Study title

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner. The Welsh Referendum Study, 2011 examined the March 2011 referendum on greater devolution for Wales. Over 3,000 voters (the largest sample ever gathered by a political survey in Wales) were interviewed via the internet during the referendum campaign; the vast majority were then re-interviewed immediately after the vote. The study investigated the reasons for participation and vote choice in the referendum. 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 study had several objectives:Firstly, it sought to investigate the explanatory power of the following perspectives on referendum voting behaviour: i. Party Cues: To what extent do parties – and voters’ attitudes to parties and their leaders – influence individual voting decisions? ii. National Identities and Sentiments: how voting decisions in a referendum on Welsh devolution would be shaped by individuals’ identification with, and attitudes towards, Wales and the UK. iii. Performance: whether voters' willingness to support greater powers for a political institution would be driven by the perceived performance of that institution.Secondly, the study also sought to explain the overall outcome of the referendum and the impact of the campaign period on that outcome.Thirdly, the study aimed to advance the conduct of referendum studies in the UK through significant innovations in sampling methodology and research design.Fourthly, the study aimed to achieve the effective use of resources, by producing a body of high-quality data at relatively low cost.Finally, the research team sought to maximise the impact of the research, through the early release of data generated, and by the effective communication of findings to academic and non-academic users.