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Can AI Replace the People in Public-Opinion Research? Field research is expensive, slow and often frustrating. Researchers recruit and train enumerators, arrange access, travel to communities, chase respondents and clean incomplete data—sometimes only to confirm something that was already broadly predictable. So why not let AI estimate what people are likely to say? This is not necessarily bad research. With enough historical data, AI can identify stable relationships between

Across many countries, development partners are increasingly investing in Centre of Government (CoG) reforms to strengthen policy coordination, improve public sector performance, and enhance the ability of governments to deliver services effectively and transparently. While governance reform often focuses on institutional structures and technical solutions, experience shows that sustainable reform also depends on understanding the local institutional context, stakeholder rela

According to the World Bank, Palestine and the United States both had 100% access to electricity in 2023. Palestine also nearly matched the United States in access to basic drinking water: 99% compared with 100% in 2024. And among the electricity generated locally, non-hydroelectric renewable sources accounted for 24.5% in Palestine, compared with roughly 14% in the United States in 2021. Healthcare produces an even more remarkable comparison. In 2023, health expenditure amou

Data doesn't usually mislead us because it's wrong. It misleads us because we interpret it through hidden biases. In this series, we'll explore some of the most important statistical biases that affect decision-making across business, development, and public policy, and why recognizing them leads to better evidence and better decisions. 1. Selection Bias: Are You Only Hearing from the People Who Showed Up? Imagine evaluating a training program by interviewing only those who a

Survey research is a cornerstone for organizations seeking to understand populations, behaviors, and trends. The quality of survey results depends heavily on the sampling frame used. A well-constructed sampling frame ensures that the sample accurately represents the target population, reducing bias and improving the validity of findings. In this post, I will explore practical ways to enhance survey sampling frames, focusing on improving sampling frames and data collection met

Protection on Paper vs Lived Reality Online safety regulations across the Arab region have expanded rapidly in recent years. Harassment, blackmail, image-based abuse, and digital exploitation are increasingly recognized as legal violations, and many Arab countries have introduced or updated Cybercrime laws to address online harms. Across the region, governments are actively prioritizing stronger regulatory frameworks and digital protections. On paper, the framework looks stro

Understanding the economic and social landscape of Palestine requires detailed, sector-specific data. Reliable data enables organizations to make informed decisions, allocate resources efficiently, and design effective interventions. This post provides a comprehensive overview of targeted industry data analysis in Palestine, focusing on key sectors that drive the region's development. I will share insights that are practical and actionable for organizations working in develop

Data collection is a critical foundation for informed decision-making across sectors. In Palestine, the process of gathering reliable data presents unique challenges and opportunities. Understanding local data gathering methods is essential for organizations aiming to support development, humanitarian efforts, governance, and private-sector growth in the region. This article explores the landscape of data collection in Palestine, highlighting practical approaches, challenges,

By Dr. Faisal Awartani (CEO) Consider the following intellectual property scenario: · IP₁ (V₁) represents an original intellectual product created and owned by Person P₁ (e.g., a research paper, dataset, model, or proprietary report). · IP₂ (V₂) represents a distinct intellectual product created and owned by Person P₂ . Each intellectual product can be abstracted as a knowledge vector : V1=(x1,x2,x3) , V2=(y1,y2,y3) Now, a third party, Person P₃ , does not s

Big data did not kill theory. It revealed why theory was always necessary. In 2008, Chris Anderson, then editor-in-chief of Wired , declared that we were witnessing “The End of Theory.” In the petabyte age, he argued, correlation would supersede causation. Models would become obsolete, and the scientific method—hypothesize, test, falsify—would quietly retire. With enough data, the numbers would speak for themselves. Nearly two decades later, we can say with confidence: the

By Dr. Faisal Awartani ( CEO) Insights For Research Polling and Training email: faisal@insights.ps As we look ahead to the coming decades, it is becoming clear that the global labor force will no longer be defined solely by human workers. Instead, we are entering an era where three distinct categories of labor will coexist, compete, and collaborate, reshaping economics, productivity, and the very meaning of work. 1. Biological Agents (Humans as We Know Them) This is the tra

By Dr. Faisal Awartani 1. The Age of Machines and the Legacy of Materialism The emergence of artificial intelligence marks not merely a...

By Faisal Awartani (Ph.D.) Founder & CEO, Insights for Research Polling and Training email: faisal@insights.ps A Thought Experiment for...

By: Faisal Awartani (Ph.D.) Introduction In today’s fast-paced technological world, data science is driving innovations across...

Faisal Awartani (Ph.D.) When delving into the analysis of relationships between two variables (X, Y), various correlation coefficients...

Faisal Awatani (Ph.D.) In light of recent advances in artificial intelligence, some have speculated that human intelligence may be...

Faisal Awartani (Ph.D.) Schools and universities are facing a significant challenge in detecting text generated by artificial...

Faisal Awartani (Ph.D.) : Senior Researcher @ Insights Elizabeth Price : Senior Researcher @ Insights Concerns about AI...

By Faisal Awartani (Ph.D.) The below chart shows the results of the a poll conducted in Jordan on social values. This survey was...

Faisal Awartani (Ph.D.) The idea of predictive analytics, either using statistical modeling (time-series analysis) or machine learning...