Summary information

Study title

Welsh Election Study, 1979

Creator

Madgwick, P. J., University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, Department of Political Science
Balsom, D., University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, Department of Political Science

Study number / PID

1591 (UKDA)

10.5255/UKDA-SN-1591-1 (DOI)

Data access

Restricted

Series

Not available

Abstract

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The purpose of this study was to investigate specific Welsh dimensions within the general field of voting behaviour and partisanship in British politics. In addition, data was collected on exclusively Welsh issues such as the Welsh language, devolution, and aspects of national identity. This study was designed and conducted in close collaboration with the British Election Study (Essex) and the Scottish Election Study (Strathclyde).Main Topics:Attitudinal/Behavioural Questions Good and bad points of Conservative and Labour Parties, interest in politics, assessment of each party's handling of various issues, e.g. rising prices/strikes/unemployment. Experience of and importance of unemployment. Knowledge of party policies on nationalisation/tax cuts/trade union power and own position, opinion of position of Britain's economy and future prospects. Perception of differences between the major parties. Attitude to recent changes taking place in areas such as sexual equality, racial equality, censorship, abortion. Attitude to big business and trade unions, degree of involvement in union matters. Relative position of respondent's salary, way in which wages and salaries issue should be handled. Attitude to forms of political protest. Most important aims for the country for the next decade, e.g. economic growth/defence/freedom of speech. Whether voted at election and for which party, vote in October and February 1974 and June 1970. Party identification. Marks out of ten for parties and leading politicians. Vote in local government election in 1979, opinion of local government services and need for changes. Class identification and attitude to the class system. A number of questions were asked on Welsh Devolution including vote in the recent Referendum and views on the Welsh language issue. Background Variables Newspaper readership, television news viewing, religious affiliation and attendance, national...
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Topics

Methodology

Data collection period

15/05/1979 - 09/09/1979

Country

Wales

Time dimension

Cross-sectional (one-time) study

Analysis unit

Individuals
National
Electors

Universe

The registered Welsh electorate eligible to vote on May 3rd, 1979

Sampling procedure

One-stage stratified or systematic random sample
36 constituencies, 2 polling districts per constituency, 20 electors per polling district

Kind of data

Not available

Data collection mode

Face-to-face interview

Funding information

Grant number

HR4732/1

Access

Publisher

UK Data Service

Publication year

1981

Terms of data access

The Data Collection is available to UK Data Service registered users subject to the End User Licence Agreement.

Commercial use of the data requires approval from the data owner or their nominee. The UK Data Service will contact you.

Related publications

Not available