Political Change in Britain, 1963-1970

Résumé 0

This study surveyed both cross-section and panel samples between 1963 and 1970, in an effort to analyze political change in Great Britain. Interviewing was conducted in four waves: the first wave in 1963, an election-free year, and the next three waves subsequent to the general elections in 1964, 1966, and 1970. The present study contains the master file bringing together the data resulting from the 1963 national cross-section sample, the 1964 and 1966 electorate samples, and 11 additional panels resulting from reinterviewing respondents from one or more of the three samples listed above. Also available through ICPSR are three subsets of these data: POLITICAL CHANGE IN BRITAIN, 1963 (ICPSR 7232) presents data obtained from the 1963 national cross-section sample, POLITICAL CHANGE IN BRITAIN, 1964 (ICPSR 7233) includes the interviews administered to the 1964 electorate sample, and POLITICAL CHANGE IN BRITAIN, 1966 (ICPSR 7234) contains data resulting from the 1966 electorate sample. The interviews focused on the phenomenon of political change. General political attitudes and behaviors were ascertained, as well as possible sources for their change. Variables assessed respondents' sources of political information, perceptions of political parties and leaders, and views on governmental responsiveness, economic well-being, and other salient issues. Other questions probed partisan self-identification and the extent of political participation. The respondents' knowledge of members of parliament from their constituencies, and perceptions of social class and trade-union influence were also investigated. Semantic differential scales were employed to assess respondents' perceptions of the three main parties. Extensive demographic data were collected, including age, sex, marital status, number of children, religion, education, occupation, and income.