Society Behind the Stats speaks to leading social scientists and political experts on the themes and trends that have defined social research over several decades. Together with host, Sierra Mesplie-Escott they discuss the evolving views and experience of people across the country.

This is a NatCen podcast, the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) is a registered charity and is the largest independent and not-for-profit social research organisation in the UK. NatCen was founded in 1969 by Sir Roger Jowell and Gerald Hoinville with the aim of carrying out rigorous social policy research to improve society.

For more information about NatCen, go to https://natcen.ac.uk/

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In this first episode of Society Behind the Stats Sierra is joined by Sir John Curtice, Senior Research Fellow at the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) and expert on voting behaviour, and Curtis Jessop, Director of Attitudinal Surveys at NatCen, to introduce NaCen's eminent British Social Attitudes survey. They discuss the history of the survey, why it was established, and the reasons it is a critical gauge of public opinion in the UK.

For more information about the British Social Attitudes survey, see https://natcen.ac.uk/british-social-attitudes

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Britain had experienced unprecedented levels of change and disruption since the last General Election in 2019. In the 41st report, published in June 2024, we explored the impacts of the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, a global pandemic, the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, and the cost of living crisis on social and political attitudes.

In this episode, host Sierra Mesplie-Escott discusses some of these key trends with Natalie Maplethorpe and Elizabeth Clery.

For more information about the British Social Attitudes survey, see https://natcen.ac.uk/british-social-attitudes

Website: https://natcen.ac.uk/

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/national-centre-for-social-research

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British Social Attitudes has been collecting data on attitudes to assisted dying since 1983. In this epsiode, Sierra Mesplie-Escott sits down with Natasha Fox, Public Affairs Manager at NatCen and Andrew Copson, Chief Executive at the Humanists UK, to discuss the BSA data around topical issues of assisted dying and religious belonging.

This episode was recorded in October 2024, before the full text of the Private Member's Bill was published.

For more information about the British Social Attitudes survey, see https://natcen.ac.uk/british-social-attitudes

Website: https://natcen.ac.uk/

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/national-centre-for-social-research

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Referencing British Social Attitudes data collected since 1983, Sierra sits down with Sir John Curtice again, to discuss the formidable challenges facing the new Labour government under Keir Starmer.

Their conversation focus' on the pessimistic mood of the nation and the record lows of trust in government, attitudes to the role of the state and how we are governed in the UK, and voter turnout in the last election, amongst other things.

This episode was recorded prior to the October budget.

For more information about the British Social Attitudes survey, see https://natcen.ac.uk/british-social-attitudes

Website: https://natcen.ac.uk/

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/national-centre-for-social-research

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy-policy for more information.

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In our last episode of the year, Sierra sits down with Leonora Merry, Director of Communications and External Affairs at Nuffield Trust, Dan Wellings, Senior Fellow at The Kings Fund, and Natalie Maplethorpe, Research Director at NatCen, to discuss the British Social Attitudes module that looks at public attitudes towards health and social care in the UK. Their discussion centres on satisfaction with the NHS, how public attitudes have varied since the time series began in 1983, and how this BSA data contributes to wider health and care policy across the UK. They also discuss the important collaboration between the three organisations on this module.

British Social Attitudes is run by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) and is made possible by the funding we receive from a variety of charitable and governmental sources each year.

For more information about the British Social Attitudes survey, see https://natcen.ac.uk/british-social-attitudes

Website: https://natcen.ac.uk/

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/national-centre-for-social-research

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy-policy for more information.

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The British Social Attitudes, among other social surveys, has been tracking public attitudes towards immigration for over 20 years. In this episode host Sierra Mesplie-Escott sits down with Rob Ford, a Professor of Political Science at the University of Manchester, and Helena Wilson, a Senior Researcher at the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), to discuss how attitudes have evolved towards a topic that remains central to political and cultural debates. They explore the key trends from the latest British Social Attitudes report, and how long-running times series such as this can help to inform the debate. Their discussion also centres on the broader UK context, how long-standing opinions compare to recent changes, what role major events like Brexit have played in shaping perspectives, and whether changes in the makeup of society influence how we think about immigration.

For more information about the British Social Attitudes survey, see https://natcen.ac.uk/british-social-attitudes

Website: https://natcen.ac.uk/

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/national-centre-for-social-research

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy-policy for more information.

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2024 marked 25 years since Scottish Devolution, as well as 25 years since NatCen established their Scottish arm in Edinburgh and a dedicated attitudes survey, Scottish Social Attitudes (SSA). In our last episode of this series, Sierra is joined by Alex Scholes, Research Director, and Lucy Dean, Senior Researcher, who both have worked regurlarly on the SSA amongst other projects at the Scottish Centre for Social Research (ScotCen). Also a guest on this episode is Fiona O'Hanlon, a Senior Lecturer in language education at the University of Edinburgh, where one of her focus' is on the development of Gaelic-medium education in Scotland.

Together their discussions range from the importance of a dedicated attitudes survey in Scotland, to attitudes to Gaelic and also Scots, as well as attitudes regarding national identity, Scottish Independence, and the EU.

For more information about the British Social Attitudes survey, see https://natcen.ac.uk/british-social-attitudes

For more information about the Scottish Social Attitudes survey, see https://natcen.ac.uk/scottish-social-attitudes

Website: https://natcen.ac.uk/

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/national-centre-for-social-research

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy-policy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.