Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.
This is a mixed methods data collection. The Boomers and Beyond: Intergenerational Consumption and the Mature Imagination project focused on the consumption practices of the first wave 'baby boom' generation (born 1945-1954). This group, representing 17% of the UK population, began their life at a time of austerity but entered adulthood during a period of relative prosperity, experiencing major changes over their life course. Previous research has viewed 'boomers' as having experiences that set them apart from previous generations. This research project provided an account of the lives of the boomer generation, examining the role of consumption in changing traditional approaches to adult ageing. Phase One of the research comprised semi-structured interviews conducted with 150 respondents born between 1945 and 1954, resident in the Greater Manchester area (115 of these transcripts are included in this collection). For Phase Two, further in-depth interviews were conducted with 30 respondents from the phase one group, based on open-ended questions derived from initial analysis of the structured interviews. A quantitative data file covering respondents' demographic characteristics is also included. Further information about the study methodology may be found in the study user guide. The study objectives were to:collect a new body of information on continuity/discontinuity in consumption patterns across the life course contribute to the development of research methods comparing social discourse/mid-life with personal experience/biographical narrativedevelop a particular theory around the material cultures for midlife and generational patterns of consumptioncontribute to national/international policy debatesFurther information can be found on the ESRC project award page and the Cultures of Consumption: Boomers and Beyond project web page.
Main Topics:
Topics covered in the Phase One interviews included:background and demographic information, such as age, gender, employment status, occupation, marital status, household information and income, and parents' occupations and income interests and activities, group membership, charitable donationsbodies and health, including physical wellbeing and care of appearancespending habits and finances, including household, leisure and clothing expenditureviews about age, including life course patterns, changes in spending habits, differences between respondents and previous/next generations, advantages/disadvantages to age, middle age, and awareness of the term 'baby boomer'Topics covered in the Phase One interviews included: The quantitative data file includes demographic and household characteristics and derived variables covering occupation, social class and other details.
One-stage stratified or systematic random sample
Face-to-face interview
