Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The five surveys in this group comprise a comparative study in local government of the cities of Glasgow and Belfast. The purpose of the study was to devise and test a comprehensive framework which draws together the results of previous findings and theory, within which the effects of political stratification can be investigated. Also to investigate correlates of political stability by comparing Belfast (unstable) with Glasgow (stable). With the obvious modifications (e.g. geographical, political party title, public office title, local issue reference etc.), the survey design used for the Belfast surveys is the same as that used for the Glasgow surveys. Details of variations in approach and scrutiny may be found in Appendix 1 of I Budge and C O'Leary, <i>Belfast: an approach to crisis</i>.
Main Topics:
Attitudinal/Behavioural Questions Data concerning Glasgow affairs include respondent perception of local political parties (party/class and party/religion identifications are included) and respondent opinion of the problems facing Glasgow Corporation. The following topical local issues are specifically considered: the proposal to have pubs in Corporation housing estates, the elimination of fees in Corporation schools, extending parking meters in the City centre, increase in the rates. These issues are considered in terms of the flow of information received, respondent knowledge - and opinion - of proposals, his sense of political efficacy, official line of any organisation belonged to (e.g. trade union, church etc.), and respondent's perception of his political representatives. In addition, the respondent is asked who runs Glasgow (e.g. Corporation officials, councillors etc.) and what changes he believes should be made in this arrangement, what he considers should be the main job of a councillor and for his opinion of the Lord Provost's role in Glasgow politics. His affinity to the City of Glasgow is assessed. More general data include newspaper readership and exposure to the mass media (considering, in particular, the respondent's sources of information about current national and local affairs) and voting behaviour in the last general and Corporation elections. A section is included which tests the respondent's perception of class and religion; he is required to make identification choices whereby an assessment of the stronger concept may be obtained (e.g. ''With whom do you feel you have most in common? A Protestant person of the same class as yourself, a Protestant person of a different class from yourself, a Catholic person of the same class as yourself, a Catholic person of a different class?'') Background Variables Sex, age, race, marital status, occupation, father's occupation, age when full-time education ceased, political party identification, trade union or professional association membership, home tenure, religious affiliation and social class (self-assessed).
Systematic probability
Face-to-face interview
