Introduction

In recent years, an unprecedented amount of research in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has relied on public opinion surveys to understand political attitudes. This surge raises a critical question: what if survey respondents are asked by interviewers who share different national identities? The article examines this gap.

Data & Methods

Using original data from Qatar, the study employs a survey experiment design. A nonparametric matching technique is applied within the Total Survey Error (TSE) framework to analyze how interviewer nationality affects both participation and responses.

Key Findings

Qatari nationals respond significantly better when interviewed by fellow nationals. The findings reveal:

* Higher likelihood of completing a survey with an interviewer who shares their nationality

* Respondents edit answers about sensitive topics (citizenship, status) based on interviewer's identity

* When asked by conationals, Qatari respondents report views more exclusionary toward non-citizens

Why It Matters

These results are crucial for anyone using or designing MENA surveys. In regions increasingly affected by migration and conflict, mismatches between respondents' nationalities and interviewers become common. This study shows how such mismatches can introduce both nonresponse and measurement errors into survey findings.