Welsh Referendum Study, 2011

<P>Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.</P>&nbsp;<br>The <I>Welsh Referendum Study, 2011</I> examined the March 2011 referendum on greater devolution for Wales. Over 3,000 voters (the largest sample ever gathered by a political survey in Wales) were interviewed via the internet during the referendum campaign; the vast majority were then re-interviewed immediately after the vote. The study investigated the reasons for participation and vote choice in the referendum. The study was implemented as a two-wave panel survey, with fieldwork conducted via the internet by YouGov.<br> <br> Further information may be found on the <a href="https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/interpol/research/research-projects/welshelectionstudy/" title="2011 Welsh Referendum Study and the 2011 Welsh Election Study">2011 Welsh Referendum Study and the 2011 Welsh Election Study</a> website.</br><br><B>Main Topics</B>:<BR><br>The study had several objectives:<ul><li>Firstly, it sought to investigate the explanatory power of the following perspectives on referendum voting behaviour: i. Party Cues: To what extent do parties – and voters’ attitudes to parties and their leaders – influence individual voting decisions? ii. National Identities and Sentiments: how voting decisions in a referendum on Welsh devolution would be shaped by individuals’ identification with, and attitudes towards, Wales and the UK. iii. Performance: whether voters' willingness to support greater powers for a political institution would be driven by the perceived performance of that institution.</li><li>Secondly, the study also sought to explain the overall outcome of the referendum and the impact of the campaign period on that outcome.</li><li>Thirdly, the study aimed to advance the conduct of referendum studies in the UK through significant innovations in sampling methodology and research design.</li><li>Fourthly, the study aimed to achieve the effective use of resources, by producing a body of high-quality data at relatively low cost.</li><li>Finally, the research team sought to maximise the impact of the research, through the early release of data generated, and by the effective communication of findings to academic and non-academic users.</li></ul>