Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.
The main aims of this survey were: 1)To produce a reliable estimate of the extent of political knowledge and ignorance of 15 to 16 year-olds. 2)To estimate a `yard stick' of political literacy against which to measure the effects of future developments in political education. 3)To examine the sources of political information in our own society and their role as political educators. 4)To provide information which can help to establish priorities for developing better curricula on political education - what needs to be taught, what gaps need to be filled and how.
Main Topics:
Attitudinal/Behavioural Questions Expected school leaving age, subjects studied at school, frequency of reading daily/Sunday newspapers, frequency of viewing TV news, current affairs programmes usually seen, frequency of listening to radio news, degree of interest in politics, frequency of discussing politics with parents, friends, perception of problems facing young people, knowledge of party stance on various issues, e.g. selling of council houses, taxation, private education. Knowledge of current Prime Minister/opposition leader/Liberal Party leader/Foreign Secretary/number of M.P.'s in House of Commons/local M.P./Parliamentary constituency in which respondent lives. Knowledge of political procedures, most important Parliamentary function, knowledge of pressure groups influencing government decisions, knowledge of who controls public services (water supply, social security, electricity, housing). Knowledge of membership of EEC/countries with Communist Governments/international politics. Attitude to conflict between 'Law and Order and Free Speech'/between `Council Planners and Landowners'/between 'Individual Liberty and Welfare'. Attitude to politics and politicians, assessment of extent of own knowledge of politics and current affairs, assessment of personal efficacy at home/at school. Indices of political knowledge. Background Variables Region, type of school, age, sex, father's/mother's occupation.
One-stage stratified or systematic random sample
firstly, one third of the 108 Local Education Authorities, established after the Local Government Act of 1972, were randomly selected. 33 agreed to participate in the project. Next, all the state secondary schools within these Authorities were listed under four separate headings: Secondary Modern, Grammar, Coexisting and Non-Coexisting Comprehensives. A sampling frame was drawn up based on the national distribution of these four lists in direct proportion to their national distribution. 72 schools agreed to participate. The entire fifth form in each school completed questionnaries.
Postal survey
