About this study
Every year the British Social Attitudes survey asks around 3000 people what it’s like to live in Britain and how they think Britain is run. The survey tracks people’s changing social, political and moral attitudes and informs the development of public policy. Buy the 25th report, published January 2009, here, download individual chapters from the last 10 years here or read the summary of the findings, below.
Is there an English backlash? Reactions to devolution.
There is growing public concern in England about Scotland’s share of public spending, while a majority continue to question Scottish MPs’ right to vote on English laws – the so-called ‘West Lothian question’. But more generally there are few signs of an English ‘backlash’ against Scottish and Welsh devolution.
The NHS: satisfied now?
The British public is more satisfied with the National Health Service than at any time since 1984. Satisfaction with the NHS is significantly higher now than it was ten years ago. What’s more, people with recent experiences of the NHS tend to be far more satisfied with it than those who have had no recent contact.
Do people want choice and diversity of provision in public services?
There is widespread public support for the idea that people should be able to exercise choice when using public services. But contrary to the arguments put forward by advocates of public service reform, this does not necessarily mean the public want public services to be run by a diverse range of providers.
Has welfare made us lazy? Employment commitment in different welfare states.
Having a generous welfare state does not make people lazy and work-shy. Indeed, comparison of work morale and welfare state generosity in 13 countries in Europe, North America and Australasia shows that work morale is actually stronger in countries with more generous welfare states.
Exploring parents’ views.
Being a parent seems to have an effect on people’s attitudes and values, no matter how long ago their children were born. Overall, there is a very clear generation gap within modern Britain. Younger people place more value on work – and less on the domestic sphere – than older age groups. They also have less traditional attitudes towards marriage.
Pay more, fly less? Changing attitudes to air travel.
There are high levels of public concern about the environmental impact of air travel. The report detects growing agreement that the cost of flying should reflect environmental damage even if this means fares rise sharply as a result.
Therapy culture? Attitudes towards emotional support in Britain.
Have the people of Britain become too reliant on therapists and counsellors for emotional support? Not according to our latest report. Although we are now relatively open to the idea that it is ‘good to talk’, most of our emotional support comes from informal sources rather than from professionals in the ‘talk-based’ therapies.
Britain at play: should we ‘do’ more and view less?
In the run-up to the London Olympics in 2012, there have been many grand claims about the role that sport can play in people’s lives. The 25th British Social Attitudes report finds that physical activity – and people’s leisure choices more generally – is linked to physical health and mental wellbeing, as well as to the extent to which people get involved in social activities.
Is Britain a respectful society?
Only a minority of the public think that people in Britain generally treat each other with respect and consideration in public. Yet personal experience reflects a far more positive picture. While some groups are particularly likely to experience disrespectful and inconsiderate behaviour, most people feel that they are treated with respect and consideration in public in their day-to-day lives.