Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2014: Public Attitudes to Sectarianism in Scotland
This report sets out key findings from the 2014 Scottish Social Attitudes survey (SSA) on public attitudes to sectarianism in Scotland.
Annex A - Detailed Tables
Notes on tables
- '*' indicates less than 0.5 percent but greater than zero
- '-' indicates no respondents gave this answer
- All figures are rounded to the nearest whole number (from 2 decimal places, such that 0.49 rounds down and 0.51 up)
Chapter 2 detailed tables
Table A.1: Sample sizes for SSA by year (1999 to 2014)
Year | Sample size (unweighted) |
---|---|
1999 | 1,482 |
2000 | 1,663 |
2001 | 1,605 |
2002 | 1,665 |
2003 | 1,508 |
2004 | 1,637 |
2005 | 1,549 |
2006 | 1,594 |
2007 | 1,508 |
2009 | 1,482 |
2010 | 1,495 |
2011 | 1,197 |
2012 | 1,229 |
2013 | 1,497 |
2014 | 1,501 |
Table A.2: Religious belonging (2013 & 2014)
2013 | 2014 | |
---|---|---|
% | % | |
Do you regard yourself as belonging to any particular religion? | ||
No religion | 54 | 44 |
Christian- no denomination | 7 | 11 |
Roman Catholic | 13 | 14 |
Church of England / Anglican / Episcopal / Church of Wales | 1 | 2 |
Church of Scotland | 18 | 21 |
Free Church / Free Presbyterian | 1 | * |
Methodist- including Wesleyan | * | * |
Baptist | * | * |
United Reformed Church / Congregational | - | * |
Brethren | * | * |
Other Protestant (write in) | 1 | 1 |
Other Christian (write in) | * | * |
Jewish | * | - |
Hindu | * | 1 |
Islam / Muslim | 2 | 3 |
Sikh | * | * |
Buddhist | * | * |
Other non-Christian (write in ) | 1 | 1 |
(Don't know) | * | * |
Refusal | * | * |
Sample size | 1496 | 1501 |
Base: all adults
Table A.3: Family religion (2013 & 2014)
2013 | 2014 | |
---|---|---|
% | % | |
In what religion, if any, were you brought up? | ||
No religion | 23 | 19 |
Christian- no denomination | 10 | 11 |
Roman Catholic | 19 | 20 |
Church of England / Anglican / Episcopal / Church of Wales | 5 | 6 |
Church of Scotland | 35 | 36 |
Free Church / Free Presbyterian | 1 | 1 |
Methodist- including Wesleyan | * | 1 |
Baptist | * | * |
United Reformed Church / Congregational | * | 1 |
Brethren | * | * |
Other Protestant (write in) | 2 | 2 |
Other Christian (write in) | 1 | * |
Jewish | * | - |
Hindu | 1 | 1 |
Islam / Muslim | 2 | 3 |
Sikh | * | * |
Buddhist | - | 1 |
Other non-Christian (write in) | - | * |
(Don't know) | * | - |
Refusal | - | - |
Sample size | 1494 | 1501 |
Table A.4: Frequency of attendance at religious services
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
Apart from such special occasions as weddings, funerals and baptisms and so on, how often nowadays do you attend services or meetings connected with your religion? | |
Once a week or more | 13 |
Less often but at least once in two weeks | 3 |
Less often but at least once a month | 6 |
Less often but at least twice a year | 9 |
Less often but at least once a year | 6 |
Less often | 6 |
Never or practically never | 54 |
Varies too much to say | 2 |
Don't know | * |
Refused | * |
Sample size | 1260 |
Base: all adults who said they belong to a religion or were brought up in a religion
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
Do you think of yourself as any of the following? | |
Protestant | 30 |
Catholic | 15 |
Christian (but neither Protestant nor Catholic) | 15 |
Muslim | 3 |
Jewish | - |
Hindu | 1 |
Sikh | * |
Buddhist | * |
Spiritualist | * |
Atheist | 1 |
Belonging to another religion (WRITE IN) | 1 |
Having no religion | 33 |
Don't know | * |
Refusal | * |
Sample size | 1501 |
Base: all adults
Table A.6: How religious would you say you are?
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
How religious would you say you are? | |
Very religious | 8 |
Fairly religious | 41 |
Not very religious | 41 |
Not at all religious | 10 |
Don't know | * |
Refused | - |
Sample size | 1017 |
Base: all adults who identified themselves with a religion
Table A.7: Importance of religion to identity
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
Please say how much you agree or disagree with the following statement. Being {RelID} is an important part of who I am. Where {RelID} is a textfill using religious identities from table A.4 |
|
Agree strongly | 17 |
Agree | 33 |
Neither agree nor disagree | 26 |
Disagree | 19 |
Disagree strongly | 4 |
Don't know | * |
Refused | * |
Sample size | 1495 |
Base: all adults who identified themselves with a religion or no religion
Table A.8: Who one knows who is Catholic
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
Thinking about the people you know, which of them, if any, are Catholic? Multicoded (Maximum of 7 codes) |
|
I don't know anyone who is Catholic | 7 |
Partner / spouse | 14 |
Parents / brother / sister/ son / daughter | 26 |
In-laws | 23 |
Other relatives | 43 |
A friend, or friends, I know fairly well | 69 |
Friends or acquaintances I know less well | 51 |
People at my work | 33 |
Don't know | 2 |
Refused | * |
Sample size | 1501 |
Base: all adults
Table A.9: Who one knows who is Protestant
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
Thinking about the people you know, which of them, if any, are Protestant? Multicoded (Maximum of 7 codes) |
|
I don't know anyone who is Protestant | 10 |
Partner / spouse | 23 |
Parents / brother / sister/ son / daughter | 43 |
In-laws | 32 |
Other relatives | 56 |
A friend, or friends, I know fairly well | 71 |
Friends or acquaintances I know less well | 55 |
People at my work | 35 |
Don't know | 3 |
Refused | * |
Sample size | 1501 |
Base: all adults
Table A.10: Family connections with Ireland or Northern Ireland
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
Do you have any family connections with Ireland or Northern Ireland? | |
Yes | 25 |
No | 75 |
Don't know | * |
Refused | * |
Sample size | 1486 |
Base: all adults excluding those born in Ireland or Northern Ireland
Table A.11: Support for Scottish football club
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
Which Scottish football clubs, if any, do you support? Please include non-league clubs. Multicoded (Maximum of 3 codes) |
|
None | 58 |
Aberdeen | 3 |
Celtic | 12 |
Dundee | 1 |
Dundee United | 1 |
Dunfermline Athletic | 1 |
Falkirk | * |
Heart of Midlothian | 3 |
Hibernian | 1 |
Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 2 |
Kilmarnock | 1 |
Motherwell | * |
Partick Thistle | 1 |
Rangers | 12 |
Ross County | 1 |
St. Johnstone | 1 |
St. Mirren | 1 |
Other, Please write in | 5 |
(Don't know) | - |
Refusal | * |
Sample size | 1501 |
Base: all adults
Chapter 3 detailed tables
Table A.12: Perceived level of prejudice against Catholics in Scotland
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
How much prejudice do you think there is against Catholics in Scotland nowadays? | |
A great deal | 4 |
Quite a lot | 17 |
Some | 34 |
Not very much | 32 |
None at all | 5 |
Don't know | 8 |
Refused | - |
Sample size | 1501 |
Base: all adults
Table A.13: Perceived level of prejudice against Protestants in Scotland
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
How much prejudice do you think there is against Protestants in Scotland nowadays? | |
A great deal | 3 |
Quite a lot | 9 |
Some | 29 |
Not very much | 41 |
None at all | 10 |
Don't know | 8 |
Refused | - |
Sample size | 1501 |
Base: all adults
Table A.14: Perceived level of job discrimination against Catholics in Scotland
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
Some people think that being a Catholic may stop someone getting the job or promotion they deserve. Thinking about Scotland today how often, if at all, do you think this happens? |
|
A lot of the time | 2 |
Some of the time | 22 |
Hardly ever | 43 |
Never | 24 |
Don't know | 8 |
Refused | * |
Sample size | 1501 |
Base: all adults
Table A.15: Perceived level of job discrimination against Protestants in Scotland
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
And some people think that being a Protestant may stop someone getting the job or promotion they deserve. Thinking about Scotland today how often, if at all, do you think this happens? |
|
A lot of the time | * |
Some of the time | 16 |
Hardly ever | 49 |
Never | 26 |
Don't know | 8 |
Refused | * |
Sample size | 1501 |
Base: all adults
Table A.16: Perceived likelihood of harassment for being Catholic in local area
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
Thinking about your local area, how likely, or unlikely, do you think it is that someone would be harassed or threatened nowadays for being Catholic? | |
Very likely | 2 |
Quite likely | 7 |
Quite unlikely | 31 |
Very unlikely | 56 |
Don't know | 4 |
Refused | * |
Sample size | 1501 |
Base: all adults
Table A.17: Perceived likelihood of harassment for being Protestant in local area
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
Still thinking about your local area, how likely, or unlikely, do you think it is that someone would be harassed or threatened nowadays for being Protestant? | |
Very likely | 2 |
Quite likely | 6 |
Quite unlikely | 29 |
Very unlikely | 59 |
Don't know | 4 |
Refused | * |
Sample size | 1501 |
Base: all adults
Table A.18: Perceived likelihood of harassment for being Catholic in Scotland
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
Now thinking about Scotland more widely, how likely, or unlikely, do you think it is that someone would be harassed or threatened for being Catholic? | |
Very likely | 4 |
Quite likely | 31 |
Quite unlikely | 39 |
Very unlikely | 18 |
Don't know | 7 |
Refused | * |
Sample size | 1501 |
Base: all adults
Table A.19: Perceived likelihood of harassment for being Protestant in Scotland
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
Still thinking about Scotland more widely, how likely, or unlikely, do you think it is that someone would be harassed or threatened for being Protestant? | |
Very likely | 3 |
Quite likely | 25 |
Quite unlikely | 42 |
Very unlikely | 22 |
Don't know | 7 |
Refused | * |
Sample size | 1501 |
Base: all adults
Table A.20: Perceptions of how widespread a problem sectarianism is
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
I am now going to ask some questions about sectarianism. As you may know, sectarianism is a term used to describe division, bigotry and discrimination rooted in religion. For the purposes of this survey, I would like you to think only about divisions between followers of different Christian traditions, such as Protestants and Catholics. Which of these statements comes closest to your view...READ OUT... |
|
Sectarianism is a problem throughout the whole of Scotland | 19 |
Sectarianism is only a problem in parts of Scotland | 69 |
Sectarianism is not a problem in Scotland at all | 8 |
Don't know | 4 |
Refused | * |
Sample size | 1501 |
Base: all adults
Response categories reversed for half of the sample
Table A.21: Where sectarianism is perceived to be a problem?
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
In which parts of Scotland do you think sectarianism is a problem? Coded by interviewer - no show card Multicoded (Maximum of 13 codes) |
|
Glasgow | 70 |
West coast / west of Scotland | 38 |
Strathclyde | 13 |
Ayrshire | 6 |
Fife | 3 |
Lanarkshire | 12 |
West Lothian | 4 |
Highlands | 4 |
Edinburgh | 15 |
Central belt | 18 |
Cities / urban areas | 11 |
Rural areas | 3 |
Other (write in) | 7 |
Don't know | 5 |
Refused | * |
Sample size | 1073 |
Base: all who said sectarianism was only a problem in parts of Scotland
Table A.22: Perceptions of change in relationships between Protestants and Catholics in Scotland
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
Do you think that relationships between Protestants and Catholics in Scotland are better, worse, or about the same as they were 10 years ago? | |
Better | 47 |
Worse | 3 |
About the same | 40 |
Don't know | 10 |
Refused | * |
Sample size | 1501 |
Base: all adults
Table A.23: Level of agreement that sectarianism will always exist in Scotland
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
Please say how much you agree or disagree with the following statement: Sectarianism will always exist in Scotland. |
|
Agree strongly | 9 |
Agree | 57 |
Neither agree nor disagree | 13 |
Disagree | 15 |
Disagree strongly | 2 |
Don't know | 3 |
Refused | - |
Sample size | 1501 |
Base: all adults
Chapter 4 detailed tables
Table A.24: What contributes to sectarianism
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
From what you have seen, read or heard, which of these, if any, would you say contribute to sectarianism in Scotland? Multicoded (Maximum of 13 codes) |
|
Newspapers, television or the radio | 34 |
The internet and social media | 37 |
Rugby | 3 |
Football | 88 |
Golf | 1 |
Orange Order marches | 79 |
Irish Republican marches | 70 |
Denominational schools | 37 |
Non-denominational schools | 8 |
The police | 8 |
Churches | 27 |
Events in Ireland | 51 |
Other (WRITE IN) | 4 |
(None of these) | * |
Don't know | 3 |
Refused | - |
Sample size | 1385 |
Base: all who said sectarianism is a problem throughout or in parts of Scotland
Order of response categories reversed for half of the sample
Table A.25: And which would you say contributes the most to sectarianism in Scotland?
2014 | 2014 | |
---|---|---|
% | % | |
And which would you say contributes the most to sectarianism in Scotland? | Including single responses from previous question | Excluding single responses from previous question |
Newspapers, television or the radio | 4 | 4 |
The internet and social media | 4 | 4 |
Rugby | * | * |
Football | 57 | 55 |
Golf | - | - |
Orange Order marches | 14 | 13 |
Irish Republican marches | 3 | 3 |
Denominational schools | 6 | 5 |
Non-denominational schools | * | * |
The police | * | * |
Churches | 3 | 3 |
Events in Ireland | 4 | 4 |
Other (WRITE IN) | 2 | 2 |
(None of these) | 1 | 1 |
Don't know | 1 | 4 |
Refused | - | - |
Sample size | 1290 | 1385 |
Base: all who gave more than one answer to previous question / all who said sectarianism is a problem throughout or in parts of Scotland
Order of response categories as for previous question
Table A.26: Perceptions of who is best placed to address sectarian attitudes
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
Some people think it is important to address sectarian attitudes in Scotland. Who do you think is best placed to do that? Please choose up to 3 answers from the card. Multicoded (Maximum of 3 codes) |
|
Families / parents | 58 |
Football authorities | 29 |
Individual football clubs | 28 |
Churches | 22 |
The police | 14 |
Local community organisations | 19 |
Schools | 55 |
Local authorities | 15 |
The Scottish Government | 31 |
Other (WRITE IN) | * |
(None of these) | - |
Don't know | 3 |
Refused | - |
Sample size | 1501 |
Base: all adults
Order of response categories reversed for half of the sample
Table A.27: Perceptions of level of Government attention to sectarianism (2014)
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
Thinking about sectarian divisions between Protestants and Catholics in Scotland, would you say that the Scottish Government gives these too much attention, too little attention or about the right amount of attention? | |
Too much attention | 10 |
Too little attention | 31 |
About the right amount of attention | 47 |
Don't know | 11 |
Refused | 1 |
Sample size | 1501 |
Base: all adults
Table A.28: Perceptions of level of Scottish Parliament attention to sectarianism (2003)
2003 | |
---|---|
% | |
Please say how much you agree or disagree with the following statement: The Scottish Parliament is too concerned about sectarian divisions between Protestants and Catholics in Scotland |
|
Agree strongly | 3 |
Agree | 18 |
Neither agree nor disagree | 31 |
Disagree | 35 |
Disagree strongly | 4 |
Can't choose/ Don't know | 8 |
Not answered | 2 |
Sample size | 1324 |
Base: all who completed self-completion
Chapter 5 detailed tables
Table A.29: Support for and opposition to the right of loyalist organisations to march along public streets
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
The next two questions are about loyalist or Orange Order marches, and Irish republican marches in Scotland. How much do you support or oppose the right of loyalist organisations, such as the Orange Order, to march along public streets in Scotland? |
|
Strongly support | 3 |
Support | 11 |
Neither support not oppose | 31 |
Oppose | 22 |
Strongly oppose | 31 |
Don't know | 2 |
Refused | * |
Sample size | 1501 |
Base: all adults
Table A.30: Support for and opposition to the right of Irish republican organisations to march along public streets
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
And how much do you support or oppose the right of Irish republican organisations, such as Cairde na hÉireann, to march along public streets in Scotland? | |
Strongly support | 1 |
Support | 10 |
Neither support not oppose | 30 |
Oppose | 25 |
Strongly oppose | 32 |
Don't know | 2 |
Refused | * |
Sample size | 1501 |
Base: all adults
Table A.31: Support for and opposition to denominational schools
2007 | 2014 | |
---|---|---|
% | % | |
How much do you support or oppose having some schools that are linked to a particular religious denomination, such as Roman Catholic? | ||
Strongly support | 5 | 6 |
Support | 19 | 18 |
Neither support not oppose | 24 | 31 |
Oppose | 29 | 22 |
Strongly oppose | 21 | 21 |
Don't know | 2 | 1 |
Refused | - | * |
Sample size | 1508 | 1501 |
Base: all adults
Table A.32: Acceptability of jokes about Protestants or Catholics
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
Would you say that jokes about Protestants or Catholics are ... | |
Always acceptable | 5 |
Acceptable if they don't offend anyone who hears them | 34 |
Never acceptable | 35 |
(It depends) | 20 |
(Can't choose) | 6 |
Refused | 1 |
Sample size | 1428 |
Base: all who completed self-completion
Table A.33: Acceptability of jokes about Muslims
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
Would you say that jokes about Muslims are ... | |
Always acceptable | 4 |
Acceptable if they don't offend anyone who hears them | 29 |
Never acceptable | 42 |
(It depends) | 19 |
(Can't choose) | 6 |
Refused | 1 |
Sample size | 1428 |
Base: all who completed self-completion
Table A.34: Acceptability of the term "Fenian" in casual conversation
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
Imagine a friend who was not Catholic came round to your home and casually used the term 'Fenian' during the course of the conversation to describe someone who was Catholic. Would you find it acceptable or unacceptable? | |
Find it acceptable | 9 |
Find it unacceptable but say nothing | 18 |
Find it unacceptable and say so | 40 |
(It depends) | 12 |
(I have never heard of the term 'Fenian' to describe a Catholic) | 14 |
(Can't choose) | 7 |
Refused | 1 |
Sample size | 1428 |
Base: all who completed self-completion
Table A.35: Acceptability of the term "Hun" in casual conversation
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
And what if a friend who was not Protestant casually used the term 'Hun' during the course of the conversation to describe someone who was Protestant? Would you find this was acceptable or unacceptable? | |
Find it acceptable | 8 |
Find it unacceptable but say nothing | 18 |
Find it unacceptable and say so | 40 |
(It depends) | 12 |
(I have never heard of the term 'Hun' to describe a Protestant) | 14 |
(Can't choose) | 7 |
Refused | 1 |
Sample size | 1428 |
Base: all who completed self-completion
Table A.36: Whether happy or not for a Catholic to join the family
2003 | 2014 | |
---|---|---|
% | % | |
Some people say they would be happy if a close relative of theirs married or formed a long-term relationship with a Catholic, while others say they would be unhappy about this even if the couple themselves were happy. How would you feel if a close relative of yours married or formed a long-term relationship with a Catholic? |
||
Very happy | 31 | 25 |
Happy | 33 | 19 |
Neither happy not unhappy | 32 | 46 |
Unhappy | 3 | 2 |
Very unhappy | 1 | * |
It depends | * | 4 |
Can't choose | * | 3 |
Refused | * | 1 |
Sample size | 1508 | 1240 |
Base: 2014 - all who did not identify themselves as Catholic and who completed self-completion
Base: 2003 - all adults (face-to-face)
Table A.37: Whether happy or not for a Protestant to join the family
2003 | 2014 | |
---|---|---|
% | % | |
And how would you feel if a close relative of yours married or formed a long-term relationship with a Protestant? | ||
Very happy | 32 | 24 |
Happy | 36 | 18 |
Neither happy not unhappy | 30 | 50 |
Unhappy | 1 | 1 |
Very happy | * | * |
It depends | 1 | 3 |
Can't choose | * | 3 |
Refused | * | 1 |
Sample size | 1508 | 936 |
Base: 2014 - all who did not identify themselves as Protestant and who completed self-completion
Base: 2003 - all adults (face-to-face)
Table A.38: Whether more comfortable around people with similar religious beliefs to themselves
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
Please say how much you agree or disagree with the following statement. I am more comfortable around people with similar religious beliefs to my own. (If no religious beliefs: I am more comfortable around people with no religious beliefs) |
|
Agree strongly | 10 |
Agree | 14 |
Neither agree nor disagree | 44 |
Disagree | 17 |
Disagree strongly | 12 |
Don't know | 3 |
Refused | * |
Sample size | 1428 |
Base: those who completed self-completion
Chapter 6 detailed tables
Table A.39: Personal experience of religious discrimination
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
Have any of the following things ever happened to you because of other people's attitudes towards your own religious beliefs or religious background? Multicoded (Maximum of 4 codes) |
|
Not attended or not been invited to social events (such as weddings, going out with friends, or children's school-based activities) | 5 |
Been refused a job, overlooked for promotion or treated unfairly at work | 5 |
Been harassed or threatened | 7 |
None of these | 80 |
(Can't choose) | 4 |
Refused | 1 |
Sample size | 1428 |
Base: those who completed self-completion
Table A.40: Whether ever thought twice about revealing religion (or lack of it)
2014 | |
---|---|
% | |
Have you ever thought twice about telling someone you are a {RelID}, because of concern about what they might think? Where {RelID} is a textfill using religious identity from table A.4 |
|
Yes, often | 3 |
Yes, occassionally | 11 |
No | 83 |
(Can't choose) | 2 |
Refused | 1 |
Sample size | 1428 |
Base: those who completed self-completion
Contact
Email: Linzie Liddell
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