Political Action : an Eight Nation Study, 1973-1976

UKDA study number:1389

Principal Investigators

Abrams, M.
Marsh, A.J.
Social Science Research Council. Survey Unit

Data Collectors

Mary Agar Fieldwork Services
GETAS (German Federal Republic)
IFES (Austria)
University of Michigan (Ann Arbor). Survey Research Center
Fieldwork Srl. (Milan)
Finnish Gallup Institute

Sponsors

Economic and Social Research Council
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Hogeschool te Tilburg (Netherlands)
Austrian National Science Foundation
National Institute of Mental Health (U.S.)
United States. Army Research Office
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (Italy)
Unione Industrial di Torino
Fond Nationale Suisse de la Recherche Scientifique
Social Science Research Council of Finland

Distributed by

UK Data Archive, University of Essex, Colchester.

January 1981

Bibliographic Citation

All works which use or refer to these materials should acknowledge these sources by means of bibliographic citation. To ensure that such source attributions are captured for bibliographic indexes, citations must appear in footnotes or in the reference section of publications. The bibliographic citation for this data collection is:

Abrams, M. and Marsh, A.J., Political Action : an Eight Nation Study, 1973-1976 [computer file]. Colchester, Essex: UK Data Archive [distributor], January 1981. SN: 1389, http://dx.doi.org/10.5255/UKDA-SN-1389-1

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1389 . Political Action : an Eight Nation Study, 1973-1976

Depositor:

Uher, R. , Zentralarchiv fuer Empirische Sozialforschung (Koeln)

Principal Investigators:

Abrams, M. , Social Science Research Council. Survey Unit

Marsh, A.J. , Social Science Research Council. Survey Unit

Data Collectors:

Mary Agar Fieldwork Services
GETAS (German Federal Republic)
IFES (Austria)
University of Michigan (Ann Arbor). Survey Research Center
Fieldwork Srl. (Milan)
Finnish Gallup Institute

Sponsors:

Economic and Social Research Council
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Hogeschool te Tilburg (Netherlands)
Austrian National Science Foundation
National Institute of Mental Health (U.S.)
United States. Army Research Office
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (Italy)
Unione Industrial di Torino
Fond Nationale Suisse de la Recherche Scientifique
Social Science Research Council of Finland

Other Acknowledgements:

Principal investigators:
Great Britain: Mark Abrams, Alan Marsh
Germany: Klaus R. Allerbeck, Max Kaase, Hans D. Klingemann
Netherlands: Philip Stouthard, Felix Heunks, Cees de Graaf
Austria: Leopold Rosenmayr, Anselm Eder, Inga Findl, Kathleen Stoffl, Elfie Urbas
USA: Samuel H. Barnes, Ronald Inglehart, M. Kent Jennings, Barbara Farah
Italy: Giovanni Sartori, Alberto Marrade, Giacomo Sani
Switzerland: Henry H. Kerr, David Handley, Charles Roig, Dusan Sidjanski
Finland: Pertti Pesonen, David K. Matheson, Risto Saenkiaho

Abstract:

The wave of unrest of the late 1960s and early 1970s in advanced industrial societies provided the impetus for this cross-national study of the conventional and unconventional forms of political participation. National sample surveys conducted in eight nations during 1973-1976 focused on the various forms and combinations of political activity, ranging from voting to protest actions, and on individual propensities to perform these activities.

Main Topics:

Variables
Among the factors explored as contributors to varying political reportories are age, education, political values, ideological sophistication, deprivation and policy satisfaction.

Coverage:

Dates of Fieldwork: 1973 - 1976
Country: Austria; Finland; German Federal Republic; Great Britain; Italy; Multi-nation; Netherlands; Switzerland; United States
Spatial Units: No information recorded
Observation Units: Individuals; Families/households

Universe Sampled:

Location of Units of Observation: Cross-national
National
Population: Persons 16 years and over in Great Britain, German Federal Republic, Netherlands, Austria, United States, Italy, Switzerland and Finland

Methodology:

Time Dimensions: Cross-sectional (one-time) study
Sampling Procedures: Multi-stage stratified random sample
in order to make the data valid and comparable, national multistage propability samples were used to select a representative cross-section of the population 16 years of age and over in the eight countries. In each country, small geographical areas or administrative units were selected at random from all such areas or administrative units. This first stage yields a probability sample of `primary sampling units' (PSUs). Sampling in this stage was stratified by using available census and other official statistical data on variables such as population, urbanization, voting returns, religion, and so on. Details of this procedure were nation specific and followed established procedures of survey research in each country. The procedures ensure that in all nations the selected PSUs are indeed a representative selection of all possible PSUs. The numbers of PSUs varies between 63 in the Netherlands and 560 in Germany.
Within each PSU, a predetermined number of households (or dwelling units) were selected at random. This sample of households was drawn from official registration data in continental Europe. In Britain and Switzerland, the electoral register was used to sample addresses (not electors!). In the United States, a controlled random selection process was used to select dwelling units within the PSU.
In each household the interviewers listed all members of age 16 and above (in Austria, people above 70 years were excluded) in a predetermined order by sex and age. The selection of the respondent within each household followed the procedure described by Leslie Kish. Selection tables were attached to the face sheet of each interview schedule. These tables tell interviewers which person is to be interviewed from the listing.
The sampling procedure yields representative probability samples of the total population in the same age categories. The procedure does contain a very slight household size bias (except in Britain, where the probability of selection of a household depends on the number of electors in it). Analysis shows this correction did not alter the results to an appreciable degree
Number of Units: Great Britain 1483 (obtained)
German Federal Republic 2307 (obtained)
Netherlands 1201 (obtained)
Austria 1585 (obtained)
United States 1719 (obtained)
Italy 1779 (obtained)
Switzerland 1290 (obtained)
Finland 1224 (obtained)
Method of Data Collection: Face-to-face interview

Language(s) of Written Materials:

Study Description: English
Study Documentation: English

Access:

Access Conditions: The depositor has specified that registration is required and standard conditions of use apply. The depositor may be informed about usage. See terms and conditions for further information.
Available to UK residents or those registered at UK institutions of higher or further education only.
Availability: ESDS Access and Preservation, UK Data Archive
Originating Archive: Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences. Data Archive for the Social Sciences - Original Study Number: 0765
Contact: Help desk: help@esds.ac.uk

Date of First Release:

1 January 1981

File last updated:

24 April 2012