Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The purpose of this study was to probe subjective indicators of social life in various aspects - housing, health, education, job, standard of living, district, democratic processes and leisure.
Main Topics:
Attitudinal/Behavioural Questions Satisfactory/unsatisfactory aspects of house/district, most important aspects of house/district, number of relations living nearby, frequency of use of public transport. Perceived level of democracy in Britain today, respondents asked which of the following they considered most important - law and order, giving people more say, higher standard of living, freedom of speech. (Inglehart-type values). Comparison of own family's standard of living with other families' when respondent aged 12, assessment of standard of living of various social groups and respondent's opinion of their deserved level, assessment of own standard of living (present, 5 years ago, 5 years hence, deserved), subjective assessment of occupational group (expected group if respondent was student). Most/least important factors deciding a person's standard of living. Satisfaction with financial situation, extra money needed per week, expectation of receiving the extra over next 2 years, what extra needed for, things 'done without', attitude to differential income increases during price freeze, assessment of own standard of living in relation to the average in Britain. Respondents asked to agree/disagree with a number of statements to indicate degree of anomie, general satisfaction with life (present, 5 years ago, 5 years hence, deserved), most important aspects of life, respondents asked to rate their present life along a number of axes. Measures of satisfaction made for job, house, district, town, democracy, leisure, standard of living, finance, health and education. Facilities most/least needed in area, desired change in personal or social circumstances. Responsibility for having more/less than respondent feels entitled to, feeling rushed/having time on hands. Satisfaction with own job, most important aspects of job, suggested improvements if own education repeated. Leisure activities in/outside the home, hours spent on various activities, changes desired/expected in leisure activities over next 2 years. Worries, illnesses, longstanding complaints or disabilities. Consumer durables desired/expected over next year. Background Variables Age, race, social grade of head of household and respondent if working. Marital status, occupational status, sex (asked for all members of household). Number of children, age of youngest child, number of siblings (position of respondent), age finished full-time education, type of school attended, highest educational qualification. Age range of persons in household, household status. Residence: type, tenure, length, number of rooms/bedrooms, number of floors, shared amenities. Urban type. Employment status, length of employment, shiftwork, income, journey to work (time). Father's occupation when respondent aged 12, occupation of respondent and father (when respondent aged 12) classified on three scales. Standard Industrial Classification. Socio-economic group and IPA social grade. Religious affiliation, interest in politics, political support (strength), trade union membership, membership of any professional associations, daily/evening/Sunday/local weekly newspaper read regularly.
Two-stage, systematic, random sampling
Face-to-face interview
