Scottish Social Attitudes Survey

Introduction

The Scottish Social Attitudes (SSA) survey has been tracking changes in people's social, political and moral attitudes in Scotland since 1999. It is run by ScotCen Social Research, and funded by charitable donations as well as a range of organisations purchasing modules of questions in the survey.

We have funded a core module of questions tracking public attitudes to government, the economy and public services most years since 2004. A range of modules on other topics have also been commissioned over this period.

Survey content

The core module measures and tracks attitudes to the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament. Regular questions include:

• trust - in Scottish/UK/local Government (to work in Scotland's best long-term interest, to make fair decisions)
• influence – who does, and who should have, most influence over the way Scotland is run
• listening – how good is the Scottish/UK/local government at listening to peoples’ views before it makes decisions
• policy priorities - what our priorities should be
• the economy and the NHS – perceptions of changes in standards and who is responsible for them
• the Scottish Parliament - is it giving Scotland a stronger voice in the UK, is it giving ordinary people more say in how Scotland is governed
• attitudes to voting

In addition to the core module, survey modules have been commissioned on a wide range of policy topics. Reports on the findings form these modules are listed below.

Core module reports

• Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2023 - Attitudes to Government, the Economy, and the Health Service
• Scottish Social Attitudes survey 2021/22: attitudes data
• Scottish Social Attitudes 2019: attitudes to government and political engagement
• Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2017: attitudes data
• Scottish social attitudes: attitudes to government and political engagement, 2016
• Scottish Social Attitudes 2015: Attitudes to Government, the National Health Service, the Economy and Standard of Living
• Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2013: core module - attitudes to Government, the economy, health and social care services, and social capital in Scotland
• Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2013: core module - attitudes to Government, the economy, health and social care services, and social capital in Scotland – Research Findings
• Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2011: Core Module - Attitudes to Government, the Economy and Public Services in Scotland - Research Findings
• Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2011: Core Module - Attitudes to Government, the Economy and Public Services in Scotland

Core module reports - archive

• Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2010 (Summary)
• Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2009 (Summary)
• Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2007 (Summary)
• Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2006: Report 1 , Report 2, (Summary)
• Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2005: Report 1 , Report 2, Report 3, (Summary)
• Public Perceptions of Scotland After Devolution (2004) (Summary)

Topic reports

• Scottish Social Attitudes survey 2021/22: public attitudes to children and young people's decision making
• Public Attitudes to Poverty, Inequality and Welfare in Scotland and Britain
• Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2021/22: Public Attitudes Towards People with Problem Drug Use
• Scottish social attitudes survey 2021/22: Attitudes to Scotland's handling of the pandemic
• Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2021/22: public views of telephone and video appointments in general practice
• Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2021/22: Public attitudes on alcohol and tobacco use and weight
• Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2019: attitudes to violence against women
• Scottish Social Attitudes 2019: data trust
• Scottish Social Attitudes 2019: attitudes to young people
• Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2019: intra-household distribution of resources
• Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2017: data trust annex
• Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2015: Attitudes to Social Networks, Civic Participation and Co-production
• Scottish Social Attitudes 2015: attitudes to discrimination and positive action
• Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2014: Attitudes to violence against women in Scotland
• Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2014: Public Attitudes to Sectarianism in Scotland
• Scottish Social Attitudes survey 2014: Public Attitudes to Sectarianism in Scotland – Research Findings
• Attitudes to Mental Health in Scotland: Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2013
• Attitudes to Mental Health in Scotland: Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2013 - Research Findings

Topic reports - archive

• Attitudes to discrimination and positive action (2010)(Summary)
• Exploring Dimensions of Social Capital in Scotland Findings from the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey and Scottish Household Survey (2009/2010) (Summary)
• Attitudes to drugs and drug use in Scotland (2009) (Summary)
• Social Capital and Health - Findings from the Scottish Health Survey and Scottish Social Attitudes Survey (2009) (Summary)
• Attitudes to antisocial behaviour in Scotland (2009) (Summary)
• Sustainable places and green space (2009) (Summary)
• Attitudes towards alcohol in Scotland (2007) (Summary)
• Subjective perceptions of well-being in Scotland (2007) (Summary)
• Attitudes to discrimination and positive action (2006) (Summary)
• Public attitudes to homelessness (2006) (Summary)
• Attitudes to youth crime and willingness to intervene (2006) (Summary)
• Family Module Report (2004)
• Attitudes to Discrimination in Scotland (2002) (Summary)
• Attitudes to Discrimination in Scotland - Research Findings (2002)

Methodology and technical reports

The SSA survey includes approximately 1,200 to 1,500 face to face interviews per year with a representative sample of people in Scotland.

The data from the survey are available for further analysis through the UK Data Service.

• Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2023 - Technical Report
• Scottish Social Attitudes 2021/22 - core module: technical information
• Scottish Social Attitudes 2019: technical report
• Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2017: technical annex
• Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2016: technical annex
• Scottish Social Attitudes 2015: Technical Report
• Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2014: Attitudes to violence against women in Scotland
• Attitudes to Mental Health in Scotland: Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2013
• Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2011: Core Module - Attitudes to Government, the Economy and Public Services in Scotland

Methodology and technical reports - archive

• Scottish Social Attitudes 2010: Technical Annex
• Scottish Social Attitudes 2009: Technical Annex
• Scottish Social Attitudes 2007: Technical Annex
• Scottish Social Attitudes 2006: Technical Report
• Scottish Social Attitudes 2005: Technical Report
• Scottish Social Attitudes 2004: Technical Annex