Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The purpose of this study was to attempt to describe the attitudes of the British public in early 1971 to the EEC and the issue of Britain's possible entry. The intention was to explore the structure of attitudes in some depth rather than conduct an opinion poll.

Main Topics:

Attitudinal/Behavioural Questions The level of knowledge about the following issues was surveyed: Sources of information, possibilities for improvement Member countries' power, population size, rate of crime and violence, countries applying for membership. Awareness of general opinion about the EEC: countries advocating Britain's membership, policies of major political parties towards membership, opinions of the trade unions and the daily newspapers. The results expected if Britain joins the EEC. Changes in: cost of living, welfare payments, social services, conditions of employment, law, politics, royalty, national habits (languages, eating/drinking, fashion). Benefits (trade unions, commonwealth, various social/economic groups). Perceived advantages and disadvantages of membership. Background Variables Age, sex, marital status. Residence: tenure, household composition (number of adults sixteen plus, number of children under sixteen years old), relation to head of household. Occupation (respondent and head of household), income, employment status. Languages spoken.

One-stage stratified or systematic random sample

Face-to-face interview