Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.
The purpose of this study was to survey political attitudes in Scotland at the time of the May 3rd 1979 parliamentary election.
Main Topics:
Attitudinal/Behavioural Questions Attitude to recent changes taking place in Britain, e.g. sexual equality/racial equality/welfare benefits/ abortion/defence cuts, whether Government ought to introduce measures such as worker participation/cutting taxes/redistribution of income and wealth/wighdrawal of troops from N. Ireland. Perception of good and bad aspects of Conservative Party/Labour Party/SNP. Knowledge of party leaders, degree of interest in politics. Opinion of each party's handling of certain issues, e.g. rising prices, unemployment, North Sea oil. Future prospects for the economy/unemployment/own income. Opinion of trade unions and big business, whether any member of the household is/was a trade union member, if so - details, degree of interest in union activities. Opinion of way in which wages and salaries should be settled, relative position of salary of household's chief wage earner, which party's policies preferred. Degree of trust respondent would place in governments of different parties on various issues, e.g. Scottish affairs. Attitude to certain forms of political action, e.g. demonstrations, petitions, damaging property. Marks out of ten for parties and leading politicians. Whether voted in 1979 Election, for which party, alternative vote if chosen candidate had not been standing, vote in 1974 (February and October) and 1970 Elections. Party identification, main reasons for voting for a particular party (e.g. have always voted this way), attraction of policies/leaders. Whether voted in Scottish Regional Elections and for which party. Assessment of conflict between various groups in Britain, i.e. trade unions and employers/Protestants and Catholics/Scots and English/high income earners and low income earners/white people and coloured people, and own position. A number of questions were asked on the subject of Scottish Devolution, including vote in the recent Referendum.
Multi-stage stratified random sample
(original, 1974, study); Derived from 1974 Scottish election study sample, using a Marchant-Blyth top up procedure to embed the panel in a 1979 cross-section
Face-to-face interview
Postal survey
