Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The purpose of this survey was to study the perceptions of the future held by the public (those between 15 and 44 years) and by the `elite' (those in positions of power and influence in Britain). The survey was conducted in 1970 for the Social Science Research Council (now Economic and Social Science Research Council) Committee on the Next Thirty Years by Research Services Ltd.

Main Topics:

Attitudinal/Behavioural Questions Opinion on nature of change in Britain since 1955. Perception of the future. Respondents were asked to say if changes will be greater or less, for better or worse and how much better or worse, for a number of statements e.g.: the amount of work the average man has to do; the amount of freedom as to what can be shown or written about in the cinema, on television and in newspapers, magazines and books; the extent to which ordinary people have a say in Government decisions. Respondents were asked to say if they agreed or disagreed with a number of statements and judged them good or bad, and how good or bad e.g.: women will be entirely equal with men in the education they get, the jobs they do, and the pay they get for similar jobs; immigrants will be accepted as entirely equal with British people in all kinds of jobs; boys and girls of 15 will be much less under the control of their parents than at present; many couples won't bother to get married; the population of Britain will be at least 25% bigger than it is now. Respondent's opinion of own political and social efficacy was also probed. Background Variables Age, sex, marital status, household status, employment status, occupation, country of residence in past 15 years, age finished full-time education, father's occupation when respondent was 15.

Representative

Face-to-face interview