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Title:
Mobility of Old People and Housewives : a Study in Guildford, 1975

Subject Categories:
Elderly - Social stratification and groupings
Travel and transport

Depositor(s):
Transport and Road Research Laboratory

Principal Investigator(s):
Transport and Road Research Laboratory

Data Collector(s):
MIL Research Limited

Abstract:
The aim of this survey was to study the travel patterns of old people and the role of transport in their every day lives. A sample of housewives was also surveyed in order to compare some aspects of the travel behaviour and difficulties of old people with a younger group of people with limited mobilty living in the same town.
Main Topics:
Attitudinal/Behavioural Questions
Questions covered difficulties with and use of transport modes,giving up cars and driving, and the effect of ill health on walking ability; a travel diary covered all journeys (including short walks) made in the previous day; detailed sections on travel to the town centre, shops, post office, doctor, hospital, friends and relations. Questions on the location of places visited, frequency of travel, modes used and journey time. Substitutes for travel for different purposes were also included.
Straight-line distances were calculated for each respondent between home and various destinations visited; these distances were added to the data file.
Background Variables
Background variables included age, sex, marital status, working status, household composition, driving licence- holding and household car ownership, distance from town centre, tenure, length of residence, previous residence, social class and SEG, and income additional to state pension and supplementary pension.

Coverage:
Dates of Fieldwork: September 1975-October 1975
Country: England
Geography: Guildford; Surrey
Observation Units: Individuals

Universe Sampled:
Location of Units of Observation:Subnational
Population:People aged 65 or over, retired or working less than 20 hours per week and excluding the housebound and those seriously handicapped. The housewife sample consisted of women aged between 18 and 64, also working less than 20 hours per week and being fully mobile.

Methodology:
Time Dimensions: Cross-sectional (one-time) study
Sampling Procedures: Simple random sample
a systematic random sample of electors was selected from the electoral register. Eligible respondents were then selected with the criteria of being retired or working less than 20 hours per week and being fully mobile. One eligible person per household was interviewed. The sample produced was later increased by weighting: at households where two eligible people lived, the record for the interview was duplicated; where three were eligible, two copies were made.
As a control for the elderly sample, a random sample of female housewives aged under 65, not working full-time and mobile, was selected from a randomly selected sub-sample of main sample addresses that did not contain any individuals aged 65 or over. To increase the size of the control sample, additional housewife interviews were conducted on a quota basis.
Number of Units: A) Housewives 291 (obtained)
B) Old people 825 (obtained)
Method of Data Collection: Face-to-face interview; Diaries; Travel diaries

Language(s) of Written Materials:
Study Description: English
Study Documentation: English

Access:
Access Conditions: The depositor has specified that registration is required and standard conditions of use apply. The depositor may be informed about usage. See terms and conditions for further information.
Availability: ESDS Access and Preservation, UK Data Archive
Contact: Help desk: help@esds.ac.uk

Date of Release:
First Edition: 1980

Copyright:
Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and the Queen's Printer for Scotland

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