Study title

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.Data accumulated from Consumers' Association surveys are designed to be used by the consumer. The surveys are, therefore, very specific in nature and the subjects covered diverse. The Data Archive holds 19 such surveys. Readers are asked to note that, with the exception of the surveys on the Telephone Service - 69004, 69016, respondents surveyed are self selected from subscribers to the Association's magazine <i>Which?</i> and so the surveys cannot singly be used in descriptive accounts of the British public. Surveys 69005-69012 cover various aspects of the housing experiences of <i>Which?</i> readers who moved house in 1967 and 1968. It is here particularly important to remember that the choice strategies and the resources of <i>Which?</i> readers are unlikely to be typical.Main Topics:Search methods used: whether respondent toured district looking for properties; whether looked in newspapers/journals for details of places for sale (9 categories); whether advertised that he/she wanted to buy property; whether commissioned an agent to find property (if so, did agent find property eventually bought; amount charged and respondent rating of service given are recorded). Respondent is asked to state how he/she first heard of the property he/she bought (14 categories). Estate agents/solicitors: number of estate agents and/or solicitors asked for details of properties; respondent rating of agent's description of properties viewed (5 categories); whether ever inspected property on strength of agent's description or recommendation but found it totally unsuitable. Respondent is asked to state information he/she would find `essential', `useful' and `not necessary' supplied on possible properties by agent (7 categories). He/she is also asked to generally rate the agent's descriptions of properties on a 7-point `helpfulness' scale and to access the overall service he/she...