Rigorous Research and Reliable Data
The growing challenges facing the Arab Society in Israel create an urgent need for a deep and accurate understanding of the social, economic, health and environmental phenomena that affect that society, today and in the future. From this perspective, Rikaz, the Center for Applied Social Research, affiliated with the Galilee Society, aspires to have a pioneering role as a specialized Arab statistical center, providing a reliable presentation of the local Arab reality, based on accurate collected data and solid analysis, and using verifiable scientific methods. Through rigorous research and reliable data, Rikaz seeks to empower the Arab society, and provide guidance to the relevant decision makers.
Vision and Goals
In an exclusive interview, Mr. Ahmad Sheikh Muhammad, Managing Director of the Galilee Society, explained that the Center for Applied Social Research, Rikaz, was regarded “as a center of statistics specializing in studying and surveying the social, economic, health and environmental phenomena of the Palestinian community in the country”. Sheikh Muhammad added that Rikaz was distinguished by its ability to “diagnose issues that require research and intervention in our Arab society, in addition to collecting, analyzing and processing the required social and economic information on a regular basis.”
Sheikh Muhammad emphasized that Rikaz employed a research methodology that involved “collecting the information directly from the public, in their localities and places of dwelling, through personal interviews and questionnaires, based on very broad representative samples of the Arab society, from the Galilee to the Negev, reflecting the pluralism and variances in this society, in terms of the area and type of residence, type of town (recognized/unrecognized), population structure and town size.”
Sheikh Muhammad also stressed the philosophy at Rikaz, saying: “At Rikaz, we are not satisfied with monitoring the phenomena, but we rather seek to transform numbers into enabling tools, and data into a compass that guides decision makers, and illuminates the way forward for purposeful development initiatives. Hence, we continue our commitment to this scientific and cognitive path, putting knowledge at the service of positive change.”
Comprehensive and Accurate Research Services
For her part, Dr. Inas Kayyal-Tarabeh, Director of the Rikaz Center for Applied Social Research, stated that the target group of the Center’s services was “the Arab community in the country in general, and specifically local authorities, academics, government offices, decision makers, and civil society organizations that benefit from the Center’s outputs in their planning and programs.”
Regarding the quality of research, Dr. Kayyal-Tarabeh explained that staff at the Center “research practically all aspects of life for Arabs in the country, and monitor the socio-economic, health and environmental reality, including thorny issues specific to the Arab society, such as violence and crime, housing and the housing crisis, the impact of climate change, and issues related to groups with special needs, such as the elderly, people with chronic diseases, women and children.”
“Through the periodic survey that we conduct at Rikaz, i.e. the socio-economic survey, pressing issues are highlighted, and their causes examined, in order to create future action plans to address these issues,” she added.
Pilot Projects and Mechanism to Ensure Credibility
Dr. Kayyal-Tarabeh next spoke about prominent projects by Rikaz, those being the 6th socio-economic survey for 2025, and also research on the use patterns of digital medical services in the Arab society, and the extent of their utilization, in addition to monitoring personal and structural obstacles to their use. That research also monitored the prevailing concepts and attitudes related to these services in the Arab community. The research was carried out under the guidance of Dr. Muhammad Khatib, a public health researcher, with the participation of fellow researchers from Ben Gurion University and the Safad Academic College.
In addition, Dr. Kayyal-Tarabeh noted that “Rikaz also carried out an important survey in 2020 on the youth in Palestinian society in Israel, which highlighted their future aspirations, especially in the areas of work, education, and social life, in addition to self-efficacy, social capital, identity and belonging.”
Regarding the data sources, she pointed out that Rikaz relied on collecting the information “through personal surveys in face-to-face interviews of a random research sample, which was carefully selected to represent all segments of the Arab society in the country.” To ensure the accuracy and credibility of the data, Dr. Kayyal-Tarabeh confirmed that the “survey team comprised highly-qualified and pre-experienced members, who had undergone special training before every new survey. The Galilee Society and Rikaz also set up a monitoring system to follow up on the work of the survey team, in addition to managing and analyzing the raw data, in order to examine and verify their credibility.”
Widespread Collaboration and Impact
Dr. Kayyal-Tarabeh mentioned the “collaboration with various academic institutes, research centers, and other associations, as well as individual researchers.” She characterized the work of Rikaz as important, with significant impact, “as it provided these centers and individuals with information about the needs of the Arab society, relying on a proven scientific basis, while taking into consideration the customs and traditions of that society.”
As for the research results, Dr. Kayyal-Tarabeh explained that the Center “published its reports and research periodically in the press and media, through printed reports, books, and articles in prestigious scientific journals, as well as on the Galilee Society website.” Rikaz also ensures that “Arab students have access to the information gathered about the Arab society, to use for their academic research,” and “provides guidance to academic students at the master’s and doctoral levels.”
A Call for Cooperation and Community Engagement
Both Rikaz and the Galilee Society, through their respective representatives, issued a call to the public to cooperate and collaborate with the survey teams, and to get engaged and participate in the surveys. They stressed the importance of this effort in bringing about positive change, which is based on relevant current data, and pledged to maintain absolute confidentiality of the collected information and participants.