AQMeN
Through the Public’s Eye: Researching attitudes on Scotland’s constitutional future with the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey
The 2014 referendum on Scotland’s constitutional future has stimulated a vast amount of discussions. Many claims are made about what “Scots” want for the future, but too often these claims are not substantiated by empirical research. The Scottish Social Attitudes Survey (SSA) provides a valuable tool to assess the views of the public. In particular it can be used to track attitudes back to the late 1990s and analyse how the public’s views may have changed over time.
This one day event will showcase current research using this high-quality data source. In-depth findings on a range of topics will be presented by researchers from a variety of institutions in Scotland (both academic and policy-related). Research teams have worked together to provide responses to some of the most crucial questions about attitudes towards the constitutional future of Scotland – questions that will be important whatever the outcome of the referendum. In presenting their findings, these researchers will not only cast light on the current state of public opinion, but also examine how it has changed over the last 15 years.
This event will be highly valuable for anyone interested in the independence referendum and the future of Scottish public services and in particular public perceptions that shape the debates. It will also be useful for participants interested in the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey and its time series perspective. The event is open to practitioners and academics alike and does not require any prior knowledge.
Chair: Professor Susan Deacon, Assistant Principal, University of Edinburgh
External Speaker: Professor Charlie Jeffrey, University of Edinburgh
- Professor John Curtice, University of Strathclyde/Scottish Centre for Social Research (ScotCen)
- Rachel Ormston, Scottish Centre for Social Research (ScotCen)
- Professor Lindsay Paterson, University of Edinburgh
- Dr Jan Eichhorn, University of Edinburgh
Coffee and tea will be served in the morning and afternoon and a lunch buffet will be provided.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013 – 10:00 to 17:00
AQMeN
Our Dynamic Earth, Holyrood Road, Edinburgh
