts participants who are motivated by the positive impact of their contribution. Today, more than 9,400 members are part of the Questions.lu community.

Participants themselves decide how the donations are allocated, choosing from a selection of five partner NGOs that have supported the initiative since its inception. The concept is simple: participants answer surveys and, in return, Questions.lu makes donations.

Questions.lu also publishes spontaneous and self-initiated surveys.

The survey in question, conducted to celebrate the milestone of €200,000 in donations, aims to better understand current perceptions of optimism and pessimism in society. The data was collected from 23 July to 27 August 2024, using several complementary methods (the Questions.lu panel, recruitment in public spaces, and social media to promote the concept). The total sample included participants from different countries, but only the responses of 900 Luxembourg residents were considered to ensure a representative sample of the resident population, based on quotas of gender, age and nationality. No sample adjustment was made.

With this survey, Questions.lu has now surpassed €201,000 in donations to partner organisations.

Survey results

The spontaneous survey looked at well-being and life satisfaction, together with global concerns. 52% of respondents described themselves "relatively satisfied" and 28% "completely satisfied" with their lives.

However, 53% of respondents expressed concern over war (in Europe and the Middle East) and 41% over climate change. These two major global issues dominated the spectrum of concerns. Meanwhile, economic challenges appeared much less significant (inflation at 32%, economic issues at 16%, artificial intelligence at 13%).

According to Quest, a paradox emerges: while personal satisfaction is high, it does not translate into widespread optimism. Indeed, 51% of respondents had a pessimistic outlook for the future of younger generations. Moreover, 65% believed that today's youth faced more challenges than previous generations. Concerns about upcoming social, economic and environmental changes were pronounced. 34% of respondents did not believe they could make a positive difference in the world. This figure reflects a certain level of resignation in the face of global challenges, which are likely perceived as beyond the reach of individual action, explained Quest.

Despite this climate of uncertainty, 68% of respondents said they were ready to take responsibility for shaping the future of society. The preferred means of action showed a tendency toward relatively generic and non-intrusive actions. Adopting a responsible lifestyle remained the preferred method of action for 66% of respondents.

This figure suggests a growing awareness of the impacts related to consumer choices and lifestyle habits, noted Quest. While the overall picture is positive, there are certain contradictions in consumer behaviour (the level of leisure travel, the growing success of SUVs, relatively unchanged food choices, the success of fast fashion), which show that the behavioural transition is far from complete.

One of the most striking findings, according to Quest, was the low interest in direct political engagement. Only 12% of respondents considered political involvement an important way to shape the future of society. Only 5% of respondents viewed union involvement as a relevant means to contribute to shaping the future of society. This disengagement from formal politics may reflect a growing disillusionment with political institutions and their ability to address systemic challenges, said Quest.

The market researcher concluded that this survey clearly illustrates the paradoxes of a society where personal satisfaction and global concerns coexist, and where action remains individual and likely hesitant.