Study title

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The Scottish Social Attitudes (SSA) survey was launched by ScotCen Social Research (formerly the Scottish Centre for Social Research) in 1999, following the advent of devolution. Based on annual rounds of interviews of between 1,200 to 1,500 people drawn using probability sampling (based on a stratified, clustered sample), it aims to facilitate the study of public opinion and inform the development of public policy in Scotland, similar to the British Social Attitudes (BSA) series (held at the Archive under GN 33168). The SSA survey has been conducted annually each year since 1999, with the exception of 2008. The survey has a modular structure. In any one year it typically contains three to five modules, each containing 40 questions. Funding for its first two years came from the Economic and Social Research Council, while from 2001 onwards different bodies have funded individual modules each year. These bodies have included the Economic and Social Research Council, the Scottish Government and various charitable and grant awarding bodies, such as the Nuffield Foundation and Leverhulme Trust.

Further information on the SSA and links to publications may be found on the ScotCen Social Research Scottish Social Attitudes webpages.


The 2013 survey is the 13th wave in the series.

For the second edition (January 2015), the full Scottish Social Attitudes 2013 study was deposited. Previously, only the Constitutional Change data and documentation were available.

Main Topics:

The 2013 survey contained modules of questions on constitutional change, attitudes to government, the economy, health and social care services and social capital, attitudes to alcohol, attitudes to mental health, police reform.