Exeter University Student Voting Study, May 1979

<P>Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.</P><br>To explore the political attitudes and behaviour of Conservative student voters.<br><B>Main Topics</B>:<BR><br>Attitudinal/Behavioural Questions<br>
Whether voted at May General Election, if so for which party and reasons (e.g. to support a specific candidate/to elect a government/civic duty), reasons for not voting. Opinion of each Party's leadership, government system preferred, political efficacy, attitude towards local M.P., reason for not applying for postal vote (if eligible), knowledge of parties and candidates running in own constituency/in Exeter, policy preferences and partisan issue cognizance, party preference and strength of support. Respondents were asked to rank several election issues in order of importance (e.g. inflation/unemployment/trade union power) and to state which party leader would be capable of solving them. Newspaper/magazine readership during election campaign, amount of media coverage/Party Political Broadcasts followed, number of Broadcasts of particular parties seen/heard, extent of discussion with other students about election, main sources of political information during campaign. When voting intention was decided.<br>
Background Variables<br>
Party membership, political society affiliation, previous votes. Type of secondary school attended, perceived social class of family and occupation of main wage-earner, parents' vote at election. Parliamentary constituency in which registered.