Study title

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

 
The Welsh Election Study, 2011 examined Wales' fourth devolved election. The study interviewed a representative sample of over 2,000 respondents during the election campaign; the vast majority were then re-interviewed immediately after the vote. The study was the first ever of a devolved election to produce detailed evidence about the impact of the campaign period. The study investigated the reasons for participation and vote choice in the election; the impact of the campaign; and public attitudes to devolution. The study was implemented as a two-wave panel survey, with fieldwork conducted via the internet by YouGov.

Further information may be found on the 2011 Welsh Referendum Study and the 2011 Welsh Election Study website.

Main Topics:

The surveys enquired into the following matters:

• i. Electoral Participation: What sort of people did and did not vote in the election? What reasons did people give for (non)participation?;
• ii. Party Choice: Among people who did participate, why did they vote the way they did? How consistent were their votes across the two ballots, and compared with other recent elections?;
• iii. Responses to the Campaign: How aware were people of the parties’ campaigns? How did their evaluate the parties’ efforts?;
• iv. Attitudes to Parties and Leaders: How did people perceive and react to the major parties, and to their (UK and Welsh) leaders?;
• v. Attitudes to Devolution: What were people’s attitudes towards, and perceptions of, devolution?;
• vi. Government Performance: Evaluations of the record of the Welsh Assembly Government and the UK government;
• vii. Respondents: individual characteristics, identifications, and broad political attitudes.