Journeys in Survey Research

  • Home page
  • Dedication
  • My personal pantheon (of the great and the good in survey research)
    • Mark Abrams >
      • Abrams publications
      • An interview with Mark Abrams (transcripts)
      • An interview with Mark Abrams (audio files)
      • Mark Abrams Prize
    • Angus Campbell >
      • SRU garden reception for Angus Campbell
    • Cathie Marsh
    • Tony Coxon
    • Roger Jowell
    • James A Davis
    • Norman Nie
  • Acknowledgements
    • Unsung heroes in support services
  • About the author
    • John F Hall: Career profile
    • John F Hall: Extra-curricular professional and political activities
  • About this site
    • What people have said about this site
    • Latest additions and modifications
    • How to use this site
  • Recent and planned activities
  • Textbooks
    • Textbooks for SPSS >
      • Highly recommended SPSS textbooks >
        • McInnes (2017) >
          • MacInnes, Chapter 4:​ Getting Started with SPSS
          • MacInnes, Chapter 5 Dealing with Data Documentation
          • MacInness 2017 (Web links)
        • Marsh and Elliott (2008)
        • Sweet and Grace-Martin 2010
        • Babbie, Halley, Wagner and Zaino 2013
        • Julie Pallant, SPSS Survival Manual
        • Andy Field
        • Boslaugh 2005
        • McCormick & Salcedo (2015)
        • McCormick & Salcedo (2017)
      • SPSS textbooks worth a look >
        • Hy (1977)
      • On-line SPSS textbooks
      • Textbooks requested or awaiting review
    • Textbooks: Statistics for Social Research >
      • de Vries 2018
      • Bergin (2018)
    • Textbooks: Survey Methods >
      • Crouch & Housden (2003)
      • Andres (2012)
      • Blair, Czala and Blair (2014)
      • de Vaus (2014)
      • Hoinville, Jowell et al (1977)
      • Marsden & Wright [Eds] (2010) >
        • Contributors to Handbook of Survey Research
      • Marsh (1982)
      • Moser & Kalton (1971)
      • Oppenheim (1992)
      • Pallant 2016
    • Textbooks: Data curation and sharing >
      • Corti et el (2014)
  • 1: Survey Analysis Workshop (SPSS)
    • What is SPSS?
    • SPSS Without Tears >
      • My first time: in at the SPSS deep end (1972)
    • Introduction to Survey Analysis Workshop (SPSS) >
      • IBM® SPSS® Statistics (Overview)
      • Note on SPSS tutorials on this site
      • Background to current project >
        • Author's note
      • SPSS versions used
      • Stata and SPSS
    • Summary guide to SPSS tutorials >
      • Block 1: From questionnaire to SPSS saved file
      • Block 2: Analysing one variable >
        • 2.1: Nominal and ordinal variables
        • 2.2: Interval scale variables
        • 2.3: Data transformations
      • Block 3: Analysing two variables (and sometimes three) >
        • 3.1 Two variables (CROSSTABS)
        • 3.2 Three (or more) variables
        • 3.3 Multiple response (MULT RESPONSE)
        • 3.4 Conditional data transformations (IF and DO IF)
        • 3.5 Derived variables (COUNT and COMPUTE) >
          • 3.5.1 Introduction to COUNT and COMPUTE
          • 3.5.2 Teenage Attitudes (Tutorials)
      • Block 4: Hypothesis testing
      • SPSS files and documentation used for tutorials and exercises >
        • Data sets used in Survey Analysis Workshop >
          • British Social Attitudes
          • Pre-course questionnaire on interests and experience
          • Quality of Life in Britain
    • Useful links for SPSS >
      • On-line SPSS Intros and tutorials
      • SPSS courses
  • 1a: Statistical concepts and methods
  • 1b: Teaching with Survey Data
    • SN 28: Relative Deprivation and Social Justice 1962-63
  • 1c: Developing research projects using survey data
  • 1d: Workshop and presentations for ASSESS (SPSS users in Europe)
    • Old Dog, Old Tricks: Using SPSS syntax to beat the mouse-trap
    • The Beginners' Guide to Survey Analysis Using SPSS
    • Close Encounters of the Fourth Kind: working with alien SPSS files
    • ASSESS 2014 Links to Contents
  • 2: Survey Research Practice
    • SR 502: Survey Research Practice (1976 - 1992)
    • Courses in Survey Methods >
      • (United Kingdom) Degrees, diplomas and certificates
      • (USA & Canada) Degrees, diplomas and certificates in survey research
      • Summer schools for survey methods
      • Short courses for survey research
    • Opinion polls >
      • Election poll débâcles
    • Web-based resources for survey research >
      • Survey Resources Network
      • On-line surveys
      • Question Banks
      • Survey methods guides and tutorials
      • Clips, tips and blogs
    • Useful links for Survey Research
  • 2a: Survey Research Methodology, Practice and Training
    • The place of survey research in the social sciences
    • Survey Research and Social Action
    • Academic centres specialising in survey research >
      • United Kingdom
      • USA and Canada
      • Europe
    • Professional and Voluntary Associations
    • Survey research organisations
    • Journals for survey research
    • Articles on survey research
  • 2b: Major survey series
    • United Kingdom (Major survey series: academic and other) >
      • British Social Attitudes >
        • British Social Attitudes: ​Exploring the SPSS files >
          • British Social Attitudes 1983 onwards: Cumulative SPSS file
          • British Social Attitudes: Making files from different years compatible
    • United Kingdom (Major survey series: government) >
      • ONS National Well-being >
        • ONS files
    • Europe (Major survey series)
    • USA (Major survey series)
  • 3: Subjective Social Indicators (Quality of Life)
    • Quality of Life: Measurement and methodology
    • Measures of psychological well-being
    • Values and Quality of Life
    • SSRC Survey Unit Quality of Life in Britain surveys 1971-1975 >
      • Abstracts, data and documentation
      • Publications based on the SSRC Quality of Life in Britain surveys >
        • Bibliography for Quality of Life in Britain and related surveys
        • Quality of Life of the Elderly in Residential Care
      • Surveys in schools >
        • "Trinians" survey
        • Playground to Politics
  • 4: Survey Unit, Social Science Research Council (UK)
    • Surveys by SSRC Survey Unit
    • Publications: SSRC Survey Unit
    • Courses, Conferences and Seminars
  • 5: Survey Research Unit, Polytechnic of North London
    • Survey Research Unit >
      • SRU Student publications
      • Training courses in survey methods
      • The place of SRU within PNL
    • Director's Working Group on the Survey Research Unit
  • Village life in Normandy
    • Notre Dame de Cenilly >
      • Fête St Clair 2007
      • Fête St Clair 2010
      • Fête St Clair 2012 National pedal-car championships
      • La Noslière de Bas
    • War and Peace in N D de Cenilly >
      • Armistice Day
      • German Occupation (1940 - 1944)
      • D-Day (6th June 1944) >
        • D-Day ceremony 9 June 2013
        • D-Day 70th Anniversary 2014
        • Lancaster bomber crew (Memorial Ceremony 8 June 2011)
        • Lancaster bomber crew (Memorial Ceremony 8 June 2014)
        • Lancaster bomber crew (Memorial Ceremony 7 June 2015)
        • Lancaster bomber crew ​(Memorial ceremony 5 June 2016)
      • Liberation July 1944 >
        • Field hospital in N D de Cenilly
        • Liberation celebrations (July 2006)
        • Visit of US 2nd Armored Division veterans (2 Sep 2009)
        • Liberation celebrations 2014
        • Unveiling of new monument (13 June 2015)
        • Re-enactment camp (Gavray, 11 July 2015)
    • Midsummer music
    • Paris trip (post Brexit)
  • Contact

Survey Research Unit (1978 - 1992)

[Page last updated 30 July 2019]

Origins

​Following a proposal to set up a Centre for Applied Social Research in the Faculty of Social Studies the Survey Research Unit was formally established as a research unit of the Department of Applied Social Studies on May 1st 1978, with John Hall as Unit Director.  

​Closely modelled on the SSRC Survey Unit (which had been closed by SSRC in 1976) and with very similar terms of reference, it provided advice and assistance on survey methods to academic, public and voluntary sector colleagues and attracted more than £1 million in externally funded research grants and contracts and around £400K in Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) funded research assistantships and fellowships, some of which came from small amounts of "end-of-year" money which, if unspent, would revert to ILEA..

Terms of reference:


The Polytechnic of North London 
Survey Research Unit (Unit Director: John F Hall MA Dip Ed.) 


The Survey Research Unit offers specialist advice and assistance on all aspects of survey research. This includes research planning and costing, problem formulation, questionnaire design and sampling, as well as the related uses of statistics and computing for data analysis.

The  unit was formally established as a research unit of the Department of Applied Social Studies on May 1st 1978 and its terms of reference are: 

     to make available advice and assistance to staff and students of the Polytechnic  on survey research and
     on statistical and computing applications in the social sciences.

     to seek to respond positively to requests for appropriate research or research assistance by local
     authorities and other bodies, particularly in the London area. 

     to seek funds for social survey research and related work to be based in the Polytechnic and to respond 
     to requests for assistance in preparing grant applications by staff seeking funds for similar work in other
     departments. 


Survey projects

Besides offering practical help and guidance, the Unit also conducted research for the Polytechnic and its committees, government agencies,community groups, the research councils, research foundations and other funding agencies. This ranged from small-scale local studies to major national surveys, covering many different aspects of community  activity and social policy.  

Survey Research Unit Projects 1978 -1985 is actually a proposal to set up a research support service for community groups which led to a separate Community Research Advisory Centre.  It is an annotated list of  all projects by the Survey Research Unit at the Polytechnic of North London from 1976 to 1985. 

Examples of funded surveys include:

Quality of Life of the Elderly in Residential Care
(£12,000: Personal Social Services Council)
Report:
Sheila Peace, John Hall and Graham Hamblin
The Quality of Life of the Elderly in Residential Care: Report on a pilot project
(Survey Research Unit, Polytechnic of North London, 1980)

National Consumer Study in One Hundred Local Authority Old Peoples Homes, 1980  [link to UKDS SN 2196]
(£79,000: Dept of the Environment)

Report:
Dianne Willcocks, Jim Ring, Leonie Kellaher, Sheila Peace
The Residential Life of Old People: A study in 100 Local Authority homes.  Volume II Appendices

Book: 
Dianne Willcocks, Sheila Peace and Leonie Kellaher
Private Lives in Public Places 

(Tavistock 1987)

​Survey Research Unit Projects 1985 - 1992 Lists all projects by the Survey Research Unit at the Polytechnic of North London from 1985 to 1992 (not included in earlier list covering 1978 to 1985) together with details of client, publications etc.  Some post 1992 private consultancy projects also included.

Computing

It offered advice and assistance in computer processing and statistical analysis of new surveys or in secondary analysis of old ones and was particularly expert in the use of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).  It also provided specialist post-graduate training in survey methods via two related postgraduate courses (part-time, evening) 
Survey Analysis Workshop (Oct - Feb) 
Survey Research Practice   (Feb - June)

Research staff

Over the years SRU recruited and trained a number of researchers from various backgrounds and with varying levels of previous experience.  As well as conducting research, some also made significant contributions to teaching social research methods.  Many of them, together with undergraduate students working in SRU as temporary assistants or demonstrators, went on to occupy senior positions in social research.   At least seven became full Professors in UK universities.  

Survey Research Unit: Staff is a summary table showing where they were recruited from and, where known, their current whereabouts, with links to their profiles in universities and elsewhere.   All staff had been successfully placed by the time the unit closed in 1992. 

​See also SRU garden reception for Angus Campbell featuring a 1978 video clip and a short photo gallery

Publications

SRU publications is an extensive list of publications, deriving from work done by SRU on external funds, in collaboration with other agencies and researchers or as student dissertation projects (See SRU Student publications).

Data sets

Data sets for surveys done by or through the SRU are listed on Survey Research Unit: survey data sets [pdf]  Many data sets from 1986 and earlier have been irretrievably lost owing to PNL computer services spring-cleaning policy for student users, but most data from 1986 onwards have been preserved.  

Closure

Research centres sometimes sit uncomfortably within academic institutions: it was no different with SRU and PNL, but at least I tried.  It lasted 16 years and I'm proud of what we achieved.

Outdated financial, reporting and management systems within PNL were cruelly exposed by the arrival and development of SRU.  SRU and other research centres developed and thrived only through the goodwill of administrative staff in personnel and finance and the support of computer staff.  

​Following the withdrawal of ILEA rate-borne funding for postgraduate Research Assistants and Research Fellowships (expected to register for Master and PhD respectively) SRU became completely self-funding.  
Things ran smoothly until the "Harrington" affair prompted the resignation of Paul Corrigan (my Head of Department) which in turn led to the resignation of the Director of the Polytechnic. ILEA then imposed John Beishon as Director who in turn installed a new senior management team (including some very dubious appointments) which adopted inappropriate business models and completely undermined the professionalism, autonomy and discretion of successful research entrepreneurs, many of whom, including myself, took early retirement at the earliest opportunity in March 1992.

​The Survey Research Unit closed with immediate effect, as did both postgraduate courses, Survey Analysis  Workshop and Survey Research Practice. All SRU staff had found new posts well before the closure.  The BSc Social Research was discontinued a year later.  (See: The place of SRU within PNL)

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  • Home page
  • Dedication
  • My personal pantheon (of the great and the good in survey research)
    • Mark Abrams >
      • Abrams publications
      • An interview with Mark Abrams (transcripts)
      • An interview with Mark Abrams (audio files)
      • Mark Abrams Prize
    • Angus Campbell >
      • SRU garden reception for Angus Campbell
    • Cathie Marsh
    • Tony Coxon
    • Roger Jowell
    • James A Davis
    • Norman Nie
  • Acknowledgements
    • Unsung heroes in support services
  • About the author
    • John F Hall: Career profile
    • John F Hall: Extra-curricular professional and political activities
  • About this site
    • What people have said about this site
    • Latest additions and modifications
    • How to use this site
  • Recent and planned activities
  • Textbooks
    • Textbooks for SPSS >
      • Highly recommended SPSS textbooks >
        • McInnes (2017) >
          • MacInnes, Chapter 4:​ Getting Started with SPSS
          • MacInnes, Chapter 5 Dealing with Data Documentation
          • MacInness 2017 (Web links)
        • Marsh and Elliott (2008)
        • Sweet and Grace-Martin 2010
        • Babbie, Halley, Wagner and Zaino 2013
        • Julie Pallant, SPSS Survival Manual
        • Andy Field
        • Boslaugh 2005
        • McCormick & Salcedo (2015)
        • McCormick & Salcedo (2017)
      • SPSS textbooks worth a look >
        • Hy (1977)
      • On-line SPSS textbooks
      • Textbooks requested or awaiting review
    • Textbooks: Statistics for Social Research >
      • de Vries 2018
      • Bergin (2018)
    • Textbooks: Survey Methods >
      • Crouch & Housden (2003)
      • Andres (2012)
      • Blair, Czala and Blair (2014)
      • de Vaus (2014)
      • Hoinville, Jowell et al (1977)
      • Marsden & Wright [Eds] (2010) >
        • Contributors to Handbook of Survey Research
      • Marsh (1982)
      • Moser & Kalton (1971)
      • Oppenheim (1992)
      • Pallant 2016
    • Textbooks: Data curation and sharing >
      • Corti et el (2014)
  • 1: Survey Analysis Workshop (SPSS)
    • What is SPSS?
    • SPSS Without Tears >
      • My first time: in at the SPSS deep end (1972)
    • Introduction to Survey Analysis Workshop (SPSS) >
      • IBM® SPSS® Statistics (Overview)
      • Note on SPSS tutorials on this site
      • Background to current project >
        • Author's note
      • SPSS versions used
      • Stata and SPSS
    • Summary guide to SPSS tutorials >
      • Block 1: From questionnaire to SPSS saved file
      • Block 2: Analysing one variable >
        • 2.1: Nominal and ordinal variables
        • 2.2: Interval scale variables
        • 2.3: Data transformations
      • Block 3: Analysing two variables (and sometimes three) >
        • 3.1 Two variables (CROSSTABS)
        • 3.2 Three (or more) variables
        • 3.3 Multiple response (MULT RESPONSE)
        • 3.4 Conditional data transformations (IF and DO IF)
        • 3.5 Derived variables (COUNT and COMPUTE) >
          • 3.5.1 Introduction to COUNT and COMPUTE
          • 3.5.2 Teenage Attitudes (Tutorials)
      • Block 4: Hypothesis testing
      • SPSS files and documentation used for tutorials and exercises >
        • Data sets used in Survey Analysis Workshop >
          • British Social Attitudes
          • Pre-course questionnaire on interests and experience
          • Quality of Life in Britain
    • Useful links for SPSS >
      • On-line SPSS Intros and tutorials
      • SPSS courses
  • 1a: Statistical concepts and methods
  • 1b: Teaching with Survey Data
    • SN 28: Relative Deprivation and Social Justice 1962-63
  • 1c: Developing research projects using survey data
  • 1d: Workshop and presentations for ASSESS (SPSS users in Europe)
    • Old Dog, Old Tricks: Using SPSS syntax to beat the mouse-trap
    • The Beginners' Guide to Survey Analysis Using SPSS
    • Close Encounters of the Fourth Kind: working with alien SPSS files
    • ASSESS 2014 Links to Contents
  • 2: Survey Research Practice
    • SR 502: Survey Research Practice (1976 - 1992)
    • Courses in Survey Methods >
      • (United Kingdom) Degrees, diplomas and certificates
      • (USA & Canada) Degrees, diplomas and certificates in survey research
      • Summer schools for survey methods
      • Short courses for survey research
    • Opinion polls >
      • Election poll débâcles
    • Web-based resources for survey research >
      • Survey Resources Network
      • On-line surveys
      • Question Banks
      • Survey methods guides and tutorials
      • Clips, tips and blogs
    • Useful links for Survey Research
  • 2a: Survey Research Methodology, Practice and Training
    • The place of survey research in the social sciences
    • Survey Research and Social Action
    • Academic centres specialising in survey research >
      • United Kingdom
      • USA and Canada
      • Europe
    • Professional and Voluntary Associations
    • Survey research organisations
    • Journals for survey research
    • Articles on survey research
  • 2b: Major survey series
    • United Kingdom (Major survey series: academic and other) >
      • British Social Attitudes >
        • British Social Attitudes: ​Exploring the SPSS files >
          • British Social Attitudes 1983 onwards: Cumulative SPSS file
          • British Social Attitudes: Making files from different years compatible
    • United Kingdom (Major survey series: government) >
      • ONS National Well-being >
        • ONS files
    • Europe (Major survey series)
    • USA (Major survey series)
  • 3: Subjective Social Indicators (Quality of Life)
    • Quality of Life: Measurement and methodology
    • Measures of psychological well-being
    • Values and Quality of Life
    • SSRC Survey Unit Quality of Life in Britain surveys 1971-1975 >
      • Abstracts, data and documentation
      • Publications based on the SSRC Quality of Life in Britain surveys >
        • Bibliography for Quality of Life in Britain and related surveys
        • Quality of Life of the Elderly in Residential Care
      • Surveys in schools >
        • "Trinians" survey
        • Playground to Politics
  • 4: Survey Unit, Social Science Research Council (UK)
    • Surveys by SSRC Survey Unit
    • Publications: SSRC Survey Unit
    • Courses, Conferences and Seminars
  • 5: Survey Research Unit, Polytechnic of North London
    • Survey Research Unit >
      • SRU Student publications
      • Training courses in survey methods
      • The place of SRU within PNL
    • Director's Working Group on the Survey Research Unit
  • Village life in Normandy
    • Notre Dame de Cenilly >
      • Fête St Clair 2007
      • Fête St Clair 2010
      • Fête St Clair 2012 National pedal-car championships
      • La Noslière de Bas
    • War and Peace in N D de Cenilly >
      • Armistice Day
      • German Occupation (1940 - 1944)
      • D-Day (6th June 1944) >
        • D-Day ceremony 9 June 2013
        • D-Day 70th Anniversary 2014
        • Lancaster bomber crew (Memorial Ceremony 8 June 2011)
        • Lancaster bomber crew (Memorial Ceremony 8 June 2014)
        • Lancaster bomber crew (Memorial Ceremony 7 June 2015)
        • Lancaster bomber crew ​(Memorial ceremony 5 June 2016)
      • Liberation July 1944 >
        • Field hospital in N D de Cenilly
        • Liberation celebrations (July 2006)
        • Visit of US 2nd Armored Division veterans (2 Sep 2009)
        • Liberation celebrations 2014
        • Unveiling of new monument (13 June 2015)
        • Re-enactment camp (Gavray, 11 July 2015)
    • Midsummer music
    • Paris trip (post Brexit)
  • Contact