Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

To explain why people voted the way they did in the 1983 general election

Main Topics:

Variables Party voted for, continuity and negative/positive motivation of party choice; tactical considerations; influence of advertising and TV broadcasts, of party image; past vote; perception of best party for policies, leader, team of leaders, and each of eleven issues, best and worst P.M.; most important issue; economy's performance, past and future; Thatcherism; position on various issues; impact of polls; views on trade union law, taxation, policy for unemployment.

A stratified quota sample weighted to be representative of the electorate of Great Britain. Stratification was by region and constituency marginality (according to BBC/ITN estimates of new constituencies). There were 200 separate sampling points (polling district). Interviewers were given quotas for age, sex, and house tenure

Face-to-face interview