Young People, 1988

This survey is a follow-up and continuation of the survey 'Socialization and Political Participation of Young People' (DDA-0234) from 1979. The data collection for both surveys was carried out by the Danish National Institute of Social Research, and many of the questions from 1979 survey are repeated in the 1988 survey. # The purpose of the surveys is to describe and analyse the involvement in political activities which takes place in the early years by means of political socialization, participation and recruitment. The underlying idea of the surveys is that basic social stratification takes place in the early years, and that, consequently, these are also the years in which political attitudes are formed and participation in political activities begins. The question of how the foundations of (political) attitudes and participation are laid is of great interest as the channels of participation used by the population have undergone major changes within the past years. Traditional channels of participation such as political parties and interest organizations have been supplemented with new channels in the form of grass-roots movements. To a large extent these new channels of participation are used by young people in particular. # In the surveys individuals - and not the above-mentioned organizations - have been chosen as the starting point. # The surveys examine young people's interest in and knowledge of politics in general and also contain information about party membership, including positions of trust and activities within a political party. As for interest organizations, similar information is given concerning young people's membership, positions of trust and activities within the organizations (i.e. trade unions and employers' associations). Finally, information about participation in a number of movements and associations has been included. These are movements and associations which have grown up as a result of interest in the following questions: # 1) housing, # 2) the EC, # 3) equal rights for men and women, # 4) energy sources, # 5) international questions, # 6) unemployment, # 7) social and health policies, # 8) consumer groups, # 9) environment and traffic, #10) children and young people. # #In addition to this, the physical and mental health of the survey population is touched upon as well as such questions as the occupation, education and political interests of the respondent's cohabitant, if any, division of work in the home and the occupation, education and political interests of the respondent's parents