Handbooks of survey research methodology tell how to draw representative samples, formulate questions, ask respondents, and how to count and analyse answers. However, there are no handbooks that teach how to interpret answers, determine meaning of results, and relate them to concepts that construct experience. One can only learn it by studying cases and exemplars. The article addresses problems of determining meaning of survey research results. It uses research on attitudes toward Jews conducted in Poland in years 1967–2011. The author deals with the meaning of the word „Jews” used in questionnaires, analyses problems with determining meaning of questions and numeric answers, looks into questions concerning attitudes – sympathy and aversion, proximity and distance, discusses answers showing convictions about power of Jews and answers in cross-country survey research.