Devolution and Constitutional Change, 2001

UKDA study number:4766

Principal Investigator

National Centre for Social Research

Data Collectors

Devine, P.
Dowds, L.
Jones, R. Wyn
Trystan, D.
Heath, A.
National Centre for Social Research

Original Data Producers

National Centre for Social Research
Research and Evaluation Services

Sponsor

Economic and Social Research Council

Distributed by

UK Data Archive, University of Essex, Colchester.

November 2003

 

Bibliographic Citation

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National Centre for Social Research, Devolution and Constitutional Change, 2001 [computer file]. National Centre for Social Research, Research and Evaluation Services, [original data producer(s)]. Colchester, Essex: UK Data Archive [distributor], November 2003. SN: 4766, http://dx.doi.org/10.5255/UKDA-SN-4766-1

 

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Copyright:
National Centre for Social Research

 

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4766 . Devolution and Constitutional Change, 2001

 

Depositor:

Rothon, C. , University of Oxford. Department of Sociology

Principal Investigator:

National Centre for Social Research

Data Collectors:

Devine, P.
Dowds, L.
Jones, R. Wyn
Trystan, D.
Heath, A.
National Centre for Social Research

Original Data Producers:

National Centre for Social Research
Research and Evaluation Services

Sponsor:

Economic and Social Research Council
Grant Number: L219252018

Other Acknowledgements:

Catherine Rothon created the combined dataset.

Abstract:

The principal aim was to establish whether initial reactions to the introduction of devolution in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland enhanced or otherwise the legitimacy of (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) the new institutions themselves. In particular, the project aimed to test three competing theories about the possible impact of devolution on public opinion together with an alternative view that sees trends in national identity and in attitudes towards the political system as being primarily determined by social change. The theories are as follows:

1. The integrative view
- Demands for complete independence should fall
- Willingness to acknowledge a British identity should rise
- Support for the UK political system should rise

2. The disintegrative view
- Rise in support for English devolution
- Politicians increasingly putting their part of the UK first
- More variance between the territories in public policy

3. The conditional view
- The impact of devolution will differ between the three devolved territories

4. Social change
- Those who have experienced geographical mobility, higher levels of education and access to the internet are less likely to adopt a British national identity
- The decline in British national identity is a generational phenomenon
- National identity is influenced by short-term developments and any fall in the incidence of British identity occurs more or less evenly across all age groups/cohorts

Survey based research on national identity and attitudes towards the political system following the introduction of devolution was conducted in the four component territories of the United Kingdom, and a combined dataset created. The platform surveys were:

British Social Attitudes Survey 2001
Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey 2001
Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2001
Welsh Election Study 2001

Main Topics:

Questions on devolution and constitutional change cover national identity, perceptions of the UK political system, views on how effective that system is, constitutional preferences, the effectiveness/impact of the devolved institutions, respondents' referendum vote and the legitimacy of the new bodies. In addition, there are questions on policy divergence, elections and accountability, party identification and priorities for government. Finally, there is information about respondents' religion, education, geographic mobility, media consumption, internet access and knowledge of devolution.

Coverage:

Time Period Covered: 2001
Dates of Fieldwork: 2001
Country: United Kingdom
Spatial Units: Countries
Observation Units: Individuals
Kind of Data: Numeric data; Individual (micro) level

Universe Sampled:

Location of Units of Observation: Cross-national
Population: Adults (18 and over) living in the United Kingdom in 2001

Methodology:

Time Dimensions: Cross-sectional (one-time) study
Selected variables from the four constituent cross-sectional studies were used in the combined dataset. Note that each of the constituent studies is part of a repeated cross-sectional series.
Sampling Procedures: Multi-stage stratified random sample
Number of Units: 7,251
Method of Data Collection: Face-to-face interview; Self-completion
Data Sources: British Social Attitudes Survey 2001
Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey 2001
Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2001
Welsh Election Study 2001
Weighting: Weight bt WTFACTOR

Language(s) of Written Materials:

Study Description: English
Study Documentation: English

Access:

Access Conditions: The depositor has specified that registration is required. Available to all registered users. The depositor may be informed about usage.
Availability: ESDS Access and Preservation, UK Data Archive
Contact: Help desk: help@esds.ac.uk

Date of First Release:

24 November 2003

Copyright:

National Centre for Social Research


File last updated:

4 January 2012