KODEM
KODEM (Coordinated Online Panels for Research on Democracy and Governance in Norway) is a national research infrastructure financed by the Norwegian Research Council, bringing social science and multidisciplinary research into the digital age. The infrastructure enables researchers to ask questions to four societal groups relevant to research on democracy and governance in Norway.
About
Surveys of high scientific quality is crucial for solid and independent knowledge on attitudes and opinions in different societal groups.
KODEM consist of online panels that will be built to be representative over time, for four central groups in the democratic chain of governance: the population, elected representatives, public administrators and journalists. Norwegian Citizen Panel, Norwegian Panel of Politicians and Norwegian Panel of Public Administrators are active panels today, while Norwegian Panel of Journalists is under establishment and will be active from 2026.
The infrastructure constortium includes all the biggest universities and leading relevant research centres in Norway: UiB, UiO, NTNU, UiT, UiA, UiS, OsloMet, ISF, NORCE and Sikt. The Department of Government at the Unviersity of Bergen heads KODEM, by the scientific leader, Elisabeth Ivarsflaten (external link). Tobias Bach at the University of Oslo (external link) is vice leader of KODEM.
Use or learn more about data from KODEM (external link)
Read more about asking your own questions in KODEM panels (external link)
Organization
KODEM is designed to generate data for a large number of research projects that address complex societal challenges related to, for example, green transition, crisis management, artificial intelligence, risk perceptions, inclusion, and trust in democratic institutions. Such research is valuable for organizations, educational institutions, and decision-makers in both the private and public sectors.
KODEM aims to strengthen trust between researchers, politicians, the media, and the general public at a time when this trust is perceived to be under pressure. More robust knowledge about societal developments and trends across core societal groups in the Norwegian democracy is expected to become particularly valuable in the face of hybrid threats such as disinformation and illegitimate attempts to influence public decisions and elections.
Similar research infrastructures are being developed in other Nordic countries (Sweden and Finland), and KODEM will contribute to strengthening Nordic cooperation on research infrastructure for democracy studies.
Research projects
Many small and large research projects uses KODEM as an infrastructure to collect data. An overview over many of the externally funded projects is found here. (external link)
People
Work package leaders
Elisabeth Ivarsflaten Leader of scientific management (WP1)
Erla Løvseth Leader WP2: Technical and administrative management, and vice leader WP8: Data storage, protection and distribution
Sveinung Arnesen Leader WP3: Method development
Johannes Bergh Leader WP4: The Norwegian Citizen Panel
Ragnhild Muriaas Leader WP5: The Norwegian Panel of Politicians
Jarle Trondal Leader WP6: The Norwegian Panel of Public Administrators
Kristoffer Kolltveit Leader WP7: The Norwegian Panel of Journalists
Morten Jakobsen Leder WP8: Data storage, protection and distribution
Jonas Stein Leader WP9: Communication
Project members
Tobias Bach Vice leader WP1: Scientific management, member of WP3: Method development, and WP6: Norwegian Panel of Public Administrators
Emilie Kahrs Rosenlund Vice leader WP2: Technical and administrative management
Audun Fladmoe Vice leader WP3: Method development, and member of WP7: Norsk panel of journalists
Therese Dokken Vice leader WP4: Norwegian Citizen Panel
Gunnar Thesen Vice leader WP5: Norwegian panel of politicians and member of WP9: Communication
Jacob Aars Vice leader WP6: Norwegian panel of Public Administrators
Toril Aalberg Vice leader WP7: Norwegian Journalist panel and member of WP9: Communication
Anne Lise Fimreite Vice leader WP9: Communication
Magne Oldeide Research assistant WP2: Technical and administrative management
Anne Marthe Borgen Research assistant WP2: Technical and administrative management
Endre Tvinnereim Project member WP3: Method development
Troy Broderstad Project member WP3: Method development and WP5: The Norwegian Panel of Politicians
Kristina Strand Project member WP3: Method development
Gisle Andersen Project member WP4: The Norwegian Citizen Panel
Henning Finseraas Project member WP4: The Norwegian Citizen Panel
Åsta Dyrnes Nordø Project member WP4: The Norwegian Citizen Panel and WP9: Communication
Mari Skåra Helliesen Project member WP5: The Norwegian Panel of Politicians
Jo Saglie Project member WP5: The Norwegian Panel of Politicians
Pål Martinussen Project member WP6: The Norwegian Panel of Public Administrators
Marte Winswold Project member WP6: The Norwegian Panel of Public Administrators
Ole Andreas Danielsen Project member WP6: The Norwegian Panel of Public Administrators
Tine Ustad Figenschou Project member WP7: The Norwegian Panel of Journalists
Hallvard Moe Project member WP7: The Norwegian Panel of Journalists
Helle Sjøvaag Project member WP7: The Norwegian Panel of Journalists
Nanna Lauritz Schönhage Project member WP7: The Norwegian Panel of Journalists
Rune Karlsen Project member WP7: The Norwegian Panel of Journalists
Kari Steen-Johnsen Project member WP9: Communication